SANDY HOOK, Conn. - In observance of Veterans Day, Forecast International will not issue an EMarket Alert on November 11, 2025. The next alert will be sent on November 13.

We thank all veterans for their service, dedication and hard work. And thanks to the military families for their support resilience and sacrifice.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: www.forecastinternational.com

CEDAR PARK, Texas -- Firefly Aerospace has completed its acquisition of SciTec, Inc., a U.S. firm specializing in software and data systems for national security applications. The deal, first announced in October, is valued at approximately $855 million, comprising $300 million in cash and$555 million in Firefly shares issued at $50 per share.

The acquisition strengthens Firefly’s position in defense and space technology by pairing its launch, lunar, and in-space vehicle hardware with SciTec’s expertise in artificial intelligence-enabled defense software, data analytics, and mission operations. SciTec’s capabilities include operational support for missile warning and defense, intelligence and surveillance, space domain awareness, and autonomous command and control.

With the addition of more than 475 employees and multiple classified facilities across six sites, Firefly gains expanded capacity for software development, modeling and simulation, and mission operations. The transaction also broadens Firefly’s contracts base within the U.S. intelligence, defense, and national security sectors.

SciTec will continue operating as a wholly owned subsidiary under its existing business model, led by CEO Jim Lisowski, who will report to Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim.

The acquisition marks an important step in Firefly’s shift toward integrated space and defense solutions, positioning the company to compete more directly in national security missions and next-generation space operations.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: www.fireflyspace.com

BREMEN, Germany - How will astronauts survive on future long-duration missions to the Moon or Mars - without resupply from Earth? One possible answer doesn’t grow in fields but is created through fermentation of a bacterial culture that produces a nutrient-rich protein. Together with Finnish food tech pioneer Solar Foods and under the patronage of the European Space Agency (ESA) OHB System AG is bringing this vision into space: the project HOBI-WAN (Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria In Weightlessness As a source of Nutrition) aims to test this innovative method for the first time in microgravity aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The study phase has now begun and is funded by ESA through its Terrae Novae Exploration Program.

The technology is based on a fascinating principle: A nutrient solution containing a bacterial culture is fed in a bioreactor with gaseous hydrogen, oxygen, and CO2 which are being produced directly by the crew or through the life support system of the Station. Unlike on Earth where a pinch of ammonia is used as the nitrogen source, in space urea serves as the nitrogen source for protein synthesis. The bacteria convert these substances through fermentation into Solein - the name of a protein-rich powder that requires neither farmland nor sunlight. The experiment will be housed in a standard middeck locker, a container that has been used on the ISS for many years. It will include all components required for the bioreactor, such as an incubator, sensors, control units, and systems for sample extraction.

The first eight-month study phase will focus on developing a ground-based science model. The goal is to validate the core processes and determine whether the production of the protein-rich powder can also function under microgravity conditions. Solar Foods’ bioprocess technology must be translated into a compact, autonomous system that can operate reliably in space. For example, special cartridges must inject gases without any liquid escaping - a critical aspect, especially given the explosive potential of hydrogen and oxygen mixtures. The experiment box will contain three separate experiments, and astronauts will be required to extract samples during the mission. Thanks to its experience with previous Biolab experiments, the Human Spaceflight Department at OHB knows which materials and components are best suited for use in space.

If the first phase is successful, the next step will be the development of a flight model, with the goal of launching it to the ISS. HOBI-WAN is part of a growing European commitment to closed-loop systems - technologies that provide water, air, and food in a self-sustaining cycle. The results of this project are expected to benefit not only space exploration but also sustainable food solutions on Earth - especially in regions with limited resources.

Source: OHB
Associated URL: https://www.ohb.de/en/news/protein-out-of-thin-air-ohb-to-make-revolutionary-technology-with-solar-foods-for-future-astronauts