T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing

According to internal company documents reviewed by The New York Times, SpaceX has most likely paid little to no federal income taxes since its founding in 2002. NASA and Google are collaborating to test an AI-powered medical assistant designed to support astronauts on long-duration missions. Voyager Technologies is investing in Latent AI, and more.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

T-Minus Guest

Parker Wishik brings us The Aerospace Corporation’s monthly segment Nexus. Parker is joined by Craig J. Smith Executive Director at Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority, Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director at the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (Spaceport America) and Karen Jones, senior project leader in the Center for Space Policy and Strategy at The Aerospace Corporation.

Selected Reading

SpaceX Gets Billions From the Government. It Gives Little to Nothing Back in Taxes.

FAA approves Starship Flight 10 after mishap probe, eyes August 24 launch - NASASpaceFlight.com

NASA and Google test AI medical assistant for astronaut missions to the moon and Mars- Space

Voyager and Latent AI Bring Advanced AI to Orbit

Firefly Aerospace eyes Alpha rocket launch in Japan for Asia market-Reuters

Flight test of Chinese start-up LandSpace's rocket fails -Reuters

China launches low Earth orbit internet satellites - CGTN

TOMEX+ Launch Update - Aug. 17 - NASA

EUMETSAT Assumes Control of Inaugural Metop Second Generation Satellite

Hijacked satellites and orbiting space weapons - ABC News

NASA Seeks Proposals for 2026 Human Exploration Rover Challenge

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sift is focused on solving the hardware/software problem in aerospace. Their mission and vision argue that hardware has been left behind. Sift argues that the industry still lacks the runtime observability tools to debug systems in real-time. Sift is filling that gap by providing a full-stack AI SaaS solution to hardware observability. We speak to Sift’s CEO Karthik Gollapudi.

You can connect with Karthik Gollapudi on LinkedIn and learn more about Sift on their website.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The California Coastal Commission has voted against a plan to nearly double the number of Falcon 9 rocket launches SpaceX is permitted to conduct each year from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Air and Space Forces says that there are calls for nearly $2.3 billion in spending cuts hidden in the 2026 fiscal year budget. NASA has released a call for industry input for developing efficient power supply on the lunar surface, and more.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

T-Minus Guest

Elysia Segal brings us the Space Traffic Report from NASASpaceflight.com

Selected Reading

California rejects Elon Musk’s rocket-launch proposal - POLITICO

Here's All the DOGE-Linked Cuts in the Air, Space Force Budget

NASA Seeks Industry Feedback on Fission Surface Power

Sidus Space Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

China's Shenzhou-20 crew to conduct 3rd spacewalk with new spacesuits - CGTN

Colorado space company hopes to land contract for President Trump's Golden Dome project

ESA - No Earth-like atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1 d

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US President Donald Trump signed the “Enabling Competition In The Commercial Space Industry” Executive Order (EO). Gilat Satellite Networks has been awarded a multimillion dollar contract by Israel’s Ministry of Defense for the delivery and integration of satellite communication systems (SATCOM) and services. The Italian Space Agency (ASI) has signed an agreement with SpaceX for an uncrewed mission to Mars aboard a future Starship mission, and more.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

T-Minus Guest

Our guest today is Luis Torres, founder of Torres Orbital Mining (TOM). 

You can connect with Luis on LinkedIn, and find out more about TOM on their website.

Selected Reading

Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry – The White House

Gilat receives a multimillion contract from Israel’s Ministry of Defense for advanced strategic defense SATCOM project

Agenzia Spaziale ITA (@ASI_spazio) / X

Spire Global Announces Preliminary Second Quarter 2025 Revenue and Provides Business Update

KBR and Axiom Space Successfully Complete Initial Crewed Spacesuit Tests in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab

Space Kinetic Corp. LinkedIn

This real 'Eye of Sauron' spits out ghost particles in space. Here's what it looks like

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A United Launch Alliance’s (ULA’s) Vulcan rocket launched from Cape Canaveral carrying the USSF-106 mission for the United States Space Force's (USSF’s) Space Systems Command (SSC). Arianespace’s Ariane 6 liftoff from the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) spaceport in French Guiana carrying EUMETSAT's Metop-SGA1 satellite. The Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) has obtained its license to operate a Spaceport in Santa Maria, Azores, and more.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Selected Reading

Vulcan Rocket Ushers in New Era of National Security Space Launch

Space Systems Command Prepares to Launch first Operational Vulcan Mission for the U.S. Space Force- Space Systems Command 

With Ariane 6, Arianespace successfully launches Metop-SGA1 satellite

Successful Launch of Metop-SGA1 to Take Weather Forecasting to New Heights

ASC secures Spaceport Licence

NASA Awards Second Human Health, Performance Contract

Momentus Secures NASA Contract to Study the Launch of Robotic Technologies for Future Space Exploration

SaxaVord Spaceport Statement

Exclusive: Pentagon Golden Dome to have 4-layer defense system, slides show- Reuters

Ukraine successfully tests Starlink's direct-to-cell technology- Reuters

Space Rock That Punched Through Roof Almost Struck Resident

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rocket Lab has completed the acquisition of the parent holding company of Geost. The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), has selected a consortium led by PixxelSpace to build a commercial sovereign constellation of Earth observation satellites. The European Space Agency (ESA) is deliberating moves to become less dependent on NASA programs, and more.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

T-Minus Guest

Our guest is Bryce Kennedy, Space Connectivity Senior Officer, International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

You can connect with Bryce on LinkedIn, and learn more about the ITU on their website.

Selected Reading

Rocket Lab Closes Acquisition of Geost, Expanding Its National Security Capabilities with Launch, Spacecraft, and Now Payloads

India's space regulator picks Google-backed PixxelSpace for home-grown satellite constellation- Reuters

Europe’s space ambitions at risk over dependence on Nasa, agency warns 

NASA Explores Industry Possibilities to Raise Swift Mission’s Orbit

European VV27 victory.

LeoLabs and NASA Enter Space Act Agreement for Flight Safety Data Integration & Coordination

Road to Space - Arianespace

ULA Vulcan to launch USSF-106 national security mission Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida

AST SpaceMobile Provides Business Update and Second Quarter 2025 Results

BlackSky Secures Two-Year Gen-3 Early Access Agreement with New International Gen-2 On-Demand Customer Six Months from Initial Contract

Redwire Announces Major Release of Acorn 2.0 Software Product, Expanding its AI-Powered Digital Engineering Tools for Aerospace and Defense Customers

Is astronomy safe from organized scientific fraud?- Space

The entities enabling scientific fraud at scale are large, resilient, and growing rapidly- PNAS

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NASA’s SpaceX Crew 10 returns to Earth in a splash down off the coast of California. A Jielong-3 carrier rocket launched the Geely Constellation Group 04 satellites from the coastal waters off Shandong, China. ISRO announces that it will be launching another American satellite in the coming months, and more.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

T-Minus Guest

Our guest today is Patrick O'Neill, Public Affairs and Outreach Lead at the International Space Station US National Laboratory.

You can connect with Patrick on LinkedIn, and learn more about the ISS National Lab on their website.

Selected Reading

NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 Mission Returns, Splashes Down Off California

Zoomlion's Corporate-Named Satellite Enters Orbit, Marking a New Era in Engineering Machinery with Digital, Intelligent, Green, and Global Vision

India's giant space leap: After NISAR mission, Isro to launch 6,500-kg US satellite

DGX closes a €2.3M funding round to boost onboard AI compute for satellites

Blue Origin Spaceflights Aboard New Shepard Can Now Be Purchased With Crypto and Stablecoins Through Shift4

Space log: Spacesuit unpacking, research and more for Shenzhou-20 crew - CGTN

Safran DSI to Supply Electric Propulsion Systems for AstroForge's Upcoming Vestri Asteroid Mission

Acting NASA Administrator Reflects on Legacy of Astronaut Jim Lovell

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November 2024, Slingshot Aerospace was selected to develop the interface for the US Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS). With the FY2026 budget still under discussion in the US, funding to support TraCSS is up in the air. Slingshot Aerospace has joined more than 450 companies, represented by seven leading space industry associations including the Commercial SSA Coalition, to support funding for the Office of Space Commerce’s space traffic coordination mission. We spoke to Audrey Schaffer, VP of Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace about why so many commercial companies support a federal space traffic system.

You can connect with Audrey on LinkedIn, and learn more about Slingshot Aerospace on their website.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

VisionSpace Technologies has demonstrated how easy it is to exploit software vulnerabilities on satellites, as well as the ground stations that control them. China has conducted its first test of a lunar lander that they plan to use to take humans to the Moon. Rocket Lab has completed the Systems Integration Review (SIR) for the US Space Force’s VICTUS HAZE mission, and more.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

T-Minus Guest

We are joined by NASASpaceflight.com with the Space Traffic Report.

Selected Reading

Yamcs v5.8.6 Vulnerability Assessment 

OpenC3 Cosmos 6.0.0: A Security Assessment of an Open-Source Mission Framework – VisionSpace 

China tests spacecraft it hopes will put first Chinese on the moon- Reuters

Rocket Lab Clears Integration Milestone for VICTUS HAZE, Delivering End-to-End Capabilities for Responsive Space Operations

Rocket Lab Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results, Posts Record Quarterly Revenue of $144m, Representing 36% Year-on-Year Growth, While Expanding Gross Margins 650 Basis Points Year-on-Year

Globalstar Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Karman Space & Defense Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results

Firefly Aerospace hits $9.8 billion valuation in Nasdaq debut as shares takeoff- Reuters

Voyager Acquires ElectroMagnetic Systems, Inc.

As NASA Missions Study Interstellar Comet, Hubble Makes Size Estimate

AV and SNC Announce Strategic Partnership to Deliver Golden Dome for America "Limited Area Defense" Architecture

Muon Space Unveils XL Satellite Platform, Announces Hubble Network as First Customer

The Goddard 100 Student Contest Celebrating a Century of Rocketry - NSS

Goddard 100 Contest

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Firefly Aerospace announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering (IPO), while MDA Space, BlackSky and Redwire reported Q2 financial updates. Intuitive Machines has signed a definitive agreement to acquire KinetX, Inc. NASA has selected six companies to produce studies focused on lower-cost ways to launch and deliver spacecraft of various sizes and forms to multiple, difficult-to-reach orbits, and more.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram.

T-Minus Guest

Our guest today is Frank Chimenti, Director of Mechanical Satellite Solutions at Beyond Gravity. 

You can connect with Frank on LinkedIn, and learn more about Beyond Gravity on their website.

Selected Reading

Firefly Aerospace Announces Pricing of Upsized Initial Public Offering

MDA Space Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

BlackSky Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results

Redwire Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Intuitive Machines Expands Deep Space Navigation Services with Agreement to Acquire KinetX, Positioning Itself for Constellation Management and Moon-to-Mars Data Relay

NASA Selects Six Companies to Provide Orbital Transfer Vehicle Studies

Raft and SAIC Selected to Operationalize National Space-Based Intelligence for the U.S. Air Force through TENCAP HOPE 2.0

Saudi Arabia Launches National Earth Observation Data Platform Operated by UP42 - SpaceTech in Gulf Region

NASA to Provide Live Coverage of Crew-10 Return, Splashdown

SpaceX - KF-02 Mission

A Small Uniform Tweak Reveals a Shift in Space Force Culture

China and Pakistan expand tech collaboration to nuclear power, space and AI

NASA Astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore Retires

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

Want to hear your company in the show?

You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at [email protected] to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to [email protected] and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices