The U.S. Space Force is open to having more than two companies launch its military and intelligence satellites when current space delivery contracts expire and a recompete is opened in 2024, Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond revealed. Presently, only United Launch Alliance and SpaceX are providing launch capabilities for the service, SpaceNews reported […]
Raytheon Technologies subsidiary Blue Canyon Technologies has helped deploy a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory cube satellite spacecraft bus to geostationary orbit. BCT provided the 12u CubeSat bus, avionics, flight software, guidance navigation, radio frequency communication hardware and other components for the Ascent mission. The company was also on-site during the spacecraft commissioning and ensured […]
A top U.S. Space Force officer revealed that the service will seek funding for new space-based capabilities for tracking objects in space in addition to the more traditional role of tracking objects on Earth’s surface. Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, the deputy chief of space operations, said the budget request will be included in the USSF’s […]
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced that it has selected three more small businesses to support its efforts to advance space exploration and improve life on Earth. The three businesses are the latest additions to 110 other small firms chosen to develop new technologies under its Small Business Innovation Research program, NASA said Thursday. […]
USNC Advanced Technologies announced that it has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop an ultra-high temperature material testing facility for evaluating materials used in the nuclear thermal propulsion systems of future spacecraft. The demanding requirements for NTP systems necessitate the development of new refractory and ceramic materials capable of performing […]
NASA and the German Aerospace Centre have decided to conclude the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy mission after eight years. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 found that SOFIA’s productivity does not justify its operating costs. It also found that the platform’s capabilities do not overlap […]
Viasat Inc. has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to support its Communications Services Project. The contract calls for the development of a space relay capability to connect the upcoming ViaSat-3 global satellite constellation with a newly developed terminal, enabling on-demand and cost-effective communications services for low-Earth orbit spacecraft, Viasat said Monday. In […]
The Space Systems Command has established a capability to directly ingest observation data from the Space Fence surveillance system into the U.S. Space Force Unified Data Library. During the initial connection phase and 30-day trial period, the Space Force monitored and verified data that flowed from the Space Fence into the UDL. The tests, which […]
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced that three investigation teams have been selected to join its Geospace Dynamics Constellation mission science team in studying Earth’s upper atmosphere. The three teams will be given a combined budget of $149 million to design and deliver instruments to be used in the mission, NASA said Wednesday. In […]
BAE Systems announced that it has been selected by GE Aviation to provide energy management solutions for the hybrid-electric technology demonstrator program recently awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Its role in the research project will include designing, testing and supplying energy management components for electric aircraft in the megawatt power class, BAE […]
