Maxar

L3Harris Technologies has picked Maxar Space Systems to design and build 18 spacecraft for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program.

The Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility is particularly of interest to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Scientists suspect a metal asteroid the mission will explore may be the remnant of early planet.

The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) within the Commerce Department is set to implement a three-phase plan to assume control of space situational awareness.

Maxar is seeing interest in its Maxar 300, a smaller spacecraft drawn from a bus it is making for L3Harris’ Space Development Agency offering.

SpaceX conducted its 18th Falcon 9 launch of the year on June 6, pausing the deployment of its own Starlink communications network to deliver a 7,500-lb. satellite into orbit for SiriusXM’s digital radio service.

CEO Dan Jablonsky confirmed the company is exploring a wide range of possibilities.