Rafael Mentges
@mentges.bsky.social
Space Economist. Interested in European Integration, industrial policy, innovation, strategic sovereignty, and of course things like launchers, SatCom, EO ...
I have another profile focused more on my old interests: Macro, monetary policy and banking.
I have another profile focused more on my old interests: Macro, monetary policy and banking.
Pinned
Rafael Mentges
@mentges.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Ok, here is an updated version of my space policy starter pack.
Let's make #BlueSpace the best platform for space news, space econ and space law discussions.
@sharestuff.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/PRWt1qf
Let's make #BlueSpace the best platform for space news, space econ and space law discussions.
@sharestuff.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/PRWt1qf
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
I've summarized the truth about Loeb's 10 "anomalies" about 3I/ATLAS in one post.
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Loeb’s 3I/ATLAS “Anomalies” Explained
Avi Loeb continues to claim that 3I/ATLAS has many anomalous behaviors that lead to the conclusion that it “might” be an alien spacecraft. He carefully hedges the probability that it is a spacecraft ...
sites.psu.edu
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I've summarized the truth about Loeb's 10 "anomalies" about 3I/ATLAS in one post.
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
The president can't pardon cronies facing state charges. He's trying anyway.
Trump issues fake pardons for fake electors
The president can't pardon cronies facing state charges. He's trying anyway.
www.motherjones.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The president can't pardon cronies facing state charges. He's trying anyway.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Hi, Jean. My friend is a Nigerian prince who needs to urgently retrieve $1,000,000 from an abandoned trust from his father.
If you can wire $5,000 today, you will be entitled to 35% of the trust. Please reply at your earliest convenience.
If you can wire $5,000 today, you will be entitled to 35% of the trust. Please reply at your earliest convenience.
Shaheen: "We've heard from a number of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle that they're willing to come to the table, they're willing to work with us once the govt is open to get this done. We've heard the same thing from the White House. So now we'll see if they're really gonna work w/us"
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Hi, Jean. My friend is a Nigerian prince who needs to urgently retrieve $1,000,000 from an abandoned trust from his father.
If you can wire $5,000 today, you will be entitled to 35% of the trust. Please reply at your earliest convenience.
If you can wire $5,000 today, you will be entitled to 35% of the trust. Please reply at your earliest convenience.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Indeed! Let me add that Brexit has led to levelling up by levelling down and this has -- if anything -- benefitted right-wing populists.
brexitcost.org/brexitcost.pdf
brexitcost.org/brexitcost.pdf
November 10, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Indeed! Let me add that Brexit has led to levelling up by levelling down and this has -- if anything -- benefitted right-wing populists.
brexitcost.org/brexitcost.pdf
brexitcost.org/brexitcost.pdf
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Funding for SDA’s next missile tracking contracts diverted to troop payments: Sources
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/11/funding-for-sdas-next-missile-tracking-contracts-diverted-to-troop-payments-sources/
Funding for SDA’s next missile tracking contracts diverted to troop payments: Sources
"When the funding will be authorized, given the shutdown and all the fun there, is a question mark," one industry source told Breaking Defense.
breakingdefense.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Funding for SDA’s next missile tracking contracts diverted to troop payments: Sources
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/11/funding-for-sdas-next-missile-tracking-contracts-diverted-to-troop-payments-sources/
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA
#BlueOrigin is targeting 2:45 PM EST for its second #NewGlenn test flight from #CCSFS. The payload is NASA's ESCAPADE mission, twin satellites that will study the #Mars magnetosphere to determine what happened to the planet's atmosphere.
science.nasa.gov/mission/esca...
#BlueOrigin is targeting 2:45 PM EST for its second #NewGlenn test flight from #CCSFS. The payload is NASA's ESCAPADE mission, twin satellites that will study the #Mars magnetosphere to determine what happened to the planet's atmosphere.
science.nasa.gov/mission/esca...
ESCAPADE - NASA Science
ESCAPADE will use two identical spacecraft to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ magnetic environment.
science.nasa.gov
November 9, 2025 at 10:24 AM
#Space #SpaceCoast #NASA
#BlueOrigin is targeting 2:45 PM EST for its second #NewGlenn test flight from #CCSFS. The payload is NASA's ESCAPADE mission, twin satellites that will study the #Mars magnetosphere to determine what happened to the planet's atmosphere.
science.nasa.gov/mission/esca...
#BlueOrigin is targeting 2:45 PM EST for its second #NewGlenn test flight from #CCSFS. The payload is NASA's ESCAPADE mission, twin satellites that will study the #Mars magnetosphere to determine what happened to the planet's atmosphere.
science.nasa.gov/mission/esca...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
In the coming days, the China Manned Space Agency will decide how Shenzhou-20's Chen Dong, Wang Jie, and Chen Zhongrui will return to Earth, possibly in a newer spacecraft, after a suspected debris strike.
Details -> www.china-in-space.com/p/whats-happ...
Details -> www.china-in-space.com/p/whats-happ...
November 8, 2025 at 8:25 AM
In the coming days, the China Manned Space Agency will decide how Shenzhou-20's Chen Dong, Wang Jie, and Chen Zhongrui will return to Earth, possibly in a newer spacecraft, after a suspected debris strike.
Details -> www.china-in-space.com/p/whats-happ...
Details -> www.china-in-space.com/p/whats-happ...
Excellent piece!
I have a new essay in Bloomberg Weekend about how important government science is to advanced tech like SpaceX's Starship, and what we can expect from big cuts to government R&D:
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
What Happens When the US Stops Funding the Science Behind SpaceX?
NASA’s shrinking budget threatens the public science behind SpaceX’s success, and it could weaken America’s ability to develop breakthrough technologies.
www.bloomberg.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Excellent piece!
Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile Announce New EU Satellite Constellation and Select Germany for European Sovereign Satellite Operations Centre
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
www.businesswire.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile Announce New EU Satellite Constellation and Select Germany for European Sovereign Satellite Operations Centre
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
I'm curious to have the view of the space community on this topic
OHB Plans to Push Back on the Airbus-Thales-Leonardo Merger payloadspace.com/ohb-plans-to...
(Disclaimer: I work at OHB)
#space #spaceindustry
OHB Plans to Push Back on the Airbus-Thales-Leonardo Merger payloadspace.com/ohb-plans-to...
(Disclaimer: I work at OHB)
#space #spaceindustry
OHB Plans to Push Back on the Airbus-Thales-Leonardo Merger
Marco Fuchs, CEO OHB, plans to participate in the antitrust process against the proposed merger between Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo.
payloadspace.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:36 AM
I'm curious to have the view of the space community on this topic
OHB Plans to Push Back on the Airbus-Thales-Leonardo Merger payloadspace.com/ohb-plans-to...
(Disclaimer: I work at OHB)
#space #spaceindustry
OHB Plans to Push Back on the Airbus-Thales-Leonardo Merger payloadspace.com/ohb-plans-to...
(Disclaimer: I work at OHB)
#space #spaceindustry
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
🚨🚨This is stellar investigative journalism by @kaitlintosh.bsky.social and @michelleinezsimon.bsky.social on how #elonmusk is boosting the #british right. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:51 AM
🚨🚨This is stellar investigative journalism by @kaitlintosh.bsky.social and @michelleinezsimon.bsky.social on how #elonmusk is boosting the #british right. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
This is really excellent data journalism... Elon Musk has declared war on the British government, it just doesn't realise it.
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:30 AM
This is really excellent data journalism... Elon Musk has declared war on the British government, it just doesn't realise it.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Europe has successfully launched Copernicus Sentinel-1D aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana.
Its mission? To keep watch over our planet, day and night, through clouds and storms. ↓
Its mission? To keep watch over our planet, day and night, through clouds and storms. ↓
November 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Europe has successfully launched Copernicus Sentinel-1D aboard an Ariane 6 rocket from French Guiana.
Its mission? To keep watch over our planet, day and night, through clouds and storms. ↓
Its mission? To keep watch over our planet, day and night, through clouds and storms. ↓
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Portal Space Systems says its orbit-shifting Starburst spacecraft will take advantage of technologies that are being developed for its more powerful Supernova satellite platform. www.geekwire.com/2025/portal-...
Portal Space Systems introduces Starburst, a new breed of maneuverable spacecraft
Portal Space Systems says that a rapid-maneuverability space vehicle called Starburst will leverage technologies it's already been working on.
www.geekwire.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Portal Space Systems says its orbit-shifting Starburst spacecraft will take advantage of technologies that are being developed for its more powerful Supernova satellite platform. www.geekwire.com/2025/portal-...
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Updated Comet 3I/ATLAS #3IATLAS orbit dropped from JPL Small-Body Database, including measured positions thru Nov 4.
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_l...
The “non-gravitational” acceleration terms in the orbit are *barely statistically significant*…the radial term A1 is (1.11+-0.30)e-7 au/day2 (3.7sig)
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_l...
The “non-gravitational” acceleration terms in the orbit are *barely statistically significant*…the radial term A1 is (1.11+-0.30)e-7 au/day2 (3.7sig)
Small-Body Database Lookup
This website makes extensive use of JavaScript. The top menus will not function without it and most tools will also not work.
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Updated Comet 3I/ATLAS #3IATLAS orbit dropped from JPL Small-Body Database, including measured positions thru Nov 4.
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_l...
The “non-gravitational” acceleration terms in the orbit are *barely statistically significant*…the radial term A1 is (1.11+-0.30)e-7 au/day2 (3.7sig)
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_l...
The “non-gravitational” acceleration terms in the orbit are *barely statistically significant*…the radial term A1 is (1.11+-0.30)e-7 au/day2 (3.7sig)
I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m glad they caught it before departure and that everyone is safe.
#SpaceDebris
#SpaceDebris
November 5, 2025 at 1:18 PM
I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m glad they caught it before departure and that everyone is safe.
#SpaceDebris
#SpaceDebris
The United States are giving feedback on the proposal for an #EUSpaceAct.
It's probably no surprise that they are not too happy about it.
"The US expresses deep concern regarding measures ... that would impose unacceptable regulatory burdens on US providers of space services ..."
It's probably no surprise that they are not too happy about it.
"The US expresses deep concern regarding measures ... that would impose unacceptable regulatory burdens on US providers of space services ..."
European Commission - Have your say
European Commission - Have your say
ec.europa.eu
November 5, 2025 at 11:52 AM
The United States are giving feedback on the proposal for an #EUSpaceAct.
It's probably no surprise that they are not too happy about it.
"The US expresses deep concern regarding measures ... that would impose unacceptable regulatory burdens on US providers of space services ..."
It's probably no surprise that they are not too happy about it.
"The US expresses deep concern regarding measures ... that would impose unacceptable regulatory burdens on US providers of space services ..."
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
The #CopernicusEU Sentinel-1 mission welcomes a new member: Sentinel-1D, launched at 21:02 GMT/22:02 CET from Kourou on Ariane 6 #VA265.
www.esa.int/Applications...
@cnes.fr @euspa.bsky.social @ec.europa.eu @thalesaleniaspace.bsky.social @transport.esa.int
www.esa.int/Applications...
@cnes.fr @euspa.bsky.social @ec.europa.eu @thalesaleniaspace.bsky.social @transport.esa.int
November 4, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The #CopernicusEU Sentinel-1 mission welcomes a new member: Sentinel-1D, launched at 21:02 GMT/22:02 CET from Kourou on Ariane 6 #VA265.
www.esa.int/Applications...
@cnes.fr @euspa.bsky.social @ec.europa.eu @thalesaleniaspace.bsky.social @transport.esa.int
www.esa.int/Applications...
@cnes.fr @euspa.bsky.social @ec.europa.eu @thalesaleniaspace.bsky.social @transport.esa.int
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Trump nominates Musk ally Jared Isaacman for position of NASA chief reut.rs/4qJFUL2
Trump nominates Musk ally Jared Isaacman for position of NASA chief
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was nominating Jared Isaacman, the private astronaut and ally of billionaire Elon Musk, for the office of administrator of NASA.
reut.rs
November 4, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Trump nominates Musk ally Jared Isaacman for position of NASA chief reut.rs/4qJFUL2
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
Via #IntuitiveMachines- Press Release: Intuitive Machines to Acquire Lanteris Space Systems, Creating the Next-Generation Commercial, Civil, and National Security Space Prime - www.intuitivemachines.com/post/intuiti...
Intuitive Machines to Acquire Lanteris Space Systems, Creating the Next-Generation Commercial, Civil, and National Security Space Prime
The combined entity revenue exceeds $850 million*, with positive Adjusted EBITDA*, and $920 million* in backlog Expedites and enhances delivery against key existing contracts, including Near Space Ne...
www.intuitivemachines.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Via #IntuitiveMachines- Press Release: Intuitive Machines to Acquire Lanteris Space Systems, Creating the Next-Generation Commercial, Civil, and National Security Space Prime - www.intuitivemachines.com/post/intuiti...
Next Ariane 6 launch tonight 22h. Let's go! 🚀💪
ESOC mission control has never been more ready. Over the last weeks, our teams have been rehearsing the Copernicus Sentinel-1D launch and crucial early-orbit phase in a set of simulation sessions. Read more about it at: www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
📷ESA - J. Mai
📷ESA - J. Mai
November 4, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Next Ariane 6 launch tonight 22h. Let's go! 🚀💪
German start-up Reflex Aerospace closed a €50M Series A to expand its production capacity. Reflex will use the capital to expand the manufacturing capacity at its facility in Bavaria, which "will be able to churn out 60 to 70 highly complex satellites per year."
Reflex Aerospace Raises €50M Series A
Reflex Aerospace closed a €50M Series A to expand its production capacity and meet the rising demand for European-made sats.
payloadspace.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:35 PM
German start-up Reflex Aerospace closed a €50M Series A to expand its production capacity. Reflex will use the capital to expand the manufacturing capacity at its facility in Bavaria, which "will be able to churn out 60 to 70 highly complex satellites per year."
“On the ISS, we are essentially the lab assistants of the scientists who prepared the experiments on Earth.”
I like this quote by Matthias Maurer (German astronaut). He is such a humble nice guy.
I like this quote by Matthias Maurer (German astronaut). He is such a humble nice guy.
November 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
“On the ISS, we are essentially the lab assistants of the scientists who prepared the experiments on Earth.”
I like this quote by Matthias Maurer (German astronaut). He is such a humble nice guy.
I like this quote by Matthias Maurer (German astronaut). He is such a humble nice guy.
Reposted by Rafael Mentges
This week's launch manifest will feature nine missions launching on seven different rockets, including the second launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.
nasaspaceflight.com/2025/11/laun...
By John Sharp
nasaspaceflight.com/2025/11/laun...
By John Sharp
November 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
This week's launch manifest will feature nine missions launching on seven different rockets, including the second launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.
nasaspaceflight.com/2025/11/laun...
By John Sharp
nasaspaceflight.com/2025/11/laun...
By John Sharp