Short Takes – 10-30-26 - Space Geek Edition

Pentagon backs Stoke Space launch expansion with $150 million loan commitment. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “Unlike SpaceX’s Starship, which relies on thousands of thermal protection tiles, Stoke is developing a metallic heat shield cooled by liquid hydrogen circulating through internal channels. The system is integrated with an upper-stage engine featuring 24 thrust chambers.” 

Cowboy Space unveils launch vehicle for deploying its orbital data center constellation. SpaceNews.com article. Very ambitious development plan. Pull quote: “Bhatt outlined in the presentation a concept called Trailhead that would combine a factory with a launch site. Each Trailhead would cost about $1 billion to develop and include five launch pads capable of launching 660 megawatts of computing capacity per year, a rate of nearly two launches per day.” 

This company’s plans to deploy space mirrors could jeopardize the night sky for many. TechnologyReview.com article. Pull quote: “That means Reflect Orbital will need permission on a national and local level to reflect sunlight onto the ground, but if the beams spread as much as Kocifaj and his team predict, “the company could need approvals in more than one jurisdiction,” says Hanlon. “There may also be aviation-safety and cross-border questions.”” 

SR-1 on track for late 2028 launch. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “The agency has said little else about development of the mission. In June, Lori Glaze, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, said NASA was working to “streamline the processes” for managing the mission to enable a launch in late 2028. Any delay would push the mission back to the next Mars launch opportunity at the end of 2030.” 

Satellogic and HEO extend non-Earth imaging contract. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “The new agreement is largely an extension of previous agreements, he said, with no new technical capabilities. “We’ll continue to invest in higher agility, better ways to capture this imagery and improving RPO maneuvers,” he said. Satellogic has not modified its imaging satellites to support NEI applications but has updated software for operating the satellites.” 

Landspace tops bid to launch China’s Haolong reusable cargo spaceplane. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “The notice does not describe the payload. However, the 611 Institute, best known for designing fighter aircraft including the J-20, has only one publicly known spacecraft project, the 10-meter-long, 7,000-kilogram Haolong reusable spaceplane for cargo. China National Radio previously reported that Haolong was planned to launch on Landspace’s Zhuque-3, and the tender now appears to formalize that arrangement.” 

Chemical Transportation Incidents – Week of 9-26-26

Reporting Background 

See this post for explanation, with the most recent update here (removed from paywall). 

Data from PHMSA’s online database of transportation related chemical incidents that have been reported to the agency. 

Incidents Summary  

• Number of incidents – 479 (456 highway, 18 air, 5 rail, 0 water) 
• Serious incidents – 0 (0 Bulk release, 0 evacuation, 0 injury, 0 death, 0 major artery closed, 0 fire/explosion, 20 no release)  
• Largest container involved – 30,140-gal DOT 117J100W Railcar {Alcohols, N.O.S.} Bottom overflow valve not completely closed and cap not tool tight. 
• Largest amount spilled – 55-gal Steel Drum {Pine Oil} Drum impacted by pallet during loading. 
• Total amount reported spilled in all incidents – 1154.3-gal 

NOTE: Links above are to Form 5800.1 for the incident described. 

Most Interesting Chemical: Pine Oil: A clear colorless to light amber colored liquid. Contains mainly tertiary and secondary terpene alcohols Produced from the wood of pine trees by extraction or steam distillation. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Hence floats on water. Vapors are heavier than air. Vapors can cause headache, confusion, respiratory distress. Liquid irritates skin. (Source: CameoChemicals.NOAA.gov).  

INSERT UN 1272 Placard 

Review – 3 Advisories and 2 Updates Published – 10-29-26

Today CISA’s NCCIC-ICS published three control system security advisories for products from Siemens and Hitachi Energy (2). They also updated two advisories for products from Hitachi Energy. 

Advisories  

Hitachi Energy Advisory #1 - This advisory describes two vulnerabilities in the Hitachi Energy CoreTec product. One is a third-party (Linux) vulnerability with publicly available exploit. The vulnerabilities were self-reported.  

Hitachi Energy Advisory #2 - This advisory describes two vulnerabilities in the Hitachi Energy TRO600 series products. The vulnerabilities were self-reported. 

Siemens Advisory - This advisory describes an authentication bypass by capture-replay vulnerability in the Siemens Mendix SAML Module. The vulnerability is self-reported. 

Updates  

Hitachi Energy Update #1 - This update provides additional information on the MSM Product advisory that was originally published on September 30th, 2026. The new information includes updating the remediation recommendation. 

Hitachi Energy Update #2 - This update provides additional information on the PCM600 advisory that was originally published on May 5th, 2026. The new information includes releasing remediation for PCM600 v3.1 SP4. 

For more information on these advisories, as well as DTRH looks at PHP2Shell advisories and public exploits, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/3-advisories-and-2-updates-published-197 - subscription required. NOTE: With the PHP2Shell updates included, free subscribers to CFSN will receive their copy by email on Saturday.