The Defense Innovation Unit has awarded Relativity Space an orbital launch contract for the company’s 3D-printed launch vehicle called Terran 1. The contract award is a Space and Missile Systems Center Launch Enterprise follow-up effort to the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program Rapid Agile Launch Initiative. The initiative sought to identify commercial solutions for […]
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is conducting market research about a program intended to help emerging international partners participate in flight projects and missions. In a request for information, the directorate asked for innovative ways to develop a capacity building program involving CubeSats, SmallSats or other flight instruments projects. SMD is open to hearing responses from […]
Omnispace, a satellite infrastructure operator, said it has demonstrated an initial 5G-via-satellite capability for the Department of Defense. The test was conducted at LinQuest’s Northern Virginia laboratory in collaboration with the National Security Innovation Network, the Navy and the Marine Corps, Omnispace said Monday. During the test, Omnispace’s on-orbit satellite received emulated 5G radio access […]
NASA has awarded on-ramp Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition IV contracts to Thales Alenia Space’s divisions in France and Italy. The $6 billion RAPID IV contract vehicle is aimed at providing the government with a flexible means to acquire spacecraft and related components and equipment, NASA said. Thales Alenia Space is a French-Italian aerospace manufacturer that specializes […]
Space industry groups have sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo advocating for continued support and adequate funding for the Office of Space Commerce. Operating within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the office is the principal unit for space commerce policy within the Department of Commerce. It focuses on various sectors of the […]
SEAKR Engineering has secured a $60.4 million contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop a data processing system that will enable autonomous satellite operations. Work for the contract is expected to be completed by March 2022. The award adds to a previous DARPA contract that the company received in 2019 to help […]
The U.S. Air Force announced that First Air Force will serve as the future air component of the U.S. Space Command. First Air Force, a numbered air force under Air Combat Command, is responsible for maintaining air control in the continental United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the Air Force said Thursday. Air […]
Satellogic, an Argentinian Earth observation company with offices across the globe, plans to establish a U.S. subsidiary to capitalize on business opportunities with national security agencies. Matthew Tirman, head of Satellogic North America, told SpaceNews that while the company has a growing commercial business, defense and intelligence is the biggest market right now. According to […]
The U.S. Space Force Space and Missile Systems Center has nearly completed the prototype phase of its Enterprise Ground Services project, an official said. SMC’s Cross Mission Ground and Communications Enterprise is developing the EGS to have a common architecture for satellite command and control. Joshua Sullivan, program manager for EGS, said he expects SMC […]
Commercial space company Momentus has announced a service agreement with Xona Space Systems, a startup developing positioning, navigation and timing satellites in low-Earth orbit. Momentus said the agreement will give Xona access to in-space infrastructure services in support of its 2020 Alpha mission, Inside GNSS reported Monday. Momentus offers a spacecraft called Vigoride that was […]
