This Week in Launch – #8
Isaacman re-nominated, government shutdown continues, and more
Welcome to the eighth issue of This Week in Launch, a roundup of space-related news posted at the end of each week.
Thank you for joining me! Let’s dive in.
Isaacman Nominated (again)
He’s back baby.
On Tuesday, in a post on Truth Social, President Trump re-nominated Jared Isaacman for NASA admin. Acting admin Sean Duffy — who insiders say has been pulling every string he can to remain in power — ensured everyone in a post on X that he will “ensure the transition is seamless.”
Just days before, a 62-page manifesto by Isaacman dubbed “Project Athena” was leaked in an attempt to scare away support for the admin-elect, likely by Duffy’s team, as they were the only ones in possession of the documents.
The plan pitched running the agency like a lean business, letting commercial space build out proven technology, leaving NASA to “focus on the hard problems” such as nuclear propulsion. Critics call the report reckless, but supporters see it as the shake-up needed to beat China back to the Moon.
“To all the commercial and international partners, we have an extraordinary responsibility--but the clock is running. The journey is never easy, but it is time to inspire the world once again to achieve the near-impossible--to undertake and accomplish big, bold endeavors in space.” – Isaacman, following re-nomination
Isaacman will likely not have to redo his Senate hearing and could be in as soon as this month, so long as politics and the government shutdown don’t get in the way.
Closing the Skies
As the U.S. government shutdown drags into its second month, the FAA announced on Thursday it’ll restrict commercial rocket launches to overnight hours — 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. — starting Nov. 10, blaming staffing shortages and fatigue risks. The restriction also reduces commercial flights at 40 major airports nationwide by up to 10%.
The curfew spares military and NASA, but will likely disrupt SpaceX’s near-daily Starlink launches, unless something changes fast. The timing of the order will still allow Blue Origin to attempt its launch of a Mars-bound probe on Nov. 9 from Cape Canaveral. However, if that launch slips, it will be unable to fly until the order is lifted.
Space Hotels!
On Sunday, Vast Space’s half-ton Haven Demo reached orbit in nominal condition on SpaceX’s Bandwagon-4 ride, unfurling its solar panels to begin tests for the world’s first fully private space station.
The demo will test propulsion, computers, and navigation for Haven-1, a crew-ready habitat targeting a May 2026 launch. Founded in 2021, Vast is the fastest-moving space station company and on track to receive NASA’s contract to replace the aging ISS by 2030.
UK Lawmakers Sound Alarm
Britain doesn’t want to be left behind.
On Tuesday, a UK parliamentary committee declared that the country’s 2021 National Space Strategy has failed, with the nation holding only fragments of the global market and facing further decline without bold moves.
“The Government should conduct research on the potential impacts of loss of access to SpaceX services.”
The report, ‘The Space Economy: Act Now or Lose Out,’ urged swift action on priorities, funding, and coordination, and lamented the UK Space Agency’s merger into a government department as a potential independence killer.
With rivals like SpaceX continuing to build momentum, concerned lawmakers worry that turning ambition into action is a matter of do-or-die.
Russian Spaceport Can’t Even Pay Power Bill
On Thursday, Russia’s troubled spaceport, Vostochny Cosmodrome, hit a new low when the Far Eastern Energy Company cut power to construction zones over $627,000 in unpaid bills from contractor PSO Kazan.
Located in the far east of Russia, the modern, $3 billion facility is one of President Vladimir Putin’s signature projects.
The blackout highlights Vostochny’s distress amid a saga of delays, strikes, and embezzlement. For example, in 2015, Russia’s Prosecutor General reported that $126 million had been stolen during construction. Additionally, a man driving a diamond-encrusted Mercedes was arrested after embezzling $75,000 from the project.
Officials vow to repay the electric bill by month’s end, but the energy company isn’t holding its breath, intending to file a lawsuit against PSO Kazan to declare the entity bankrupt.
“Would you like fries with that?”
On Monday, a new oven delivered to Tiangong was put to quick work by the six people currently living aboard the outpost. The taikonauts went viral, firing up the smokeless oven for history’s first space BBQ of grilled chicken wings and pepper steaks.
The meal not only served as a powerful technology demonstration for the microgravity microwave (which actually functions more like an air fryer), but also provided a welcome flavor of home for the taikonauts.
That’s all for this week. Thank you for reading, and if you have not yet, please consider subscribing.
- David