Moonshot #37

While SpaceX readies to soar to success under a new US administration, Boeing prepares to bow out of its once lofty celestial endeavors.

With its trusty Electron launch vehicle, Rocket Lab delivered a secretive payload to orbit from its New Zealand launchpad on November 5th. Credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab – After requesting proposals back in April, NASA has awarded a new contract to Long Beach-based Rocket Lab for the study of a more cost-effective, simplified mission concept for Mars Sample Return (MSR). With this new agency funding – which follows a series of contracts bestowed to seven companies in June – Rocket Lab believes it can take a sizable chunk out of NASA’s projected $11 billion MSR budget and timeline. In fact, according to a proposal abstract, the company is “targeting a total to NASA of less than $2B” and a 2028 launch window. The proposed architecture involves launching two Neutron rockets: one with the Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) and the other with a lander plus the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV). In a nutshell, MAV would pick up a Martian sample from Perseverance, NASA’s existing rover on the Red Planet, then launch back to Mars’ orbit, handing the sample off to ERO to complete the rest of the journey home. The US space agency is set to review the results of its funded studies this fall, although it’s unclear whether or not Rocket Lab, being a late addition, is expected to complete its study on the same timeline. In any case, Rocket Lab rounds out a promising season with a launch of a classified commercial payload from its New Zealand port on November 5th. While the payload details were not disclosed, speculation links the mission to satellite startup E-Space.

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This edition of Moonshot is brought to you by the Space Resources program at the Colorado School of Mines.

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SpaceX – The train seems to be back on the tracks for SpaceX, in more ways than one. After Falcon 9 anomalies dotted the months of July, August and September, NASA’s safety panel held a meeting on October 31st. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) reminded the US space agency and SpaceX to keep “focus” on the details, despite high pace and demand. Restoring its reliability, SpaceX successfully launched a cargo Dragon mission (CRS-31) to the ISS on November 4th, delivering 2,762 kg of supplies and 56 science investigations. One of those investigations involved a novel thrust maneuver by the Dragon spacecraft, effectively raising the orbit of the ISS and bringing NASA one step closer to a deorbit strategy for the station. As expected, SpaceX has also been making up for lost time (with Falcon 9 being grounded) by launching Starlink satellites at a clip, with its latest mission delivering 20 spacecraft to orbit on November 9th. Of course, Starlink stands to benefit from a Trump administration, with the potential for reduced regulations from the FCC. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg: Musk wasted no time in recommending SpaceX employees to the US Defense Department under Trump’s presidency. Of course, when not working on defense contracts or its burgeoning Starlink business, SpaceX is focused on Starship, which is scheduled to launch again for its next demonstration in a week.  

Axiom Space – SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket may be the apple of most eyes, but Texas-based Axiom Space is looking overseas in search of rocket provider partners for its private space station. According to the startup’s director of international government business, Axiom is in talks with India’s space agency, ISRO – as well as private launch firms based in India – about potential collaboration as Axiom works towards its private international space station mission. While nothing has been signed just yet, these launch vehicle contracts could leverage Indian rockets to “transport raw materials” for the station. Axiom’s outreach to ISRO follows a US-India Space Flight Agreement from earlier this year. 

Vast’s newly released interior design for its commercial space station includes customized sleep traps systems and padded rooms. Credit: Vast

Vast – While Axiom eyes launch partners for its private space station, California-based Vast is focused on design for its take on the world’s first commercial space station. The company just unveiled its “human-centric” interior design for Haven-1, scheduled to launch in 2025. Displayed in a minimal, Parachute-coded video, features of Haven-1 include a spacious common area, customized sleep systems, a microgravity research lab, and innovative exercise and safety features. One of those safety features is “soft and padded” surfaces, which we assume is to reduce injury as space travelers are floating around up there. Padded rooms are not so controversial in space, apparently.

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This edition of Moonshot is supported by the Open Lunar Foundation. Open Lunar's work sets precedents, creates pathways, and builds projects that enable a peaceful, cooperative lunar presence. Learn more about Open Lunar's work by joining their upcoming events.

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