Space

Raytheon’s Blue Canyon opens expanded small satellite production facility

The Boulder, Colorado-based company produces a range of small space vehicles for customers at the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA, and its new 31,000 square foot plant is dedicated to building cubesats.

US spy agency sends another satellite to space in show of rapid launch capability

The Pentagon's National Reconnaissance Office says the two recent missions demonstrate the United States’ agility and speed in space intelligence.

Space-Based Infrared satellite launch to complete missile warning system

The Lockheed Martin-built satellite, the sixth and final SBIRS vehicle to launch to geosynchronous orbit, lifted off the morning of Aug. 4 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Lockheed to launch space-based test bed for joint all-domain operations

The testbed is scheduled to be on orbit in time for next year's Northern Edge exercise hosted by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Senators seek $2 billion Space Force budget boost for missile defense, responsive launch

In a report released with its bill, the committee labeled space as one of its top priorities, noting that the proposed increase is focused on hypersonic missile tracking capabilities and would support the Space Force’s shift to a more resilient, distributed architecture.

Saltzman nominated to lead Space Force

Saltzman would be the second person to serve as the Space Force’s top officer since the service was created.

Pentagon renames UFO office, expands mission to include ‘transmedium’ objects

Earlier this year, Congress held its first hearing on UFOs in over a half century. During the hearing, lawmakers questioned Pentagon officials for more information about sightings of UFOs, with many lawmakers voicing criticism about a lack of transparency surrounding the issue.

Pentagon’s National Reconnaissance Office says latest launches demonstrate speed, agility

To highlight the speed and agility of multi-day launches, the NRO launched the NROL-162 mission that will provide all sectors of the U.S. national security apparatus with intelligence.

L3Harris, Northrop picked for $1.3 billion hypersonics tracking satellite project

Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear on Monday declined to say who else was interested in furnishing the systems, but did say the competition was healthy and heating up.

‘Space is where we need to go’: US Air Force preparing networked infrastructure for new mission

The two services have been conducting reviews and meeting with industry over the last year to define their distinct roles in providing tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and develop a plan for a space-based ground moving target indicator capability.

Putin makes changes to arms industry, space agency leadership

The reshuffle follows reported flaws and deficiencies in Russian weapons programs highlighted by the military action in Ukraine.

Commentary

Senate must back creation of ‘Space National Guard’ to end a needless division

A brain drain in the space arena will have detrimental effects on our national security and our states’ readiness, and creating a Space National Guard is the best, most cost-efficient way to prevent that from happening.

US Space Force plan for rapid satellite launches may finally take off

The Space Force may finally be ready embrace the concept for responsive launch. Outside experts and military officials point to recent and planned demonstrations, momentum in the commercial sector and a growing acknowledgement of the threats to military space assets as reasons to think the service may overcome the bureaucratic, budgetary and technological hurdles that have slowed this effort over the last two decades.

US Space Force wants new commercial imagery tool to boost resiliency

The Air Force Research Laboratory and the Space Force are working to transition a lab-developed interface called the Global Unified Environment that would allow combatant commands to buy satellite imagery from commercial providers and allied partners.

US Space Force rapid capabilities office to deliver first project this year

Projects managed by the Space Rapid Capabilities Office are classified, but the director of the organization told reporters initial deliveries are coming in late 2022 and 2023.

Spaceflight experiment Recurve launches in support of warfighter comms

The launch of Recurve reveals the latest technological advancements in radio frequencies and information transmission in the increasingly contested environment of space.

Air Force Research Lab begins integration, testing for experimental navigation satellite

Navigation Technology Satellite-3 will showcase advanced capabilities that could improve future GPS satellites or inform a new program to augment today’s constellation.

Space Force mulls new acquisition approach for next phase of medium, heavy launches

The Space Force hasn’t finalized its plans for Phase 3 of its National Security Space Launch program, but its new acquisition executive said this week it is considering the possibility of including more launch vehicle classes as part of the contract.

Battlefield 360

US Army awards $72 million for new phase in next-gen ground system effort

The Army awarded Palantir Technologies and Raytheon Technologies $36 million each to turn their TITAN designs into prototypes, and the service plans to choose a single provider at the end of the 14-month phase.

Space Development Agency plans for ‘enduring’ satellite experimentation testbed

The initial solicitation will be for 10 satellites, the agency expects the program to provide an “enduring” test and experimentation capability.

How Russia telegraphed invasion of Ukraine in space and online

While the discussion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at Europe’s largest land warfare tradeshow has focused on how militaries fight on the ground, Major Gen. Michel Friedling, the head of France’s Space Command, said Russia’s use of cyber and space weapons sent a critical message.

Space Force envisions digital future for testing and training

The Space Force is on a path toward creating a National Space Test and Training Complex, but the endeavor also presents some challenges — most of which lie in creating virtual training and testing environments that realistically depict the space domain.

Air Force using AI to improve weather models for military planning

“When planning military operations,” the deputy CIO said, “the weather can be a huge determiner of success or failure.”

Space Force urged to use single company for managing national security launch integration

As the service projects an increase in national security launch missions in the coming years, a House panel wants the Space Force to consider using a common launch integrator to reduce costs and drive out risk.

How Space Development Agency contractors are mitigating supply chain issues

Early planning, as well as collaboration and problem solving from its prime contractors, has helped SDA lessen the impact of supply chain issues that have affected the space industry in recent years.