Starbridge Out and About
In case you missed it, Starbridge GP Michael Mealling spoke on the investability of Mars settlement technology at the 2023 Humans to Mars Summit
Portfolio News
Axiom/SpaceX
SpaceX
Umbra
Lynk
Space Forge
General Space News
NASA Selects Blue Origin as Second Artemis Lunar Lander Provider
In an announcement that surprised no one, NASA selected a team led by Blue Origin for the second crewed Lunar lander vehicle. Blue’s updated design is larger and more capable than its first iteration. They will provide the lander itself; Draper will provide guidance, navigation, and control systems as well as training and simulation; Astrobotic will handle cargo accommodations; Honeybee Robotics will provide cargo offloading capabilities; and Boeing will contribute the docking system.
'Blue Origin will design, develop, test, and verify its Blue Moon lander to meet NASA’s human landing system requirements for recurring astronaut expeditions to the lunar surface, including docking with Gateway, a space station where crew transfer in lunar orbit. In addition to design and development work, the contract includes one uncrewed demonstration mission to the lunar surface before a crewed demo on the Artemis V mission in 2029. The total award value of the firm-fixed-price contract is $3.4 billion.'
"Human Spaceflight Safety, in Concept & Practice: Which Way Forward?"
The Beyond Earth Institute is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, May 24th at 1 pm EST that will dig into the jurisdictional ‘discussion’ around which agencies will regulate human spaceflight and how each agency might look at that responsibility. For policy wonks, this will provide some great insight into how various parts of the US Government thinks about human spaceflight. Click the link above to register.
China to Invest Heavily in Its Race to the Moon
Last year, China spent roughly $12B on its space program and recently approved its Lunar budget with details of its future Lunar ambitions that stretch into the 2030s. The plan has two goals: to demonstrate technological prestige/leadership and to create an alternative coalition within its Belt and Road initiative to the Artemis Accords. The major budgetary components of the plan include designs for their crewed lunar lander; details on a fully reusable Long March 9 rocket; the beginnings of building an international coalition for their Moon base; plans to break ground on a lunar base by 2028; and, landing a crew on the Moon by 2030.
Other Space News
Two space startups that went public through SPAC deals are warning they are running low on cash
Stratolaunch has submitted a bid to buy Virgin Orbit's Boeing 747 aircraft out of bankruptcy
A Space Force general says a lack of communication with China increases the risk of mishaps in orbit
Varda Space raising new tranche of funding at $500M post-money valuation
Space Force looks at options for relieving Cape Canaveral launch congestion
Tractor maker Deere's future in precision agriculture hinges on space-based connectivity
ISRO is aiming to launch the Chandrayaan 3 Moon lander in the second week of July