T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing

Latest Episodes:

AST’s spectrum grab. Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

AST SpaceMobile plans to acquire global S-Band spectrum priority rights held under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Scout Space has completed its first suborbital Space Domain Awareness (SDA) test flight on Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora spaceplane. An Interlune payload will fly on Astrolab’s FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) rover on its upcoming mission to the Moon, and more.

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Selected Reading

AST SpaceMobile Announces Agreement to Acquire Global S-Band Spectrum Priority Rights Held under the International Telecommunication Union

Scout Space and Dawn Aerospace Complete First Suborbital Spaceplane Surveillance Test Flight

Interlune to Fly Multispectral Camera on Astrolab FLIP Rover to Measure Helium-3 on the Moon

Parsons and Globalstar Pave Way for Commercial Satellite Solutions after Completing Successful Proof of Concept

Project Kuiper partners with NBN Co to bring low Earth orbit satellite broadband to rural Australia

Voyager Selects VISTA Team

Amentum Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Results and Raises Full Year Organic Guidance

Pentagon keeps a lid on Golden Dome - POLITICO

Is the Dream Chaser space plane ever going to launch into orbit? - Ars Technica

NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Moon Mission Ends

NICER Status Updates - NASA

NASA Works to Contact Scalable Small Satellite

Marking 13 Years on Mars, NASA’s Curiosity Picks Up New Skills

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NASA plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

NASA’s Acting Administrator Sean Duffy is expected to expedite plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. (iRocket) has entered into a $640 million multi-launch agreement with SpaceBelt KSA. SES Space & Defense has been awarded $89.6 Million to provide the US Army with Commercial Satellite Communications (COMSATCOM), and more.

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T-Minus Guest

Our guest today is Lesley Conn, Director of Research & Analysis at the Space Foundation.

You can read the Q2 Space Report here.

Selected Reading

Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon - POLITICO

iRocket Announces $640 Million Multi-Year Launch Agreement with SpaceBelt KSA to Deliver Secure and Autonomous Satellite Infrastructure for Saudi Arabia and Beyond

Redwire Launches New Venture Company, SpaceMD, to Commercialize Pharmaceutical Development in Space; Signs Trailblazing Royalty Agreement with ExesaLibero Pharma

Satellite firm SES wins $90 million contract to support U.S. Army- Reuters

Skyrora Secures First UK Launch Licence

Rocket Lab

Voyager Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Firefly Aerospace lifts IPO price range, targets $6 billion valuation amid space investment boom- Reuters

Why a NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose

Space Force preps infrastructure, operators for target-tracking mission

From Mascot to Mission Specialist: Rupert the Space Armadillo Prepares for Liftoff - Space Launch Delta 45

Preserving space history at Cape Canaveral.

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

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Japan pushes for rules on space debris removal. Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Japan is looking to establish international rules for the removal of human-made objects in space. Israel’s Space Agency and Innovation Authority is setting up a national R&D laboratory to kickstart spacebound technology development. Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial Space mission, LEAP-1, on a Falcon 9 rocket in Q3 of this year, and more.

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T-Minus Guest

Bailey Reichelt from Aegis Space Law is joined by Matt Linton from Linton Space Law.

If you have any questions you’d like to ask Bailey, please email space@n2k.com.

Selected Reading

Japan seeks to create int'l rules on space debris removal

Israel launches new lab for space tech- The Jerusalem Post

Dhruva Space Set to Launch First Commercial Mission LEAP-1 with Indo-Australian Strategic Collaboration Aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9

SpaceX delivers four astronauts to the International Space Station just 15 hours after launch

Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes 34th Mission to Space

First woman appointed as new Astronomer Royal

Shenzhou-20 crew continues progress in space science experiments after 3 months in orbit

Sidus Space Successfully Deploys Advanced SpacePilot Software for Autonomous Operations; Commissions LizzieSat®-3 Attitude Determination and Control System

First woman appointed as new Astronomer Royal - GOV.UK

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

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Flight and the future with Astronaut Wendy Lawrence. Aug 02, 2025

Show notes

Wendy Lawrence (Captain, US Navy, Retired) is an engineer, pilot (helicopter), and a former NASA Astronaut. She flew on four space shuttle missions, and is now using her experience to inspire the next generation of the space workforce. She tells us about her work with the Challenger Learning Center and Higher Orbits.

You can connect with Wendy on LinkedIn.

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Want to hear your company in the show?

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Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com 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.

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NASA SpaceX Crew11 heads to the ISS. Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

NASA SpaceX Crew 11 are heading to the International Space Station (ISS). Echostar has selected MDA Space as the prime contractor for a direct-to-device (D2D) satellite constellation. ispace has entered into an agreement with Bridgestone Corporation to advance the application of their tires for lunar rovers, and more.

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T-Minus Guest

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

Selected Reading

SpaceX - Crew-11 Mission

Roscosmos chief says he, acting NASA head agree to continue using ISS until 2028 - Science & Space - TASS

MDA Space Selected By Echostar For World's First Open Ran D2D LEO Constellation

ispace and Bridgestone Sign Agreement to Develop Tires for Small-to-Medium-Sized Lunar Rovers

Milestone sensor upgrade enhances U.S. Space Force identifying, tracking capability

NASA Invites Proposals to Lease Aircraft Hangar in Cleveland

New Shepard’s Crewed NS-34 Mission Targets Liftoff on August 3- Blue Origin

Rocket Lab Schedules Fifth Electron Mission for Constellation Operator iQPS

'The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery.' Museum resists Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' plan to move space shuttle to Houston

T-Minus Crew Survey

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

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Weather scrubs the launch of SpaceX Crew 11. Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

NASA’s SpaceX Crew 11 launch to the International Space Station (ISS) scrubbed due to weather conditions. Intuitive Machines has secured a $9.8 million Phase Two government contract to advance its Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) through Critical Design Review. Deloitte has unveiled a new system to detect cyber intrusions and anomalies on satellites, and more.

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T-Minus Guest

Our guest today is Greg Gillinger, SVP for Strategy & Development, Integrity ISR.

You can connect with Greg on LinkedIn, and learn more about Integrity ISR on their website.

Selected Reading

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Mission Coverage

NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Mission to Advance Stem Cell Manufacturing and In-Orbit Data Processing

$9.8M Contract Propels Intuitive Machines’ Orbital Transfer Vehicle Toward Flight Readiness

Deloitte Builds Silent Shield to Detect Cyberattacks on Satellites

SES Delivers Solid H1 2025 Results & Completes Intelsat Acquisition

NASA Releases Opportunity to Boost Commercial Space Tech Development

NASA workforce cuts raise fears about safety for space missions

Rep. Dale Strong says "Space Command is coming" to Huntsville

U.S. Startup Plans to Beam Sunlight to Earth Using Huge Space Mirrors - Orbital Today

T-Minus Crew Survey

Complete our annual audience survey before August 31.

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You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info.

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

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Firefly selected for another NASA CLPS contract. Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $176.7 million NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract to deliver five NASA-sponsored payloads to the Moon’s south pole in 2029. The US Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded $37.5 million to five companies for Protected Tactical Satellite Communications. The NASA- ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launched from India, and more.

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Selected Reading

Firefly Awarded $177 Million NASA Contract for Mission to the Moon’s South Pole

Space Systems Command Continues to transform acquisition of SATCOM capabilities

NASA-ISRO’s NISAR Earth Satellite Ready for Launch

‘We have a cloud, and that’s the end’: first Australian-made orbital rocket crashes shortly after takeoff - The Guardian

Canadian Lunar Utility Rover

Argo and ThinkOrbital to Partner on Long-Range X-Ray Imaging Mission for Space Domain Awareness

Slingshot Aerospace Launches TALOS: AI Agent for Mission-Ready Space Operations and Strategy

SpaceWERX selects New Frontier Aerospace to Develop Bifröst Orbit Transfer Spacecraft

Starlink performed 144,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers between December and May; wants equal reporting rules for all

NASA Selects Human Space Flight Technical Integration Contractor

Mission patch competition 2025

Space for Humanity Immortalized at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

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X37-B Spaceplane is scheduled for its eighth mission. Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

The US Space Force’s (USSF’s) X37-B spaceplane is scheduled to lift off for its eighth mission on August 21. Firefly Aerospace is targeting a valuation of about $5.5 billion in its US initial public offering. Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security Division reported $6.6 billion in revenue for Q2, and more.

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T-Minus Guest

Our guest today is Cinematographer Kevin Curran.

You can connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.

Selected Reading

US Space Force scheduled to launch eighth X-37B mission

Firefly Aerospace seeks $5.5 billion valuation in IPO as US space race heats up- Reuters

Boeing Reports Second Quarter Results

Russia's Roscosmos, NASA to hold first in-person talks at heads level since 2018, Russia says- Reuters

Team Led By MDA Space Selected For Canada's Lunar Utility Vehicle Study

Spire Global Awarded European Space Agency Contract for Weather Data

Journey Joins Starlab to Design the Commercial Space Station Experience

National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (Unamended) - NASA

T-Minus Crew Survey

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European VV27 victory. Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Arianespace launched the VV27 mission from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Italian Space Agency to carry out the preliminary design phase of a multipurpose habitation module for the lunar surface. The Australian Government invested $5 million in Gilmour Space to accelerate the development of Eris' next generation liquid rocket engine, and more.

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T-Minus Guest

Parker Wishik from The Aerospace Corporation explores the future of in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) on the latest Nexus segment.

Parker is joined by Vanessa Clark from Katalyst Space, Joe Anderson from Space Logistics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, and Gregory Richardson, Executive Director of the COnsortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capabilities (COSMIC).

Selected Reading

ESA - Vega-C VV27

Arianespace to launch EUMETSAT's Metop-SGA1 satellite on August 12, 2025, with Ariane 6

Thales Alenia Space sign a contract with the Agency Space Italian (ASI) For the development of the first outpost human on the surface lunar

Gilmour receives funding boost from Australian Government

Mission: Eris Testflight 1

Tāwhaki aerospace venture is supported to grow

NASA Welcomes Senegal as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory

NASA says 20% of workforce to depart space agency- Reuters

SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of launch to space station

BAE Systems delivers NOAA's SWFO-L1 and NASA's Carruthers Geocorona Observatory satellites for launch

Eos X Space Buys Space Perspective to Expand Balloon Space Tourism - Travel And Tour World

T-Minus Crew Survey

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Oman’s Etlaq Spaceport. Jul 26, 2025

Show notes

Etlaq Spaceport is Oman’s first commercial spaceport, strategically located at 18° latitude to maximize launch efficiency. Its equatorial positioning provides a performance advantage, reducing fuel consumption and optimizing satellite deployment to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. We find out more from Chief Commercial Officer, Julanda Al-Riyami.

You can connect with Julanda on LinkedIn, and find out more about Etlaq 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 space@n2k.com to request more info.

Want to join us for an interview?

Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal.

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