SpaceX may see a significant increase in 2023 revenue. Payload's Mo Islam has released his projection for SpaceX's revenue in 2023 and predicts the company will draw in $11.5 billion this year. If true, this would represent a substantial leap from his predicted revenue for 2022 of $4.6 billion. It is important to state up front, of course, that the privately held company's revenues are not something that is publicly available. So these are educated guesses. All the same, this would be a sizable leap in revenue.
Is SpaceX now a satellite company first? ... As part of these projections, Islam expects 87 orbital launches in 2023 for SpaceX, with a sizable jump in revenue from commercial Falcon 9 and government Falcon Heavy missions. Revenue from Starlink is also expected to grow substantially, from $1.9 billion last year to $5.4 billion in 2023. In other words, based on revenue, SpaceX is now more a satellite company than a launch company. "Ultimately, we recognize predicting SpaceX's revenue is extremely challenging, given the multitude of variables we've laid out here," Islam concludes. "In fact, we know that even some investors in SpaceX don't have accurate data around historical financials or projections." It would also be fascinating to know SpaceX's expenses. (submitted by brianrhurley)
Soyuz rescue mission ready for launch. The main Russian space corporation, Roscosmos, is set to conduct an uncrewed flight of a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of a plan to replace the stricken Soyuz MS-22 vehicle, NASASpaceflight.com reports. The MS-23 mission will launch atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan no earlier than Friday, February 24, at 00:24 UTC.
Bringing some spare cargo ... The primary aim of the Soyuz MS-23 mission is to replace the existing Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, which sprang a coolant leak in its thermal management system while docked to the Russian segment of the International Space Station in December. Since Soyuz MS-23 will fly without crew on board, much like a Progress mission, the spacecraft will conduct its mission autonomously until its docking with the ISS. Roscosmos will use the opportunity to deliver 429 kg of equipment and supplies to the station's crew.
Japan now targeting March 10 for H3 debut. The debut launch of the H3 rocket was aborted last week after a problem in the electrical system that supplies power to the main engine was detected, The Japan News reports. The Japanese space agency, JAXA, reported its findings to an expert panel of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Ministry on Wednesday. JAXA funded development of the rocket, which was designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The rocket itself is fine ... The H3 rocket's scheduled launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on the morning of February 17 was canceled moments before liftoff. A control unit detected an anomaly after the main engine ignited, so ignition signals were not sent to the booster rockets. JAXA has confirmed there was no damage to the rocket's fuselage or the government's Daichi-3 Earth observation satellite that was on board. JAXA now aims to launch its new rocket during a window that runs through March 10. (submitted by Ken the Bin)
Crew-6 launch slips a day. After a lengthy flight readiness review on Tuesday, NASA and SpaceX decided to delay the liftoff of the Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station to Monday, February 27 at 1:45 am ET (06:45 UTC). The extra day will allow launch teams to work through a few minor issues with Endeavour and the Falcon 9, Space.com reports. Team members want to further analyze the thermal performance of the "pod panels" that cover Endeavour's exterior, said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Oh those pressure vessels ... They also want to look at the composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) in the Falcon 9, bottles of helium that reside in the rocket's liquid-oxygen tank. "We have... some testing and analysis to go to make sure that those are good for flight," Stich said of the COPV work during Tuesday's news briefing. NASA and SpaceX expect Crew Dragon Endeavour and its Falcon 9 rocket ride to be cleared for liftoff when this upcoming work is complete. (submitted by Ken the Bin)
Texas to make major investment in space. As part of the state's biennial budget process, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called on the state legislature to provide $350 million to create and fund a Texas Space Commission for the next two years, Ars reports. "Further investment will cement Texas as the preeminent location for innovation and development in this rapidly growing industry," Abbott said. "Due to increased competition from other states and internationally, further planning and coordination is needed to keep Texas at the cutting edge." The measure is expected to pass.
SpaceX, Blue Origin to get seats ... The proposed commission would "focus on policy and arranging statewide strategy by monitoring local, state, and federal policies and opportunities and establishing an economic ecosystem for Texas' space enterprises." It would include 15 members, including those appointed by political officials, as well as an appointee each from SpaceX and Blue Origin. Both of these companies have a sizable presence in the state with spaceports and large workforces, each dating back nearly two decades.
Luna 25 mission launch targeted for July. Russia plans to launch its first lunar space mission in modern times on July 13, the Anadolu Agency website reports. "The launch of the Luna-25 spacecraft is scheduled for 13.07.2023, taking into account the astronomical 'window' in 2023," Roscosmos said in a statement. The spacecraft will launch on a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
A long wait for a lunar mission ... Luna 25 is a lander, with a primary mission of proving out the technology for a soft landing on the Moon. It will carry about 30 kg of payload to the Moon's surface. This is a relatively modest ambition, but Luna 25 is nonetheless a significant mission for the country—it is the first domestically produced lunar spacecraft in post-Soviet Russia. It is intended to land in a small crater not all that far from the South Pole of the Moon. (submitted by BH)
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