T-Minus Space Daily

Space has long been considered bi-partisan domain in the US, but is it becoming more political? Our guest is Kevin Kelly. Kevin is a former Senate appropriations staffer who oversaw funding for NASA, the NSF, and 25 other agencies. Now a partner at Actum, he advises some of the most influential players in science and defense. His career has spanned everything from nuclear tech and climate systems to the tools we use to monitor near-Earth threats, and he shares his thesis on why space is becoming more political. 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. 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

Satellite IoT refers to the integration of satellite networks with Internet of Things (IoT) devices to enable connectivity and data exchange in remote and challenging environments. This allows IoT devices, like sensors and trackers, to communicate directly with satellites, bypassing terrestrial infrastructure. We spoke to Ian Itz, Executive Director of Global IoT Line of Business at Iridium about the service they offer. You can connect with Ian on LinkedIn, and learn more about Iridium 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. 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 Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) was created in 1984 by six Mercury 7 astronauts. Since then astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs have pursued the mission to encourage university students pursuing scientific excellence. The prestigious Astronaut Scholarship is known nationwide for being among the largest merit-based monetary scholarships awarded to undergraduate STEM juniors and seniors. ASF has a life-long relationship with each Astronaut Scholar and provides them with mentors, professional and personal development and networking with astronauts. Former NASA Astronaut Christopher Ferguson joins us to talk about the power of mentorship along with his mentee Vikas Patel. You can read more about the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation 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. 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

When spacecraft are sent to space, they currently have to carry the fuel to power them for their entire mission. Once the energy runs out, the mission ends. Star Catcher is developing orbital infrastructure that they say will transform how satellites are powered. Learn more with  President and CEO Andrew Rush. You can connect with Andrew on LinkedIn, and learn more about Star Catcher 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. 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 Ax-4 mission will “realize the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station (ISS).  We speak to Axiom’s Chief Scientist Dr. Lucie Low to find out more about the science experiments that will be joining the crew on the mission. You can connect with Lucie on LinkedIn, and find out more about Ax-4 on Axiom’s 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. 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

Lunar Outpost was founded on the belief that resources from the moon can be used for the betterment of humankind. The space mobility company has recently unveiled its new Eagle Space Truck and has plans for new vehicles to traverse the lunar surface. Find out more from  Lunar Outpost Cofounder and Chief Strategy Officer, Forrest Meyen. You can connect with Forrest on LinkedIn, and learn more about Lunar Outpost 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. 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

Lunar Helium-3 Mining (LH3M) is at the forefront of the green energy revolution and the quantum computing era, tapping into the Moon’s rarest and most strategic resource, Helium-3. Beyond enabling nuclear fusion, the cleanest and most efficient energy source, helium-3 is critical for cooling quantum computers, which will revolutionize information processing and may provide unmatched strategic informational supremacy. We found out more from LH3M CEO and Chief Engineer Chris Salvino. 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. 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

Find out the thoughts of host Maria Varmazis and producers Alice Carruth, Jennifer Eiben, and Elizabeth Stokes on what the highlights in space were in 2025, and what they’re looking forward to in 2026. 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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US-based national security company CACI International has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ARKA Group. FAA documents detail aviation risks from SpaceX Starship explosion. A spate of recent global launches show uneven outcomes. 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 Greg Gillinger, SVP for Strategy & Development, Integrity ISR. Selected Reading CACI Enters Into Definitive Agreement to Acquire ARKA Group, Expanding Its Technology Focus In Space-Based Sensing and Actionable Intelligence  The SpaceX Explosion That Put Flights in Danger - WSJ Long March 12A reaches orbit in first reusable launch attempt, but landing fails - SpaceNews  Rocket crashes in Brazil's first commercial launch; Innospace shares tumble | Reuters  Japanese H3 rocket fails to put geolocation satellite into orbit Vantor partnered with SpaceX to rapidly image a Starlink satellite following a reported on-orbit anomaly.  Curiosity Blog, Sols 4750-4762: See You on the Other Side of the Sun - NASA Science  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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rocket Lab awarded an $816 million prime contract by the U.S. Space Force. The Space Development Agency made multiple awards to build 72 Tracking Layer satellites for Tranche 3. NATO’s suspicions about a new ASAT weapon from Russia. 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 Dave Bittner, host of The CyberWire, and cybersecurity executive Brandon Karpf, join us for the monthly space and cyber segment about As Space Becomes Warfare Domain, Cyber Is on the Frontlines. Selected Reading Rocket Lab Awarded $816M Prime Contract to Build Missile- Defense Satellite Constellation for U.S. Space Force Space Development Agency Makes Awards to Build 72 Tracking Layer Satellites for Tranche 3 Starlink in the crosshairs: How Russia could attack Elon Musk's conquering of space Exolaunch to Deploy 22 Satellites on Upcoming "Twilight" Rideshare Mission with SpaceX, Expanding Access to a Dawn-Dusk Orbit  Telesat Lightspeed program, Safran - Space  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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From radiation-hardened hardware to edge computing in deep space, AI is moving off the ground and into one of the harshest environments imaginable. Ralph Grundler is the Director of Space Business Development and Space R&D at Aitech Systems. He shares his decades of experience from  building computers that don’t just survive space—they think there. We’ll explore how AI-rated systems are flying today, what they enable for Earth and deep-space missions, and why space may be the ultimate proving ground for autonomous computing You can connect with Ralph on LinkedIn, and learn more about Aitech Systems 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. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US President Donald Trump has signed an Executive Order (EO) titled Ensuring American Space Superiority. Rheinmetall is partnering with ICEYE to fulfil a 1.7-billion-euro or $2 billion order from the German Armed Forces. HawkEye 360 has completed the acquisition of Innovative Signal Analysis supported by equity and debt financings totaling $150 million, 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 Sawyer Rosenstein brings us the NASASpaceflight Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading ENSURING AMERICAN SPACE SUPERIORITY – The White House SpaceX loses contact with Starlink satellite after mishap- Reuters Rheinmetall and ICEYE win billion-euro contract for space reconnaissance HawkEye 360 Closes Strategic Acquisition and Secures Series E Preferred and Debt Astrobotic Secures $17.5M to Advance Reusable Rockets This Day in History: Ike’s Christmas message makes history in space 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jared Isaacman has been confirmed as the new NASA Administrator. Rocket Lab launched the STP-S30 mission for the US Space Force’s (USSF’s) Space Systems Command. Redwire Corporation has been contracted by The Exploration Company to provide two docking systems for Nyx, 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 Ryan Brown, Executive Director of SpaceCom. You can connect with Ryan on LinkedIn, and learn more about SpaceCom on their website. Selected Reading Billionaire Jared Isaacman confirmed as Nasa chief after turbulent nomination Rocket Lab Executes Successful Launch of STP-S30 Mission for the Department of War Redwire Awarded Contract to Provide Spacecraft Docking Systems for The Exploration Company’s European Space Capsule Southern Launch to Support Orbital Re-Entries of Lux Aeterna’s Reusable Satellites in South Australia NASA’s Two-in-One Satellite Propulsion Demo Begins In-Space Test A Rocket Maker Burned Through Its Cash, Then Eric Schmidt Swooped In Max Space unveils plans for commercial space station - SpaceNews Latest Comet 3I/ATLAS news: One day until the comet is closest to Earth- Space Kiwi team lead ‘out of this world’ study of new comet- UC  Gemini North Color Images Reveal Greenish Glow of Comet 3I/ATLAS- NOIRLab 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An Ariane 6 rocket launched two Galileo satellites from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. A European Space Agency (ESA) contract awarded to ArianeGroup in 2021 for the development of an Ariane 6 kick stage will reportedly be adapted to cover its evolution into an orbital transfer vehicle (OTV). India’s Digantara Industries has raised $50 million in a funding round to develop sovereign space surveillance capabilities, 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 ESA - Galileo’s first Ariane 6 launch strengthens European resilience ESA Member States Fund €100M Ariane 6 ASTRIS Kick Stage Evolution India's Digantara raises $50 million to boost space surveillance push- Reuters China launches new stereo mapping satellite - CGTN Launch of Japan's Michibiki 5 navigation satellite scrubbed late in countdown -Space NASA Launches Research Program for Students to Explore Big Ideas 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US and France held a joint orbital exercise as part of the Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender. EraDrive has raised $5.3M in a seed round to scale the production of their space traffic management system. The US Department of State is seeking qualified individuals to participate as private sector advisors for a discussion group on space situational awareness (SSA), 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 Trevor Smith, Co-founder and CEO of Atomic-6. Selected Reading France, US practice up-close satellite maneuvers under joint space war plan EraDrive CEO announcement Solicitation for Federal Register Notice 12609: Seeking Private Sector Participants for a Discussion Group on the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) Expert Group on Space Situational Awareness - United States Department of State Vast Announces Call for Research Proposals Momentus Completes Key Milestone for Next Launch of Spacecraft with Customer Payloads Earth’s atmosphere may help support human life on the moon 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices