The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency will likely demo only two payloads for its Blackjack program. According to program manager Stephen Forbes, while the payload lineup has not yet been finalized, it has been decided that Blackjack satellites will carry a radio frequency package for communications and geolocation, as well as an overhead persistent infrared […]
The Space Force is expected to solicit bids for a new space radar program aimed at persistently tracking objects in geosynchronous orbit. On or before June 30, the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Enterprise Consortium will issue a request for prototype proposals for the Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept, a project that the Air […]
NASA is requesting more than $11 billion in an upcoming infrastructure bill, according to Administrator Bill Nelson. In a virtual hearing by the House Appropriations Committee’s commerce, justice and science subcommittee, Nelson said that the agency has submitted to Congress requests for funding that would be used for the Human Landing System program and for […]
Virgin Galactic will push through with the test flight of its VSS Unity suborbital spaceplane after resolving a detected maintenance issue with its mothership, VMS Eve. VSS Unity is scheduled for launch on May 22 at the Spaceport America in New Mexico. The SpaceShipTwo-class spaceplane will be operated by two pilots and carry research payloads […]
Firefly Aerospace has selected SpaceX to launch its first lunar lander mission for NASA. In a May 20 announcement, Firefly said that SpaceX will use its Falcon 9 rocket to launch the Blue Ghost lunar lander in 2023, carrying 10 payloads for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Firefly won a CLPS contract worth $93.3 […]
SES Government Solutions received a task order to provide medium Earth orbit satellite services for a combatant command customer. Under the terms of the task, the company deployed an O3b MEO reachback capability to support the mission-critical communication needs of the combatant command. The solution gives deployed warfighters access to fiber-like connectivity even in austere […]
The Space Force has launched the SBIRS GEO 5 satellite via an Atlas V rocket that lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida. SBIRS GEO 5 achieved geosynchronous orbit on May 18, making it the fifth and penultimate addition to the Space Based Infrared System constellation, which was designed for early missile warning. […]
Parsons has been awarded a potential $185 million task order to support the Space Force’s Integrated Solutions for Situational Awareness system. ISSA is a government-owned software package used by the Department of Defense and federal civilian agencies. The tool is used for creating code, applications and modules in support of warfighters and analysts. The cost-plus-fixed-fee […]
SpaceX has launched 52 additional Starlink satellites via a reusable Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. The satellites were launched May 15, marking the fourth Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites in 17 days and the ninth overall since March. More than 1,600 Starlink satellites have been put […]
The Missile Defense Agency plans to deorbit a pair of experimental missile warning satellites that have been in operation for more than a decade. MDA Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill confirmed the planned deorbiting of the Space Tracking and Surveillance System during his appearance at the 12th annual McAleese Conference. Hill attributed the retirement of […]
