NASA has awarded four contracts worth about $19 million in total to conduct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Sounder for Microwave-Based Applications Phase-A study. Ball Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Orbital Micro Systems and Spire Global Subsidiary received a one-year contract each to study and design SMBA formulation activities. SMBA instruments, part of NOAA’s Near-Earth Orbit […]
Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems are awaiting an order from the Space Systems Command to deploy a satellite into orbit as the companies enter the six-month hot standby phase for the Tactically Responsive Space-3 Victus Nox mission. The SSC intentionally did not inform the companies when the deployment order would be issued within the […]
The 72 satellites comprising the Beta portion of the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 2 Transport Layer constellation will carry payloads enabling the Integrated Broadcast Service, a legacy Department of Defense network involved in the transmission of intelligence and targeting data from multiple sources. IBS payloads have historically operated in geosynchronous orbit. T2TL Beta will bring […]
Science Applications International Corp. has secured a $574.5 million ground-based radar maintenance and sustainment contract from the U.S. Space Force. The space military branch is operating a network of early warning radar sensors for missile threat and space object surveillance and detection. The radar sites are at various locations, including Alaska, California, Greenland and the […]
NASA will send its Integrated LCRD Low Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal to the International Space Station within the year to demonstrate how laser communications systems can be used aboard the space station. ILLUMA-T will work with the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration to complete NASA’s two-way, end-to-end laser relay system. Matt Magsamen, deputy […]
The Defense Innovation Unit, in partnership with the Space Force’s Space Safari acquisition program office, is soliciting proposals to prototype and demonstrate on-orbit tactically responsive space systems. According to the solicitation, the DIU is interested in TacRS capabilities that can enable satellite launch within 24 hours of notice; characterization of on-orbit threats within 48 hours […]
The U.S. Space Force has awarded digital engineering software startup Sedaro a $1.5 million Small Business Innovation Research Phase 2 contract to design spacecraft using digital twin technology. Sedaro will partner with Space Dynamics Laboratory and Draper Labs to design spacecraft for the Space Force’s in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing mission. The contract, issued under […]
The Space Systems Command and the National Reconnaissance Office will launch the SILENTBARKER mission on Aug. 29 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission, also designated NROL-107, aims to provide space domain awareness as required by the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. The mission payload will be sent into orbit […]
The U.S. Space Force Commercial Satellite Communications Office has awarded PAR Government Systems a position on a new contract vehicle for procuring proliferated low-Earth orbit satellite services. The company is thus eligible to compete for task orders under the potential 10-year, $900 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. The IDIQ spot was secured in partnership with space-based radar […]
The U.S. Space Force has introduced the Tactically Responsive Space Challenge, an initiative designed to solicit ideas for rapid satellite deployment during emergencies or conflicts. Under the challenge, companies can submit bids through the Department of Defense’s Small Business Innovation Research portal. Proposals should cover any of the following six areas: upfront coordination processes; logistics; […]
