Welcome to our sixteenth Monthly Dose of Space! In this monthly newsletter, we bring you major news from the past month we haven't covered in our weekly newsletters. January has kicked off 2025 with great momentum, so let's jump into it!

News of the Month

January saw news of a major contract award for ESA's Argonaut lunar lander, the Wenchang Commerical Space Launch Site expanding, Orbex receiving more state funding, China's Qianfan mega-constellation expanding into Kazakhstan, and continued progress toward NASA's Artemis II mission.

OSIRIS-REx may have found life?

A top-down view of the OSIRIS-REx Touch-and-Go-Sample-Acquisition-Mechanism head with the lid removed, revealing samples of asteroid Bennu inside. ©Erika Blumenfeld/Joseph Aebersold/NASA
A top-down view of the OSIRIS-REx Touch-and-Go-Sample-Acquisition-Mechanism head with the lid removed, revealing samples of asteroid Bennu inside. ©Erika Blumenfeld/Joseph Aebersold/NASA

NASA announced on January 29th that after studying samples from asteroid Bennu that the asteroid hosted several of the ingredients needed for life. These samples were retrieved back on Earth in late September 2023. The details about what was found are a little complicated and NASA does a good job of explaining so we'll let them do the explaining, which is as follows:

"In research papers published Wednesday in the journals Nature and Nature Astronomy, scientists from NASA and other institutions shared results of the first in-depth analyses of the minerals and molecules in the Bennu samples, which OSIRIS-REx delivered to Earth in 2023."
"Detailed in the Nature Astronomy paper, among the most compelling detections were amino acids – 14 of the 20 that life on Earth uses to make proteins – and all five nucleobases that life on Earth uses to store and transmit genetic instructions in more complex terrestrial biomolecules, such as DNA and RNA, including how to arrange amino acids into proteins."
"Scientists also described exceptionally high abundances of ammonia in the Bennu samples. Ammonia is important to biology because it can react with formaldehyde, which also was detected in the samples, to form complex molecules, such as amino acids – given the right conditions. When amino acids link up into long chains, they make proteins, which go on to power nearly every biological function."
"These building blocks for life detected in the Bennu samples have been found before in extraterrestrial rocks. However, identifying them in a pristine sample collected in space supports the idea that objects that formed far from the Sun could have been an important source of the raw precursor ingredients for life throughout the solar system."
"Ranging from calcite to halite and sylvite, scientists identified traces of 11 minerals in the Bennu sample that form as water containing dissolved salts evaporates over long periods of time, leaving behind the salts as solid crystals."
"Although scientists have previously detected several evaporites in meteorites that fall to Earth’s surface, they have never seen a complete set that preserves an evaporation process that could have lasted thousands of years or more. Some minerals found in Bennu, such as trona, were discovered for the first time in extraterrestrial samples."

To summarise, the study of the Bennu asteroid samples found crucial building blocks for life, such as amino acids, nucleobases, ammonia, and formaldehyde, indicating that asteroids may have provided life's key ingredients. The samples also contained water-evaporated minerals, some of which were discovered for the first time in an extraterrestrial material, providing new insights into the early chemistry of the solar system.

For a better understanding of the solar system and what was found, more sample retrieval missions to more asteroids will be needed along with those to other celestial bodies. Speaking about the study, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA Goddard Jason Dworkin said:

“Data from OSIRIS-REx adds major brushstrokes to a picture of a solar system teeming with the potential for life. Why we, so far, only see life on Earth and not elsewhere, that’s the truly tantalizing question.”

Artemis II booster stacking continues

NASA teams stacking SLS' solid rocket boosters inside the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building. ©Kim Shiflett/NASA
NASA teams stacking SLS' solid rocket boosters inside the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building. ©Kim Shiflett/NASA

NASA shared on January 24th that it had stacked the sixth solid rocket booster segment for Artemis II's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. So far the agency has stacked two of the left booster segments and four of the right booster segments.

In the coming weeks, NASA stated that its teams will return to stacking the left booster, bringing it to three segments tall. All parts needed for SLS boosters are believed to be at the Kennedy Space Center for each booster to be five segments tall along with their avionics and nose assemblies.

Later this year NASA is expecting to stack the SLS core stage between the two solid rocket boosters, followed by the rockets interstage and then the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage. Artemis II's Orion spacecraft is also undergoing testing at the Kennedy Space Center before it is placed atop SLS. NASA is currently hoping to have SLS at Launch Complex 39B no later than April 2026.

ESA awards near billion-dollar contract for lunar lander

Thales Alenia Space announced on January 30th that it had signed a contract with the European Space Agency worth 862 million Euros (approximately 897.9 million United States Dollars) for the agency's Argonaut lunar lander. Thales Alenia Space's contract will see the company develop Argonaut's Lunar Descent Element, critical for powering the spacecraft to the lunar surface after launch.

Speaking on the contract award, Thales Alenia Space's Chief Executive Officer Hervé Derrey said:

“Thanks to this astonishing space vehicle, tons of cargo will be delivered to the Moon’s surface, including rovers, scientific missions and many more. This new element of the Artemis program will serve at facilitating long-duration manned lunar exploration missions and will be crucial to increase European autonomy in lunar exploration. The Moon will also serve as a stepping stone for crewed missions into deep space, with Mars being the next stage of the journey."

The European Space Agency's Argonaut lunar lander is planned to be capable of carrying 2,000 kilograms of cargo to the lunar surface in support of NASA's Artemis Program. Argonaut's cargo is said to include rovers, crewed mission supplies, as well as lunar power infrastructure. The first mission for the spacecraft is planned for around 2031.

Wenchang Commercial begins second construction phase

Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. announced on January 25th that it had started phase two of construction at the Wenchang Commerical Space Launch Site. This second phase of construction is set to take place across approximately 1.4 square kilometers to build two new launch pads, as well as another command and control center, a rocket assembly and testing building, and a tracking, telemetry, and command station.

These new launch pads, dubbed Commercial Launch Pad 3 and 4, are set to be liquid propellant multi-user launch pads, supporting various privately and state-developed rockets. Once operational the two new pads could be capable of supporting around sixteen launches per year each for well over at least fifty missions annually able to be supported across the launch site, thanks to the existing multi-user pad and the Long March 8 series pad.

Officials of Wenchang Commercial believe they can have the two new launch pads and their support facilities complete within twenty-four months, with a hopeful completion date eighteen months out. A representative of Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. told Chinese media the following about the expansion:

"The expansion of the project will greatly enhance the launch capabilities of the spaceport, help meet the growing demand for commercial launches in China, drive the continuous improvement of the aerospace industry chain, and create a hub for leading talent and technological innovation"

Qianfan moves into Kazakhstan

Reported on January 24th, Spacesail, operator of the Qianfan mega-constellation, has set up a Kazakh subsidiary called Spacesail Kazakhstan with 17 million United States Dollars in registered capital. Through the subsidiary, Spacesail is reported to be planning to establish a local facility to integrate its satellite internet services with Kazakhstan’s communication infrastructure.

According to the report, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry is expected to formalize cooperation with Spacesail by signing a memorandum of understanding within the year, after which a detailed timeline for the satellite internet rollout in Kazakhstan will be announced. Currently, Spacesail is expecting to provide regular internet coverage in China and surrounding regions by the end of 2025, and regular internet coverage worldwide by the end of 2027.

Qianfan is set to compete with SpaceX's Starlink services in the coming years by offering a service from a more predictable partner, the Chinese government, compared to a U.S. company. A few months ago on November 19th, Brazil signed an agreement with Spacesail to introduce the constellations services to the country.

Orbex receives new state funding

On January 29th the government of the United Kingdom announced that it would award Orbex, a British launch company, 20 million British pounds (approximately 24.9 million United States Dollars) in investment. The small island nation's government hopes that the investment will position Britain as a leading international partner and cooperator in Europe’s access to space. Speaking on the funding award Technology Secretary Peter Kyle stated:

"By investing £20 million in this rocket launch, we are not only helping the country to become a leading destination for small satellite launches in Europe but bringing highly skilled jobs and investment to communities and organisations across the UK" – "Supporting Orbex’s launch will also turbocharge the country’s position in the space sector and inspire our next generation of space professionals, who will be able to design, test, build and launch British rockets, carrying British satellites, from British soil."

Orbex was founded in 2015 to conduct a private robotic lunar mission but pivoted into a launch company in 2016 after underfunding its lunar goals. Currently, Orbex is developing its Prime launch vehicle, capable of carrying 180 kilograms into Earth orbit. So far the only hardware shown off for Prime was an inert 'prototype' in May 2022.

This new funding has been criticized by a member of the Scottish Parliament, a semi-autonomous region of the United Kingdom. Ariane Burgess is urging Orbex to clarify how they will use the new state funding as the company recently mothballed a launch site in Scotland's Sutherland region, for which they received 14.24 million British pounds (17.7 million United States Dollars). The majority of that funding came from the Scottish government.

Launches of the Month

This month saw twenty-two launches worldwide, beginning a busy year. If you want to know what each launch was we have them all listed below!

January 4th - Falcon 9 with Thuraya 4-NGS

Beginning 2025's launches was a Falcon 9 flying from Space Launch Complex 40 with the Thuraya 4-NGS communications, on behalf of UAE-based Al Yah Satellite Communications, to a geostationary transfer orbit. Supporting this year's first mission was B1073 for its twentieth flight, with a landing on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas' downrange.

January 6th - Long March 3B/E with Shijian-25

China’s first launch of 2025 blasted off from Launch Complex 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center with a Long March 3B/E sending Shijian-25 toward geostationary transfer orbit. Shijian-25 is stated as being a technological demonstration mission for refueling other spacecraft along with extending their operational lives.

A Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida, carrying twenty-four Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. Supporting this launch was booster B1077, making its seventeenth flight and landing downrange on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions'.

Another Falcon 9 carried twenty-one Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A, in Florida. Booster B1086 supported this mission for its third flight, with a landing on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas' downrange.

January 10th - Falcon 9 with NROL-153

SpaceX launched another Falcon 9 with a batch of Starshield satellites, the military version of Starlink, from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California. This mission was supported by booster B1071, making its twenty-second flight and landing downrange on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You'.

Another batch of Starlink satellites were launched to low Earth orbit atop of a Falcon 9 flying from Space Launch Complex 40. Booster B1067 supported this launch for its twenty-fifth flight, with it landing on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions' downrange.

January 13th - Jielong-3 with ten CentiSpace-1 satellites

A Jielong-3 blasted off from the Dongfang Hangtiangang launch platform off the coast of Haiyang in the Yellow Sea carrying ten CentiSpace-1 satellites into low Earth orbit. The CentiSpace-1 satellites are part of a planned constellation of up to 190 satellites to provide high-accuracy global navigation services.

A Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida, carrying twenty-one Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This launch was supported by booster B1080, making its fifteenth flight and landing downrange on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas'.

January 14th - Falcon 9 with Transporter-12

SpaceX performed its twelfth dedicated rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit carrying 131 satellites atop of Falcon 9 flying from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California. Supporting this mission was B1088 on its second flight, landing at Landing Zone 4 back in California.

January 15th - Falcon 9 with two lunar landers

From Launch Complex 39A, in Florida, Falcon 9 rocket blasted off to a lunar transfer orbit carrying Firefly's Blue Ghost and ispace's Hakuto-R lunar landers. Supporting the launch of the two landers was booster B1085, for its fifth mission and landing on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions' downrange. Details about both lunar landers are available here.

January 16th - New Glenn for its maiden flight

Blue Origin performed the first mission for its New Glenn launch vehicle, sending its second-stage and the Blue Ring prototype into medium Earth orbit. New Glenn's first-stage booster, called 'So You're Telling Me There's a Chance', was aiming to land on the drone ship, named 'Jacklyn', downrange but the booster was lost during descent. More details about the maiden mission are available here.

January 16th - Starship-Super Heavy for its seventh flight test

SpaceX conducted Starship-Super Heavy's seventh flight test from the company's Starbase launch site, near Boca Chica in south Texas. This flight test utilized Ship 33 and Booster 14. During the test flight Booster 14 was caught by the tower back at the launch site while Ship 33 was lost during ascent. More details about this flight test are available here.

January 17th - Long March 2D with PRSC-EO1 and two other satellites

A Long March 2D blasted off from Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center carrying three satellites into sun-synchronous orbit. These satellites were Pakistan's PRSC-EO1 resource monitoring satellites, the Lantan-1 ocean monitoring satellite, and the Tianlu-1 remote sensing satellite.

January 20th - Ceres-1 with Jitianxing-A-05 & four Yunyao-1 satellites

Galactic Energy launched its Ceres-1 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center carrying Jitianxing-A-05 and four Yunyao-1 satellites to low Earth orbit. Jitianxing-A-05 is an optical remote-sensing satellite part of a planned small constellation and the four Yunyao-1 satellites, numbered 37 through 40, are part of Yunyao Aerospace’s meteorology constellation.

Falcon 9 lifted off from Launch Complex 39A, in Florida, carrying twenty-one Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. The booster supporting this mission was B1083 for its eighth mission, with a landing on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas' downrange.

Another Falcon 9 launched from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California, carrying twenty-seven Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. Supporting this mission was booster B1082, flying for the tenth time and landing downrange on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You'.

January 23rd - Long March 6A with Qianfan Polar Group 06

A Long March 6A blasted off from Launch Complex 9A at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying eighteen Qianfan satellites into low Earth orbit, for the fourth launch of the constellation. With the launch of Polar Group 06 the Qianfan constellation now has seventy-two satellites in orbit.

January 23rd - Long March 3B/E with TJSW-14

A Long March 3B/E lifted off from Launch Complex 2 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the TJSW-14 satellite to a geostationary transfer orbit. TJSW-14's uses may include satellite communications, radio, television, data transmission, as well as technology testing and verification.

Sadly either the first-stage or booster, it is unknown which at this time, fell close to a residential area at roughly 23:50 pm local time. As is standard after booster-related incidents, nearby residents were asked to shelter outside and away from the debris. Meanwhile, teams closed off and cleaned up the debris shortly after.

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E carrying twenty-three Starlink satellites. Booster B1063 supported this launch for its twenty-thrid mission, with a landing on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' downrange.

Another Falcon 9 flew to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 carrying twenty-one satellites. The booster supporting this mission was B1076, making its twentieth flight and landing on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas' downrange.

January 29th - GSLV MkII with NVS-02

A GLSV MkII rocket carried the NVS-02 (IRNSS-1K) satellite to a geostationary transfer orbit from India's Satish Dhawan Space Center. NVS-02 is part of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). This launch was also the 100th from the Satish Dhawan Space Center.

January 30th - Falcon 9 with SpainSat NG-I

SpaceX launched the SpainSat NG-I spacecraft, a satellite for the Spanish military, atop of Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A. Booster B1073 supported this mission for its twenty-first and final flight.

Launches to look out for in February!

February will continue the busy year of launch, possibly with another rocket's maiden flight. Listed below are all of the launches expected or very likely to happen next month, launches on the 1st of February may have already occurred due to when this newsletter is published.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 is expected to carry a batch of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E.

February 2nd - H3 with Michibiki-6

A H3 rocket is planning to liftoff from the Tanegashima Space Center carrying a navigation satellite to geostationary transfer orbit.

A Falcon 9 is expected to carry a batch of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40.

February 3rd - Electron for 'IoT 4 You and Me'

Rocket Lab is planning to perform its fourth Electron launch for Kinéis' Internet of Things constellation with liftoff expected from the company's facility on the Māhia Peninsula.

February 3rd - Falcon 9 with WorldView Legion 5 & 6

Another Falcon 9 is expected to launch from Launch Complex 39A carrying two WorldView Legion satellites into low Earth orbit for Maxar.

February 4th - New Shepard with NS-29

Blue Origin is planning to perform a sub-orbital mission with its New Shepard vehicle from its West Texas launch site carrying various science experiments briefly above the Kármán line.

February 11th - Long March 8A for its maiden flight

The Long March 8A may perform its debut mission from Launch Complex 201 at the Wenchang Space Launch Site.

February 26th - Ariane 6 with Composante Spatiale Optique-3

An Ariane 6 is expected to fly into sun-synchronous orbit from the Guiana Space Center carrying the Composante Spatiale Optique-3 optical imaging satellite for the French military.