Space News for Friday, December 08, 2023

In this episode, we aggregate and summarize today's top space news stories. Enjoy!(00:10) Podcast Introduction(00:23) Space Development Agency aims high for 2024 after strong 2023 start(00:53) Lawmakers unveil 2024 defense authorization bill with space priorities(01:29) NASA revises contract strategy for ISS deorbit vehicle(01:52) FCC nod puts Dish-EchoStar merger on home stretch(02:19) Rethink the Mars Program(02:50) NASA working with industry to advance inflatable heat shield technology(03:15) Egypt joins China’s ILRS moon base initiative(03:42) Rocket Lab to launch South Korean satellite – SatNews(04:15) Airbus starts Galileo Second Generation satellite production – SatNews(04:51) Airbus selects Kenya for the 1st HAPS drone hub – SatNews(05:18) Orbex appoints new CCO – SatNews(05:47) Comtech names an industry leader as the firm’s Chief Corporate Development Officer – SatNews(06:19) Australia’s ELO2 consortium’s first prototype Moon rover for NASA’s Artemis mission – SatNews(06:52) Launch Roundup: SpaceX continues toward 100 launch goal