Space Force Wants Two More Deep-Space Tracking Radars

By Brian Everstine May 17, 2023
The U.S. Space Force wants two additional deep-space tracking radars deployed.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

Space Force Studies Resurrecting Spitzer Telescope

By Garrett Reim May 15, 2023
The U.S. Space Force has granted Rhea Space Activity a contract to study resurrecting the NASA Spitzer space telescope 186 million mi. away from Earth.
Space

Stratolaunch Talon Separation Test Paves Way For Hypersonic Flight

By Guy Norris May 13, 2023
Hypersonic test developer Stratolaunch successfully completed a key separation test of its Talon vehicle from the Roc carrier aircraft May 13.
Space

DARPA Seeks Commercial Space-Based Radars For Moving Targets

By Steve Trimble May 11, 2023
DARPA is looking for information from companies that already have radars in orbit or that will be operational by Dec. 31, 2024. 
Space

Millennium Space Satellite Production Growth Goes Unexplained

By Garrett Reim May 09, 2023
Small-satellite manufacturer has been teasing its capacity for more than a year.
Space

USSF Posts New Draft RFP For Space Test Program Experiments

By Brian Everstine May 08, 2023
The U.S. Space Force wants industry feedback on its new approach to buying satellites for its space test experiments.
Space

Space-Based Moving Target Indicator Plan A Scaled-Up NRO Design

By Brian Everstine May 03, 2023
The Air Force’s future ground-moving target indication capability from space will be a scaled-up version of an existing NRO-designed constellation.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

The Week in Defense, April 26-May 3, 2023

By Jen DiMascio Apr 26, 2023
Turkish trainer flies; a look at two U.S. Space Force programs; Rocket Lab’s hypersonic test and Biden picks new Army chief.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Space Force Bets On Two Programs For Resilient Data Transport

By Brian Everstine Apr 24, 2023
The U.S. Air Force needs to develop resilient space-based data transport, missile warning, tactical surveillance and navigation that can survive attack.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

SDA Negotiating With FAA For Limited Datalink Tests

By Brian Everstine Apr 20, 2023
The Space Development Agency is negotiating with the FAA for temporary approval to test broadcasting Link 16 datalink from its recently launched satellites.
Space

U.S. Space Force Launching Five Institutes To Advance R&D

By Garrett Reim Apr 20, 2023
The U.S. Space Force is launching five Strategic Technology Institutes to advance R&D for space technology that it believes will be critical.
Space

Space Force Considers More Units To Operate SDA Tranches

By Brian Everstine Apr 20, 2023
The launch of dozens of satellites for a proliferated LEO constellation focused on missile warning and tracking could require more operational units.
Space

Space Force Wants To Quickly Acquire On-Orbit Refueling Services

By Brian Everstine Apr 20, 2023
The Pentagon has tasked the U.S. Space Force to develop on-orbit refueling quickly.
Space

NRO Expects More Secretive GEO Awareness Satellites

By Brian Everstine Apr 19, 2023
The NRO and Space Force will launch the SilentBarker satellite later this year.
Space

U.S. Space Systems Command Imagines Possibilities With Starship

By Garrett Reim Apr 19, 2023
U.S. Space Systems Command is closely watching SpaceX’s launch test of the fully reusable Starship/ Super Heavy launch vehicle, planned for April 20.
Space

NSSL Phase 3, Lane 1 Open To Heavy, Superheavy Lifters

By Irene Klotz Apr 18, 2023
The U.S. Space Force’s upcoming competition for national security space launch service will be open to novel heavy- and superheavy new boosters.
Commercial Space

Spacecom ‘On Track For FOC’ Despite No Final Basing Decision

By Brian Everstine Apr 18, 2023
U.S. Space Command says it is on track to reach full operational capability by year's end, although its biggest hurdle has yet to be cleared.
Space

Spacecom: U.S. Has Tracked 11,000 Launches In Ukraine-Russia Conflict

By Brian Everstine Apr 18, 2023
The U.S. military says it has tracked more than 11,000 missile launches during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Space

Space Safari’s Victus Nox Approaches ‘Hot Standby’ Phase

By Garrett Reim Apr 18, 2023
U.S. Space Force is attempting to launch a satellite within days of its call-up.
Space

Space Force To Award Blue Origin New Glenn NSSL Phase 3 Study

By Irene Klotz Apr 14, 2023
The U.S. Space Force plans to award a sole-source contract to Blue Origin for early integration studies for upcoming NSSL missions.
Commercial Space

Boeing To Fly Prototype Payload On Next WGS Satellite

By Jen DiMascio Apr 13, 2023
Boeing’s Protected Satcom Prototype payload is scheduled to fly on the 11th Wideband Global Satcom satellite, Boeing said April 13.
Space

Boeing Delivers Third, Fourth O3b mPOWER Satellites To SES

By Garrett Reim Apr 11, 2023
Boeing has delivered its third and fourth O3b mPOWER satellites to communications company SES.
Commercial Space

Space Force Urges Prioritizing Ground Control Systems Ahead Of Launch

By Brian Everstine Apr 10, 2023
The worst-performing space acquisition programs are all software-intensive command and control.
Space

True Anomaly Raises $17m For ‘Jackal’ Orbital Pursuit Spacecraft

By Garrett Reim Apr 06, 2023
True Anomaly has raised a $17 million Series A round of capital for further testing of its Jackal spacecraft, an “autonomous orbital pursuit vehicle.”
Space

USSF Buys Three More Millennium Space Systems Missile Tracking Sats

By Brian Everstine Apr 06, 2023
The U.S. Space Force will buy three additional Millennium Space Systems space vehicles for its Missile Track Custody program.
Space