Cost and benefit (9/20/23)

Good morning. Payload is excited to participate in The Economist's first Space Economy Summit, to be held Oct. 11-12 in LA + virtually. The event—which is focused on using space to maximize returns to Earth—is geared to a mainstream industry audience who can benefit from engaging with space.

The event has already announced an impressive slate of speakers, including: Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck, Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves, Voyager Space CEO Dylan Taylor, NASA JPL director Laurie Leshin, XPRIZE Foundation founder Peter Diamandis, and NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, plus many more. You can register here.

Today’s newsletter:
🔒 AIA’s letter to NSC
📱 5G direct-to-cell
💸 The term sheet

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AIA Warns NSC On Critical Infrastructure Designation for Space

A leading trade group is urging the National Security Council to think twice before classifying the space sector as critical infrastructure.

Eric Fanning, president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association representing 320+ companies, sent a letter on Tuesday to NSC head Jake Sullivan arguing that designating space as critical infrastructure could actually hurt the space industry by adding the burden of additional regulations without providing any additional funding.

“Critical infrastructure designations could come with additional requirements for industry operating in that sector—and likely without any additional federal funding,” Fanning wrote in a letter shared with Payload. “These requirements could adversely affect industry growth and development and could have a disproportionate impact on small businesses.”

Up for debate: In November, President Joe Biden launched a review of the nation’s critical infrastructure policy, including which sectors receive the designation and whether any updates are needed to the existing policy. As part of that review, the council is considering whether space should be added to the current list of 16 critical infrastructure sectors, Fanning wrote.

On the Hill: Outside of the NSC review, there’s an effort on Capitol Hill to designate space systems, services, and technology as critical infrastructure in a bid to support the industry. A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the bill in July, which they say is in line with an April recommendation made by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission 2.0.

Impact on industry: In the letter, however, Fanning said that a designation as critical infrastructure could actually harm the industry, and pressed the NSC to consider the costs and benefits of making any change

Read the full story here.

Sponsored

Enabling the Future of Space Communication with Laser Links

As big data, Earth intelligence, and the Internet of Things increasingly shape our society, the appetite for real-time satellite communication has never been greater.

The rising demand—coupled with diminishing barriers to entry for satellite operators—has elevated the role of satellites in our everyday lives. Space-based comms are integral to our ability to connect to the internet, secure our communications, monitor our planet, and guide us on our roads and in our skies.

Yet, as users increasingly expect instantaneous connectivity, our present space communication infrastructure is proving to be too slow.

Enter laser links: To bridge the gap, satellite operators are leveraging next-gen optical laser links to swiftly relay information around orbit, ensuring timely delivery to its terrestrial terminals.

The data challenge in space

Legacy satellite communications are running up against the physical limits of radio frequencies, ground terminal bottlenecks, and the brief window during which a ground station can liaise with a LEO satellite while it’s in view.

Modern missions require modern communications.

5G Direct from Space

Direct-to-cell technology has taken another step forward. AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) announced yesterday that it successfully demonstrated 5G connectivity with an unmodified smartphone from space for the first time.

Call incoming: Direct-to-cell capabilities have gained traction in recent years, with several companies—including ASTS, Lynk Global, and SpaceX—working on incorporating the technology into their constellations.

• Essentially, capable satellites mimic cell towers, enabling cell service across the globe, including in dead zones where terrestrial towers don’t reach.

• It’s also useful as an emergency backup when disaster strikes. Iridium, for example, has partnered with Qualcomm to develop compatible smartphones to tap into satellite networks specifically in case of an emergency.

The technology is new, but these providers are betting on rapid customer adoption and growth. On a panel at World Satellite Business Week, Lynk CEO Charles Miller estimated that the market will reach $1B within the next five years. (Lynk demonstrated direct-to-cell capabilities with unmodified smartphones up to 4G in Feb. 2022.)

The demo: ASTS reported that it used its BlueWalker 3 LEO test satellite and AT&T’s spectrum to connect with an unmodified smartphone in Hawaii on Sept. 8 and facilitate a call with a Vodafone engineer in Madrid.

5G connectivity between unmodified smartphones has never before been demonstrated from space, the company said.

Market check: $ASTS stock was up 8.66% at EOD Tuesday.

New Speaker Added to Space Investor Summit

Payload is thrilled to announce that former NASA administrator Daniel Goldin will be joining us for a fireside chat at our Space Investor Summit in November.

The event will bring together a select group of leading institutional investors, policy makers and space industry executives from around the world to network, discuss market trends, explore tangible investment opportunities, and offer a forum to engage in constructive, future-forward dialogue.

​This event is intended for senior-level institutional investors, space executives, government officials, and military officials only.

Space Opportunities

Here are the top government opportunities for space companies this week, as compiled by our partner TZero.

🚀NASA JSC released a solicitation for a US Deorbit Vehicle leveraging several prior efforts. Responses are due Nov. 17.

🌍AFRL has released an open BAA for technologies and techniques to provide geospatial intelligence in all forms—imagery, imagery intel, processing, etc.

📡NRL has released a solicitation seeking technical, engineering, and scientific expertise for advanced space precision navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities. Responses are due Oct. 30.

Additional opportunities and details can be found in the TZero Space Tracker, which is now offering new lower pricing and a one-month free trial.

In Other News

• NASA OIG determined that the costs associated with building the SLS Mobile Launcher-2 have surpassed $1B—nearly 3x the original estimate.

• Hungary is planning to send an astronaut to the ISS on an Axiom private spaceflight, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on a trip to Austin.

• The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft that is slated to return to the Blue Marble on Sunday with asteroid samples has made its final engine burn adjustment.

• SpaceX reused a booster for the 17th time—a new record.

The View from Space

NASA and KARI orbiters stitched together this mosaic of the Shackleton Crater on the Moon’s South Pole, the likely future landing site of Artemis III.