The National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Monday announced that it has awarded Lockheed Martin an up to $194 million contract to build a small rocket called the Mars Ascent Vehicle. The envisioned MAV will load samples collected by the Perseverance rover from the Martian surface and carry them off into orbit, SpaceNews reported Tuesday. […]
The Space Development Agency has demonstrated an autonomous data fusion function using a data processor that was launched into orbit on June 30. Scientific Systems Company Inc. developed the prototype on-orbit experimental testbed, an artificial intelligence-enabled edge computer that supports autonomous data processing in space. It was loaded onto Loft Orbital‘s YAM-3 satellite and was […]
The Space Development Agency and satellite manufacturer General Atomics are mulling their next move after an experiment that began over six months ago has yet to produce positive results. On June 30, GA’s Electromagnetic Systems business launched two CubeSats for the SDA but has, so far, been unable to contact the satellites in orbit, SpaceNews […]
Massachusetts-headquartered EO Vista announced that it has completed the Sensor Final Design Review for the Space Force’s Electro-Optical Infrared Weather System Program. When it goes into full service, the EWS program will provide enhanced weather imaging capabilities beyond those performed by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, which is nearing its end of life, EO Vista […]
The U.S. Space Force and Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate have selected eight companies for a hybrid data movement cohort. The companies will work at The Catalyst Accelerator, an organization that promotes technology advancement for warfighters and supports technology transfer between the government and the private sector. They will develop a hybrid data […]
The National Reconnaissance Office on Wednesday successfully launched into orbit its first satellite for the year 2022. The launch marks the first time the agency has used a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket service procured under the National Security Space Launch program, C4ISRNET reported Thursday. The rocket took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. […]
NASA will postpone the final Space Launch System pre-launch test to give workers more time to complete vehicle preparations. Tom Whitmeyer, deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development at NASA, said the wet dress rehearsal will be moved to mid-March from its planned schedule of mid-February. The latest delay was not because of a single […]
L3Harris Technologies announced on Thursday that it has been selected by the Space Force to continue efforts to upgrade and modernize its space domain awareness, which is used to help combat anti-satellite threats. The latest deal is a follow-on to a 2018 sole-source $53 million contract to develop the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System, […]
The Space Systems Command announced that its Wideband Global SATCOM 11+ program has successfully completed a Critical Design Review, which involved evaluations to ensure optimal capability is delivered to the warfighter. The program has been given a five-year deadline, in hopes of delivering results faster than legacy WGS satellites programs, the SSC said Tuesday. In […]
The Air Force Research Laboratory has just released a new solicitation wherein it called on the industry to demonstrate new space-based internet services that would allow military users to access broadband services through commercial constellations positioned in different orbits, SpaceNews reported Tuesday. The solicitation, which was published Monday, requests interested companies to submit proposals for […]
