Investing in Space: NASA's tool for seeing the solar eclipse

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Every once in a while, the moon gets its moment in the sun. Or rather, in front of the sun.

Monday's solar eclipse across a swath of the U.S. is dominating the space conversation at the moment, as people compare weather forecasts and hunt for last-second spots to get in the path of totality.

In lieu of your regularly scheduled newsletter programming, check out NASA's "Eclipse Explorer" — a helpful way to punch in your local area code and see key information, such as timing and a weather forecast. Here's to clear skies, wherever you may be watching the show!

• Boeing's crewed Starliner flight test delayed to May 6, NASA said, which "optimizes space station schedule of activities planned toward the end of April." – NASA
• ULA may switch payload for the second Vulcan launch, because Sierra Space's cargo Dream Chaser spacecraft currently won't be ready until September. ULA is pushing hard to certify its rocket for national security missions, so the company is reportedly ready to look for alternative payloads to launch its second mission with the rocket sooner. – Ars Technica
• Blue Origin announces crew for NS-25 flight, which will carry Ed Dwight, Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth Hess, Carol Schaller and Gopi Thotakura. Notably, Dwight was the first Black astronaut candidate, selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, but never got the opportunity to fly to space. The company did not disclose NS-25 target launch date, saying that "will be announced soon." – Blue Origin
• The White House wants NASA to create a lunar time standard: Under the "Policy on Celestial Time Standardization in Support of the National Cislunar Science and Technology Strategy," which aims to develop "a strategy by the end of 2026 to create Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), a new time standard based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Earth." – SpaceNews
• Impulse completes its first space tug mission, saying its orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) named Mira finished "all of its primary mission objectives" after four months in orbit. – Impulse
• Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) joins Astroscale's Space Force refueling project, to build and test the small demonstration spacecraft for the $25 million effort which will be called the Astroscale Prototype Servicer for Refueling (APS-R). – SwRI
• Agile opens new test facility in Colorado, to further its capabilities as a spacecraft propulsion manufacturer. – Agile

• Telesat lands $1.6 billion Canadian government loan for Lightspeed, the company's low Earth orbit satellite communications constellation. – Telesat
• NASA awards crew rover development contracts to a trio of teams led by Intuitive Machines, Astrolab, and Lunar Outpost under the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) program. These contracts are small, early stage "feasibility assessment" awards, with the agency effectively narrowing the field of competitors for a program that is expected to be worth as much as $4.6 billion over the next three years. Intuitive Machines was the only company to disclose the value of its contract, worth $30 million over the next 12 months. – NASA / Intuitive Machines
• Muon Space has won over $60 million contracts to build 10 satellites, small spacecraft which the company will design, build and operate for "remote sensing" payloads in the next couple years. – Muon
• Japanese moon company ispace raises about $54 million through a common stock sale on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. – SpaceNews
• HawkEye 360 raises $40 million in debt from Silicon Valley Bank, which the satellite radio frequency analysis company said "will play a crucial role in furthering HawkEye 360's efforts to enhance its technological infrastructure and continue the buildout of its satellite constellation." – HawkEye 360
• Planet signs $20 million deal with Carbon Mapper to provide hyperspectral imagery with its Tanager satellites until 2030. – Planet
• Mitsubishi joins Starlab joint venture as a partner and owner, as the Voyager and Airbus-led JV added the Japanese manufacturing giant as a "strategic partner and equity owner." – Starlab
• Iridium completes acquisition of Satelles, adding a "satellite time and location" (STL) service to the company's offerings. – Iridium

• Terran Orbital warns of debt restrictions in annual filing, disclosing in its 10-K that its previously raised loans from Francisco Partners and Lockheed Martin require the company to at least break even on an adjusted EBITDA basis by the end of 2024 under an "EBITDA Financial Covenant." Terran noted its auditor's opinion of "substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern" was based on Terran's anticipated ability to comply with the covenant. – Terran Orbital
• AST delays launch of first commercial satellites, saying the first five "Block 1 BlueBird" satellites are now expected to be shipped between July and August. – AST SpaceMobile
• Momentus receives another delisting warning, as its stock slid below $1 a share despite the company performing a reverse split last year. – Momentus

• John Plumb leaving Pentagon space policy role, having been confirmed as the first assistant secretary of defense for space policy two years ago. Plumb is a former Aerospace Corp. executive. – SpaceNews
• Bob Cabana joins IBX as a senior advisor, joining Kam Ghaffarian's space-and-energy-focused investment firm having recently left NASA after serving as the agency's associate administrator. – IBX
• Mark Mueller hired by Kayhan Space as VP of Government Growth, coming to the spaceflight safety startup after more than 35 years in U.S. military and intelligence roles. – Kayhan
• Alan Stern joins ispace's American division as an advisor, to help "expand and accelerate its business in the U.S. market." Stern is most well known for his role as the principal investigator of NASA's New Horizons mission, and recently flew to space on a Virgin Galactic flight. – ispace
• Nathan O'Konek departing Redwire as EVP, General Counsel and Secretary, informing the board of his resignation effective April 26. The company said "O'Konek's decision to resign did not arise from any disagreement with the Company on any matters relating to the Company's operations, policies or practices." – Redwire

• April 5: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink satellites from Florida.
• April 5: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink satellites from California.
• April 7: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink satellites from Florida.
• April 9: ULA Delta IV heavy launches NROL-70 mission for the NRO from Florida.
• April 10: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink satellites from Florida.