SpaceNews This Week | Led by SpaceX, space ventures raise nearly $1B in Q1; FCC issues warning in wake of Swarm’s unauthorized launch

April 13, 2018 View this email in your browser Space ventures raise nearly $1 billion in first quarter of 2018, led by SpaceX Jeff Foust, WASHINGTON — A new report concludes space ventures raised nearly $1 billion in the first quarter of 2018, half of that as a new funding round for SpaceX that has the company has yet to publicly announce. The April 10 report by Space Angels, a fund that invests in early-stage space companies, concluded that there was $975.8 million in non-government equity investment in space companies in the first quarter of 2018. That would put the industry on a pace for nearly $4 billion for the year, a figure similar to the estimate made by Space Angels for investment in the industry in 2017. Just over half of that total for the first quarter, though, came from a single investment identified by Space Angels: a $500 million investment in SpaceX led by Fidelity Investments. That investment is intended "to drive development of their satellite communications network, Starlink," the report stated. More launch industry headlines Baikonur Cosmodrome can support polar launches with Proton Medium, ILS says Two commercial suborbital launches delayed Falcon 9 slated to launch Iridium, GRACE-FO satellites May 19   FCC issues warning in wake of Swarm's unauthorized launch Caleb Henry, WASHINGTON —The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on April 12 released an enforcement advisory warning that organizations will be penalized for launching spacecraft without the appropriate regulatory approvals and advised launch providers they should be ready to remove unauthorized spacecraft from their rockets if necessary. "Failure to comply with FCC requirements can and will result in enforcement action," the document states. The FCC didn't specify what punishments will be given to companies that forgo licensing. An FCC official told SpaceNews "the enforcement actions might include monetary forfeitures, among other potential actions." He declined to give further details. More commercial space headlines  Environmental group plans satellite to track greenhouse gas emissions Bullish Globalstar investor offers $150 million loan to offset operator's financial troubles U.K. Space Industry Act to future-proof against Brexit Leidos bests Raytheon for FAA hosted payload contract Mattis to decide future of nuclear command, control and communications Sandra Erwin, WASHINGTON — The classified communications system that keeps the president connected to military forces during a nuclear event is being reviewed amid concerns that the technology is outdated and there is no clear plan to modernize it. "Discussions are taking place at the secretary of defense and chairman levels," said Gen. Robin Rand, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command. The system that connects the president with military forces in a nuclear event includes warning satellites and radars; communications satellites, aircraft, and ground stations; fixed and mobile command posts. More military space headlines In the Trump administration, deep mistrust of Chinese, Russian motives in space Analysts: Space weapons proliferating, there is more congestion and competition Pentagon advisory panel: DoD could take a page from SpaceX on software development Another reason space is a battleground: Satellites will be key weapons in the fight against fake news U.S. military trying to be a player, not a bystander, in the new space race Help wanted to operate and maintain Air Force deep space telescopes Space Command No. 2 takes office • NRO leading the way in innovation NASA may extend space station missions to address potential commercial crew delays Jeff Foust, WASHINGTON — NASA is in discussions with its Russian counterparts about extending some upcoming space station missions as a way to buy more time for development of commercial crew vehicles. During an April 12 hearing by the commerce, justice and science subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee on the agency's fiscal year 2019 budget proposal, NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot said longer "increments" of crews on the ISS could be one way to provide more schedule margin in the event of additional delays by Boeing and SpaceX in the development of their crewed spacecraft. "Right now we don't show a gap" in U.S. access to the International Space Station, Lightfoot said in response to a question posed by subcommittee chairman Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas). "But we're looking at options at what can we do to not have a gap." More civil space headlines Pence to make space policy speech next week Scientists and entrepreneurs lobby for NASA lunar program NASA selects planetary science director as new chief scientist NASA studying sensor issue with Parker Solar Probe SpaceX proposes to conduct Dragon splashdowns in Gulf of Mexico Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Advertise with Us | Privacy Policy | Subscribe Copyright © 2018 SpaceNews Inc., All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: SpaceNews Inc. 1414 Prince St, Suite 204 Alexandria, VA 22314