Maj. Gen. DeAnna Burt, vice commander of the Space Operations Command, endorsed the creation of commercial orbital debris removal systems, citing the threat posed by space junk in low Earth orbit to satellites. Relying on commercial solutions to clean up orbital debris is advantageous as it does not come with policy concerns tied to government-run […]
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking ideas for low-Earth orbit-based optical inter-satellite links that will connect government and commercial space communications systems. DARPA will also host a virtual conference on Sept. 22 to discuss requirements with potential bidders. Proposals are due Oct. 4, SpaceNews reported Tuesday. According to a notice issued by the […]
NASA has awarded five fifteen-month contracts totaling $145.8 million for the development of human landing system concepts to ensure a long-term human presence on the Moon. The winning companies are Blue Origin Federation, Dynetics, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and SpaceX. The contractors will have to factor in system performance, design, construction standards, mission assurance requirements, […]
Advancements in computing technology are allowing small satellites to move larger amounts of data across the globe, according to the U.S. Space Force’s chief of space operations. Gen. John Raymond, a speaker at a past Potomac Officers Club event and a two-time Wash100 winner, added that powerful microelectronics in spacecraft will ultimately benefit national security, […]
SpaceX has secured a launch services contract for NASA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-U mission. The GOES-U satellite is designed to provide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s weather, oceans and environment. It also comes equipped with real-time mapping tools for lightning activity and advanced monitoring capabilities for solar activity and space weather. The satellite […]
The Defense Innovation Unit has asked industry to submit proposals for small nuclear-powered engines that can support space missions beyond Earth orbit. According to a recently posted DIU solicitation, the Department of Defense is specifically looking for commercial solutions for “lightweight, portable, and long-duration power sources” that can provide propulsion and on-station power to enable […]
NASA has appointed Shannon Curry as the principal investigator for the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission. Curry assumed her new role on Aug. 31 after serving as a planetary scientist and deputy assistant director of planetary science at the University of California, Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory. She replaces the University of Colorado at Boulder’s […]
The U.S. Space Force is reportedly close to launching a new cybersecurity certification process for operators of commercial communications satellites constellations. Jared Reece, program analyst at the Space Force’s Commercial Satellite Communications Office, said the goal is to ensure that industry can be trusted to conduct proper cybersecurity assessments of their own systems, Breaking Defense […]
Computer software company SpiderOak has received a Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Air Force for work on its OrbitSecure secure communications system designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Under the $750,000 grant, the company will test the technology on military satellites and ground stations. The Air Force expects the result of […]
The Government Accountability Office said in a recent report that the U.S. military is not able to maximize the Mobile User Objective System despite it being operational for more than four years. MUOS is a narrowband satellite communication system that is meant to eventually replace the Navy’s Fleet Satellite and the Ultra High Frequency Follow-On […]
