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T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing
T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing
Author: N2K Networks
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T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing from N2K CyberWire is your source for understanding the critical security connections between space and Earth, linking the technologies, policies, and organizations shaping non-terrestrial networks and the expanded attack surface.Each week, we cover space and cyber developments that bridge technology, commerce, and innovation. We are the cybersecurity industry’s source for understanding how space-based infrastructure reshapes digital networks, risk, and resilience globally.T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing publishes every Sunday alongside the free Signals and Space newsletter covering the intersection of cybersecurity and space.
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In this special Reporter’s Notebook, Maria Varmazis, host here at N2K CyberWire, takes listeners behind the scenes of our three-part series on Cyber Coalition 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia. After exploring real-time incident response, cross-border coordination, and the broader stakes of collective cyber defense, this episode offers a more personal, behind-the-scenes look at how the reporting came together.
Hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence, the exercise brought together allied military, government, and industry teams inside NATO’s secure cyber range. Here, Maria reflects on moments that didn’t make the final cut — the atmosphere inside the facilities, the pace of covering a live exercise, and the small, human details that added texture to the larger story.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to listen to all three episodes of the series to hear the full story from the ground at Cyber Coalition 2025.
Episode one can be found here.
Episode two can be found here.
Episode three can be found here.
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In the final installment of our three-part series on Cyber Coalition 2025, Maria Varmazis, host here at N2K CyberWire, and Liz Stokes, CyberWire Producer, step back from the cyber range to reflect on what their time in Tallinn really meant. This episode moves beyond the mechanics of the exercise and into the broader stakes of collective cyber defense in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical moment.
Recorded two months after their visit, the conversation blends field tape and personal reflections — from standing outside the Russian Embassy in Old Town to recalling the weight inside NATO’s secure facilities. Estonia’s history, including the 2007 cyberattacks, and its visible solidarity with Ukraine underscore just how real and proximate the risks remain.
Be sure to check out the first two episodes of this three part series, you can find them below.
Episode one can be found here.
Episode two can be found here.
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In this second installment of our three-part series on Cyber Coalition 2025, Maria Varmazis, host of T-Minus Space Daily and CyberWire Producer Liz Stokes, take listeners inside a single day at NATO’s cyber headquarters in Tallinn, Estonia — focusing on the human side of cyber defense.
Hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence and led by NATO Allied Command Transformation, Cyber Coalition is a defensive-only exercise built around collaboration, coordination, and information sharing across allied nations. This episode highlights how that plays out in practice, from legal teams working through cross-border policy questions to military defenders coordinating with civilian infrastructure partners inside NATO’s secure cyber range.
In case you missed the first episode of this three part series, check it out here.
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In this three-part series, Maria Varmazis, host of T-Minus Space Daily and CyberWire Producer Liz Stokes, take you inside NATO’s flagship cyber defense exercise, Cyber Coalition 2025. Hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia, the exercise brings together military, government, and industry teams from across the alliance to respond to realistic, high-pressure cyberattack scenarios targeting critical infrastructure and operational networks.
Throughout the series, Maria and Liz will guide you through what they witnessed on the ground — from real-time threat detection and incident response to the strategic collaboration shaping NATO’s cyber resilience in an increasingly contested digital landscape.
Please follow along with the next episode of our three part series here.
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This Labor Day, we’re celebrating more than just a holiday. Join us in celebrating not just the work, but the people who make it possible — the labor behind the labor.We’re honoring the people who bring their creativity, dedication, and passion to every corner of N2K. The work you hear, read, and see from us doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of talented colleagues who pour themselves into their craft, often in ways that don’t always get the spotlight. From shaping sound and refining scripts to building certification content and producing video, their labor is the heartbeat of what we do.In this special edition, host Ma’ayan Plaut introduces you to some of the voices behind the scenes: Elliott, whose audio artistry makes every show sing; Ethan, whose sharp analysis bridges policy and practice; Alice, whose storytelling brings energy and curiosity to the space industry; George and Ann, who create and refine the certification content that keeps us at the forefront of technology; and Sarelle, whose video production brings our stories to life. Together, they embody the care and creativity that define N2K.And if you’d like to see the labor behind the labor, we’ve also put together a video companion to this project — giving you another way to meet the team and experience their work in action. Be sure to check it out!
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We put together an open conversation between our podcast hosts, CyberWire Daily's Dave Bittner, T-Minus Space Daily’s Maria Varmazis, and CISO Perspectives podcast’s Kim Jones. Their conversation goes deeper than just the historical significance of Juneteenth, diving into candid conversations on allyship, representation, and the enduring value of diversity in the cybersecurity and space fields. Grab your coffee and join us in the room.
Resources:
Juneteenth
CISO Perspectives podcast:
Does diversity matter in cyber?
Mid season reflection with Kim Jones.
T-Minus Space Daily podcast:
Dr. Sian Proctor sharing her poem "Space to Inspire" on Instagram.
Deep Space: Inspiration4 with Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor.
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Rick Howard, N2K CyberWire’s Chief Analyst, CSO, and Senior Fellow, commemorates Memorial Day.
References:
Abraham Lincoln, 1863. The Gettysburg Address [Speech]. Abraham Lincoln Online.
Amanda Onion, Original 2009, Updated 2023. Memorial Day 2022: Facts, Meaning & Traditions [Essay]. HISTORY.
Brent Hugh, 2021. A Brief History of “John Brown’s Body” [Essay]. Digital History.
Bob Zeller, 2022. How Many Died in the American Civil War? [Essay]. HISTORY.
General George Marshall, 2014. President Lincoln’s Letter to Mrs Bixby [Movie Clip - Saving Private Ryan]. YouTube.
JOHN LOGAN, 1868. Logan’s Order Mandating Memorial Day [Order]. John A. Logan College.
John Williams, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 2012. The People’s House: Lincoln (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Song]. Apple Music.
John Williams, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 2012. The Blue and the Grey: Lincoln (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Song]. Apple Music - Web Playe.
Livia Albeck-Ripka, 2023. A Brief History of Memorial Day [Essay]. The New York Times.
Paul Robeson, 2021. John Brown’s Body [Song]. YouTube.
Robert Rodat (Writer), Steven Spielberg (Director), Harve Presnell (Actor), 1998. Saving Private Ryan [Movie]. IMDb.
Staff, 2020. A Brief Biography of General John A. Logan [Biography]. John A. Logan College.
Staff, 2024. Civil War Timeline [WWW Document], American Battlefield Trust.
Thomas Jefferson, 1776. Declaration of Independence: [Transcription]. National Archives.
Winston Churchil, 1940. Never was so much owed by so many to so few - Winston Churchill Speeches [Speech]. YouTube.
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For years, in-space internet capabilities were rarely worth the hassle. Now, that’s changing.
In today’s episode, Maria Varmazis and Ethan Cook sit down to discuss how internet data moves through space systems and its recent advancements. For decades, GEO satellites made up most of the marketplace; however, LEO satellites are changing the landscape improving connectivity and speeds.
Key sources:
In-space relay and WiFi services.
Space Development Agency On Orbit.
Like what you heard? Be sure to subscribe to our free Signals and Space Briefing, our Sunday newsletter covering the intersection of cybersecurity and space. Subscribe at: https://thecyberwire.com/newsletters/signals-and-space
Is there a topic or person you’d like to hear on our show? You can send your questions and feedback to space@n2k.com.
T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing is a production of N2K CyberWire. N2K is your nexus for discovery and connection for people, technology, and ideas shaping the future of secure innovation. Learn how at n2k.com.
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This week on our Deep Space episode, Maria talks with Dave Roscoe, President of Satellite IoT for ORBCOMM and Skywave. They discuss the rollout of ORBCOMM’s latest purpose-built industrial satellite IoT network and what it signals for the future of mission-critical connectivity.
As satellite connectivity and device costs continue to decrease, organizations are rethinking where — and how — industrial IoT can be deployed across transportation, logistics, energy, maritime, agriculture, and remote infrastructure operations.
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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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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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This week on our Deep Space episode, Maria speaks with TransAstra's CEO Joe Sercel about their recently demonstrated capture-bag technology aboard the ISS, drawing attention for its potential role in orbital debris cleanup. Debris removal is only the beginning. The real goal is far bigger: asteroid mining as future space infrastructure.
Sercel walks us through how the same capture system designed to safely enclose debris could eventually be used to secure near-Earth asteroids—unlocking access to water, propellant, and raw materials that enable sustained operations beyond Earth orbit.. Learn more about TransAstra's work.
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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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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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You can learn more about AWS in Orbit at space.n2k.com/aws.
Our guests on this episode are Tony Jacobs, Senior Solution Acceleration Manager at AWS, and Russell Glenn, Chief Strategy Officer at Viasat.
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Selected Reading
AWS Aerospace and Satellite
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Please enjoy this encore while the team is out on vacation.
When satellites burn up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, they release particles and gases, including metals like aluminium, which may affect atmospheric chemistry. This process, known as atmospheric ablation, is still poorly understood, but early evidence suggests metal content in the atmosphere is rising. To address these uncertainties, the UK Space Agency commissioned three targeted studies to investigate the potential impacts of satellite re-entry. We spoke to Professor Minkawn Kim from the University of Southampton about his findings.
You can hear the Professor’s chat with Maria from 2024 here.
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Selected Reading
Beyond the burning: researching and implementing policy solutions for sustainable debris ablation
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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. © 2023 N2K Networks, Inc.
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You can learn more about AWS in Orbit at space.n2k.com/aws.
Our guests on this episode are Rebecca Meads, Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, Chris Dowin, VP of Engineering at Pole Star Defense, and Tim Durmish, Director of DevOps at Pole Star Global.
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Selected Reading
AWS Aerospace and Satellite
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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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This week on our Deep Space episode, we look forward to the return of Artemis II as we take a look toward the future of space manufacturing on our interview segment. At the time of recording, the crew of Artemis II was heading back to earth.
Maria speaks with Alastair McGibbon, Head of Semiconductors at Space Forge, about the growing role of low Earth orbit in advanced materials manufacturing. They explore why microgravity enables higher-performance semiconductor production, what problems space-based fabrication can solve for terrestrial supply chains, and how companies like Space Forge are working to scale orbital manufacturing into a viable industrial platform. Learn more about Space Forge's work.
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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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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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On this Deep Space episode, we share our NEXUS segment, where Parker Wishik of the Aerospace Corporation interviews Brandon Bailey, also from Aerospace, and Kassandra Vogel, Blue Origin’s Director of Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance. They discuss space cybersecurity priorities, emerging threats, and industry collaboration, giving a great look at how the industry protects its missions. We also celebrate the historic Artemis 2 launch on April 1st, sending astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen toward the moon and receiving their official go for Trans-Lunar Injection—a milestone for human spaceflight and international collaboration.
Resources:
Learn more about SPARTA from Aerospace Corporation
Read a recent SPARTA update readme from Medium
Aerospace’s SPARTEND Integrates Space-Cyber Threat Knowledge with Autonomous Detection
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On this Deep Space episode, host Maria Varmazis catches up with friend Tim Gagnon aka KSCartist and Susie Morris, Tim's long-time creative collaborator at A-B Emblem while at SpaceCom. Everyone loves a patch in aerospace, stick em on board or on your flight jacket, hand them out at meetups or conferences, buy em at your favorite space store, who doesn't love a space patch. And Tim and Susie talked to me about what goes into this unique and very beloved art form.
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Happy International Women's Day! On this episode, Maria Varmazis caught up with Khalia Padilla, CEO at Imagine Engine, to discuss investing in optical space technologies and going global during Commercial Space Week 2026. She discusses two projects backed by Imagine Engine: one developing an optical transceiver that bridges radio-frequency and optical signals, supported by a NASA grant, and another building a modular, maneuverable satellite in collaboration with students from Lehigh University using similar RF-to-optical modulation techniques. And, more.
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On this episode, Maria Varmazis caught up with Troy Morris, co-founder and CEO of KMI, during Commercial Space Week 2026. Troy recaps KMI's busy 2025 highlighted by an ISS demonstration that returned after over 200 days of testing, during which astronaut Suni Williams and crew helped evaluate a larger arm system designed to capture unprepared objects as a “tow truck for space.” And, more.
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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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As the space industry becomes increasingly commercialized, competitive, and mission-driven, one truth remains universal: having the right people on the team is mission-critical. This issue was explored during Commercial Space Week and part of the panel, Mary Baldino, Director. of Sales/Marketing at Vaya Space, and Tahara Dawkins, Director of Policy at Astroscale US, joined us to continue the conversation.
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NASA has released findings from a report by the Program Investigation Team examining the Boeing CST-100 Starliner Crewed Flight Test. NASA completed a successful wet dress rehearsal for the SLS rocket that’ll be used for the Artemis II mission. MDA Space has launched a wholly-owned subsidiary exclusively focused on delivering mission-critical capabilities for Canada's national defense priorities outside the space domain, and more.
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T-Minus Guest
Maria Varmazis and Alice Carruth wrap up the last daily T-Minus show.
Selected Reading
NASA Releases Report on Starliner Crewed Flight Test Investigation
NASA Begins Artemis II Launch Pad Ops After Successful Fuel Test
MDA Space Launches 49North, a Canadian defence business delivering multi-domain and mission-critical capabilities
Axelspace Secures Japan Ministry of Defense Satellite Constellation Project
SpaceX launches second Falcon 9 rocket to return to a landing in The Bahamas – Spaceflight Now
Share your feedback.
What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.
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.
T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.
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WTF?? Really? Avi is loon who makes ridiculous claims easily dismissed with actual astrophysics. It's incredibly disappointing you would give "asteroid is a spaceship" and "ocean balls are alien tech" whack job a platform. Do better.