NASA's planned move of 7,500 contractor positions into civil service raises questions about expertise, accountability and taxpayer value. The episode also covers an EU space-security decision, progress on the Themis demonstrator and Dawn Aerospace's planned German expansion.

• EU deepens collective space security with mutual defense pact — Breaking Defense
• ArianeGroup Completes Second Themis Wet Dress Rehearsal — European Spaceflight
• Dawn Aerospace Expands into Germany Amid Growing Space Defense Investment — SpaceWatch.GLOBAL
• Why is NASA bringing 7,500 contractors back to work as civil servants? — Ars Technica

Source links

• @eu_eeas on X

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

Kratos announced multiple contracts worth more than $100 million combined for space-intelligence and cyber prototype work, while the public details leave key questions about the awards' structure. The episode also covers Open Cosmos' constellation target, the Army's enlisted space specialty, York's GEO mission integration and this week's launch plans.

• Open Cosmos Targets 192 Satellites for ConnectedCosmos LEO Constellation — Via Satellite
• Kratos Reports More Than $100M in Contracts for Space Intelligence Data — Via Satellite

Source links

• spacenews.com

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

• SpaceX (SPCX) Faces FAA Review On 76 Cape Canaveral Starship Launches — finance.yahoo.com
• ESA, CAS release first images from SMILE; officially begin science operations — NASASpaceFlight.com
• Airbus and OHB to Lead ESA Studies on Future European Orbital Outpost as ISS Era Nears End — SpaceWatch.GLOBAL
• @SawyerMerritt on X — X/@SawyerMerritt

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

• U.S. intelligence selects Falcon Heavy for a classified mission for the first time — universemagazine.com
• ESA to pursue crew transport and space stations as European launchers come online — NASASpaceFlight.com
• Weekly ISS update: Joshua Kutryk aboard after record-fast docking — SpaceQ Media Inc.

Source links

• nasa.gov
• @globeandmail on X
• @nasaspaceflight on X
• @SpaceX on X
• spaceflightnow.com

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

A week of launches and crew operations sat alongside changes in military-space leadership and satellite connectivity and Europe's small-launch plans. This recap separates completed events from ventures and vehicles that still have to demonstrate delivery.

• Starship's first orbital flight — @SpaceX on X
• Falcon launches and Dragon docking — @SpaceX on X
• Falcon Heavy set to launch classified NROL-97 to high-energy orbit — NASASpaceFlight.com
• Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Formally Establish Joint Venture for D2D Services — Via Satellite
• Berkowitz out at DoD Space Policy office — Breaking Defense
• Portugal's Omnidea Acquires Orbex Assets, Plans PrimeNEO Rocket — European Spaceflight

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

01:30 Falcon Heavy flew classified NROL-97 mission

02:18 Carriers formally establish satellite venture

03:45 Pentagon space leadership, Miller nominated

04:53 Omnidea bought Orbex assets, plans PrimeNEO

Source links

• @cb_doge on X
• @spacex on X
• spacepolicyonline.com
• spacepolicyonline.com

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

• Iceye Moves into Satcom With Nokia Partnership — Via Satellite
• @elonmusk on X
• Norwegian Government Proposes Paying for Second Andøya Launch Pad — European Spaceflight

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:33 Crew-13 reaches station in fast trip

01:39 ICEYE and Nokia plan sovereign satellites

03:26 Norway proposes funding second launch pad

04:38 Falcon Heavy classified mission

06:56 What the mission shows about Falcon Heavy

Source links

• nasa.gov
• nasa.gov
• @SpaceX on X
• @SpaceX on X
• behindtheblack.com
• spacenews.com

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

The FCC voted to open satellite spectrum and change its environmental-review approach for certain space activities; the practical effects depend on final rules. Varda, Crew-13, and Astranis also feature in today's episode.

• Varda Raises $251M Series D — Payload
• Crew-13 astronauts set for launch to ISS after weeks of delays — NASASpaceFlight.com
• Astranis lands $468M financing to boost MicroGEO satellite manufacturing — SpaceQ
• FCC Continues Deregulation Push with Environmental Regulations and More Spectrum — Via Satellite

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:30 Varda has closed a $251M Series D

01:57 Astronauts scheduled to launch on repaired Dragon

03:07 Astranis gets credit facility for satellites

04:28 FCC opens spectrum and changes NEPA review

07:05 Hype check on the FCC's spectrum vote

Source links

• @nasahqphoto on X
• @SawyerMerritt on X
• spaceq.ca
• spacewatch.global

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

Follow Space Stakes: subscribe on YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.

NASA faces a consequential crew-transport question if SpaceX follows through on reported plans to retire Crew Dragon after International Space Station support. The episode also covers AT&T's challenge to SpaceX's cellular strategy, Blue Origin's New Glenn 9x4 contract eligibility, Astro Digital's proposed SPAC merger, and Northrop Grumman's satellite delivery.

• NASA has a Dragon dilemma, and there appear to be no good answers — Ars Technica
• AT&T CEO remarks on SpaceX cellular strategy — @SawyerMerritt on X
• NASA Adds Blue Origin New Glenn 9×4 to Launch Services Contract — NASA
• Astro Digital Takes SPAC Deal to Scale Satellite Manufacturing — Via Satellite
• 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer Satellites Delivered to Vandenberg — Via Satellite

Chapters

00:00 Today's headlines

00:47 Telecom chief calls satellite plan unviable

01:18 New Glenn 9x4 added to NASA launch catalog

02:30 Astro Digital plans SPAC merger

04:02 Northrop satellites reach Vandenberg

05:23 Crew Dragon access in question

07:47 NASA's crew transport dilemma

Space Stakes is an AI-voiced podcast, built and run by a real person. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

More from Brian Lampert: Quickly Quantum, the daily quantum computing briefing, and Concrete Compute, the daily AI infrastructure briefing. Transcripts and every episode: space-stakes.kngoworld.chatgpt.site.