NASA’s acting associate administrator for space technology has warned advisers that budget cuts would impact some programs. Speaking at a NASA Advisory Council meeting, Prasun Desai shared that certain Space Technology Mission Directorate programs could face up to a 27 percent budget cut if the directorate does not receive the full $1.39 billion funding request. […]
Telesat’s government solutions business has announced a 20-month follow-on Phase 2 contract to support the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node program. Space-BACN is aimed at developing a lightweight, reconfigurable inter-satellite optical communications terminal to link constellations with different connectivity protocols, Telesat said Wednesday. The program is meant to advance Combined Joint […]
The Space Development Agency’s transport layer of low-Earth orbit data relay satellites using the military band Link 16 successfully communicated with ground-based radios during SDA tests from Nov. 21 to 27. According to SDA Director Derek Tournear, the tests showed for the first time the feasibility of linking via communication satellites the space, land, sea […]
The Defense Information Systems Agency is inviting companies to bid for spots on a potential 10-year, $900 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity deal to deliver proliferated low-Earth orbit services and capabilities to the Department of Defense. Interested parties can submit proposals for the PLEO Satellite-Based Services contract until May 31, 2024, according to the notice posted on SAM […]
Millennium Space Systems announced that it has completed a critical design review for the Missile Track Custody space vehicle it is building for the U.S. Space Force. The company completed the CDR less than five months after it concluded the preliminary design review for MTC. The CDR was performed using digital engineering techniques, which streamlined […]
The U.S. Space Force has has selected three ideas to drive innovation in space technology in its competition aimed at promoting innovative thinking among its workforce. Space Systems Command Chief Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein said the Fight Tonight program seeks to engage creative individuals in nurturing an idea that would help maintain a secure space […]
NASA has announced that Administrator Bill Nelson will meet on Monday with government and space officials in India and the United Arab Emirates to strengthen research and innovation cooperation in human exploration, Earth science and other areas. The India visit is part of a joint effort on critical and emerging technology led by President Joe […]
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions an eight-year, $579 million contract extension for military satellite communications support services. Under the contract awarded by Space Systems Command, Kratos will work on the ground systems used by the Command-and-Control System-Consolidated Sustainment and Resiliency program. Specifically, the company will maintain and develop systems for several […]
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory researchers have detected hydrogen in lunar samples received from the Apollo mission. According to the NRL, the presence of solar wind hydrogen on lunar soil samples indicates the presence of water on the moon – a vital resource for future lunar bases and long-range space exploration. Katherine Burgess, a geologist at […]
Bradley Smith, director of NASA’s Launch Services Office, said a Mars small satellite mission “will very likely” be part of the inaugural flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. Smith added that he expects the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers mission launch to take place in one year, while his documents and past […]
