Appropriations, Procurement, and Acquisitions
Spy satellite agency NRO awards RF geolocation study contracts to 6 companies (Breaking Defense) “Since the 2019 award of an integration study contract for commercial RF, we’ve seen increasing demand for this data source from across the user community,” said Chris Scolese, director of the NRO.
NRO Dishes Out Six New RF Study Contracts to the Satellite Industry- (Via Satellite) The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has signed a slew of new study contracts in the commercial radio frequency (RF) remote sensing arena. The NRO
Senate pulls SBIR back from brink of sunsetting (Federal News Network) Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), chairman of Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduced and the full body passed the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022 on Wednesday.
Congress reauthorizes DoD innovation grants with new China safeguards (Defense News) The reauthorization caps off months of uncertainty as to the program’s future amid concerns over Chinese influence and commercialization.
Congress to reauthorize reformed Pentagon innovation grants after Paul drops opposition (Defense News) Congress is set to reauthorize small business grants favored by the Pentagon after Sen. Rand Paul drops his opposition following a compromise.
SDA a 'model' that could shake up all space acquisition: Calvelli - Breaking Defense (Breaking Defense) When SDA joins Space Force in a couple weeks, their more agile acquisition cycle could spread to other Space Force offices.
Lawmakers push IC for more commercial imagery acquisition, transparency (Breaking Defense) While Capitol Hill has been pushing the IC to buy more commercial imagery and geospatial analysis, "we still see some level of underinvestment," said Frank Garcia, professional staffer at the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
'On the table': Hicks says DoD, IC considering indemnifying commercial space providers (Breaking Defense) "[T]he IC Commercial Space Council is discussing commercial protection right now. We had a meeting on Tuesday, and it came up," said NGA's David Gauthier, who chairs the council.
DARPA launches new program to let small innovators behind the classified curtain (Federal News Network) DARPA thinks security clearance issues are keeping a vast array of innovative companies from solving the government's biggest problems. The agency thinks it has big idea to bridge the security…
Space Business and Market Trends
Adventures in Paris: World Satellite Business Week Wrap-Up (Via Satellite) World Satellite Business Week (WSBW) has wrapped up in Paris capping off what has been a very busy summer for the satellite industry. Via Satellite
The Top 10 Takeaways from World Satellite Business Week (Satellite Today) Via Satellite shares its top 10 takeaways from World Satellite Business Week.
Satellite Hardware Startup Somewear Labs Raises $13.7M Series A Round (Via Satellite) Satellite hardware startup Somewear Labs Raises $13.7 million in its Series A round, which was led by a group of over a dozen current and former CEOs
The Satellite Industry Gears Up for Open Satcom and 5G Standardized Ecosystems (Via Satellite) The satellite industry sees large potential for open satcom and 5G standardized ecosystems, according to a recent industry survey by ST Engineering
Private industry aims to fill demand for space threat intelligence (SpaceNews) Private companies hope to overcome obstacles that have prevented the DoD from leveraging commercial space technology to meet the U.S. government’s need for more knowledge of space threats.
Earth Observation Market Sees Growth in 3D Mapping and Multi-Sensor Solutions (Via Satellite) Defense and intelligence customers for satellite imagery are demanding real-time and more precise imagery and monitoring, multi-sensor datasets,
Spire, Lockheed Martin, BAE and Others Receive NOAA Awards for New Technologies (Via Satellite) The National Oceanographic and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) is funding nine awards totaling $13.8 million to industry and federal agencies to produce new
Inmarsat Forms New Technology Partnership with Teledyne (Via Satellite) Inmarsat is partnering with Teledyne Controls in a new technology partnership as it looks to bring greater efficiency to airline digital operations.
NGA Renews Maxar’s G-EGD Imagery Contract for Third Option Year (Via Satellite) The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) renewed its contract with Maxar Technologies for the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (G-EGD)
Rocket Lab Investor Day: Expect Virginia Launch This Year, Potential Crew Capsule for Neutron (Via Satellite) A Rocket Lab Electron rocket is currently en-route to Virginia, and the launcher plans to hold its first mission from Wallops Island by the end of the
Eutelsat Signs Konnect Capacity Deal With Liquid in Africa (Via Satellite) Liquid Intelligent Technologies signed a multi-year deal with Eutelsat Communications for capacity on the Konnect Satellite to support customers in
Optus Strikes Deal With Australian Startup Space Machines Company (Via Satellite) Optus, one of Australia’s biggest telcos and satellite operators, has signed a new deal with Space Machines Company (SMC) to explore options for
Northrop Grumman Opens Advanced Space Assembly and Test Facility in Baltimore (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) today opened its Maryland Space Assembly and Test (MSAT) 2 facility at the company’s Baltimore...
Spire Global Signs Space Services Deal With GHGSat for Methane Monitoring (Via Satellite) Spire Global has signed GHGSat as a new customer for its space services segment, and will launch three 16U satellites in 2023 that to GHGSat’s greenhouse
Iceye and Satlantis Plan Combined SAR/EO Constellation, Tandem4EO (Via Satellite) Iceye and Satlantis are pursuing an Earth observation (EO) constellation with both synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical imaging. The two European
Mircosoft Azure Exec Confirms Slew of New Partnerships with SES, SpaceX, and Others (Via Satellite) Microsoft EVP of Strategic Missions and Technologies Jason Zander confirmed in a blog post published Wednesday that the software giant will team up with
Northrop Grumman Elects Roshan Roeder Corporate Vice President and President, Defense Systems; Mary Petryszyn to Retire (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announces that its board of directors has elected Roshan Roeder corporate vice president and president, Defense Systems sector, effective October 17, 2022. Roeder will succeed...
Launch Services
24 hours from 'go': Next Space Force 'responsive launch' experiment aims to loft satellite in a hurry (Breaking Defense) "We have spent a lot of time admiring the problem of how to be responsive in space," SSC head Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein said. "We are done admiring the problem and we are getting after the combatant commands' need to truly protect and defend the peaceful use of space."
ULA Launches the Final Delta IV Heavy Vandenberg Mission for the NRO (Via Satellite) United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched a national security satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office over the weekend, in the final Delta IV Heavy
Satellite Vu Taps SpaceX for its Second Satellite Launch (Via Satellite) Satellite Vu will use SpaceX to launch its second satellite, the company announced Sept. 22. The deal will see Satellite Vu’s mid-wave infrared (MWIR)
SpaceX to Launch Arabsat’s 7A Satellite on a Falcon 9 (Via Satellite) Arabsat has tapped SpaceX for launch once again, selecting the Falcon 9 rocket to launch its 7A satellite, the companies announced Wednesday. Arabsat 7A
Virgin Orbit Expands Launch Efforts to Australia With Wagner Corporation (Via Satellite) Virgin Orbit is expanding its plans for spaceports around the globe to Australia. On Tuesday, the smallsat launcher announced an MoU with Australia’s
Arianespace Signs Cubesat Launch Services Agreement With SAB-LS (Via Satellite) Arianespace signed an agreement with Italian company SAB Launch Services (SAB-LS), which specializes in launch services for small satellites, to serve as
US Space Force
Gen Raymond reflects on highlights of Space Force’s achievements and predicts ‘great history ahead’ (United States Space Force) In a speech that was as much an unofficial farewell as a proud update of the U.S. Space Force’s youthful evolution, Chief of Space Operations, Gen. John “Jay” Raymond told an influential audience
In major step, Space Force takes over all military satellite communications (Colorado Springs Gazette) The Space Force has taken over all of the Department of Defense's military satellite communication functions, a major step in building the new service.
Space Development Agency chief clears up 'confusion' about where his agency is going (Breaking Defense) SDA Director Derek Tournear said his shop will remain its own when it formally joins the Space Force in coming weeks, giving the service another acquisition outlet.
Space Force still struggling to ingest commercial space monitoring data (Breaking Defense) "We need to integrate and exploit non-traditional commercial data," said Space Force Delta 2 Commander Col. Mark Brock. "There has been a push against this to a certain extent within our own enterprise, and I've been pushing back on that. We need our commercial partners."
Is Space Force moving fast enough for its Rapid Capabilities Office? (Defense News) The Space RCO is on track to deliver 10-12 new systems over next three years.
Space Force shifting resources to intelligence and cybersecurity (SpaceNews) The U.S. Space Operations Command is assigning cybersecurity and intelligence specialists to work side-by-side with satellite operators so they’re better prepared to protect U.S. systems from electronic and physical threats, said Maj. Gen. Douglas Schiess.
US Space Force Completes Analysis of Future GMTI Alternatives, Including Space-Based GMTI (Via Satellite) The U.S. Space Force has completed an analysis of alternatives (AoA) on future ground moving indication (GMTI), including the possibility of space-based
Space Force completes space-based JSTARS replacement analysis, will inform future budgets (Breaking Defense) The Space Force is "working with all the other services and combat commanders to determine what are their requirements for ISR that we can then work with our partners in the Intelligence Community to figure out how best to satisfy those requirements," CSO Gen. Jay Raymond said.
Space Force phasing out missile warning from GEO, will focus on lower orbits (Breaking Defense) "We'll do away with the GEOs, and the big, exquisite expensive satellites," said SDA Director Derek Tournear.
Space Force refining range needs through ‘Black Skies’ training (Defense News) The service is planning a Red Skies exercise next summer focused on orbital warfare and a Blue Skies event in 2024 targeted at training cyber operators.
Army may transfer missile warning capabilities to Space Ops Command: Official (Breaking Defense) If and when the Army's Joint Tactical Ground System is transferred, all mission warning functions will be underneath one Space Force operational command Delta, said Maj. Gen. Doug Schiess, vice commander of Space Operations Command (SpOC).
The Space Force wants more ‘indigenous software experts’ that can write code (Breaking Defense) The Space Force revealed its “Vision for a Digital Service” last May, which defined what the digital service would look like through four focus areas.
Space Force Official Col. Krolikowski Examines the Cybersecurity Mindset (Satellite Today) Ahead of CyberSatGov, Col. Jennifer Krolikowski, director of the Chief Information Office (CIO) for Space Systems Command, talks about the current geopolitical environment, cybersecurity challenges and how the U.S. Space Force aims to stay one step ahead of adversaries.
First USSF direct commission program cyber officer graduates from OTS (United States Space Force) The first U.S. Space Force cyber officer commissioned through the Direct Commission Program graduated from Officer Training School Sept 30. The Direct Commission Program aims to accession top talent
Space Force reveals official song: "Semper Supra" (United States Space Force) Every branch of the armed forces has an official song, from"The Army Goes Rolling Along" to "The Marines' Hymn." Each song is part ofthe services' foundation and represents its values, traditions and
Space Force releases official song 'Semper Supra' (CNN) The US Space Force released its official song, titled "Semper Supra," on Tuesday.
The Story Behind the Space Force's New Song (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Jamie Teachenor was browsing Craigslist for vintage guitars when he spotted the unlikely ad that led to his writing the Space Force song.
Opinion | Why Does the Trump-Born Space Force Keep Stepping on Rakes? (POLITICO) The military branch’s new anthem is laugh-out-loud funny.
With new official anthem, the Space Force hopes to land on your radar (Washington Post) ‘Semper Supra,’ composed by two officers, joins a tradition of military anthems that spans generations
‘It’s not a banger’: response to Space Force official song is less than stellar (the Guardian) The new song, Semper Supra, is set to a jaunty tune, but critics say its lyrics are ‘verbal word salad’
Military Space Operations
Space Force’s Gagnon says analysis trumps data collection for intel (Defense News) "Today, the core value proposition is no longer collection," said Brig. Gen. Greg Gagnon. "What we need is sense making, or fusion, or analysis."
Products, Services, and Solutions
LeoLabs debuts collision risk assessment software for space insurers (Breaking Defense) "It’s a new and encouraging step in the right direction in terms of space domain awareness and a welcome collaboration within the industry," said Denis Bensousan, of London-based insurance firm Beazley.
FCC Approves Lynk’s Satellite-to-Cell Service (Via Satellite) The FCC on Friday approved Lynk Global’s license for satellite direct-to-cell service, approval that will allow Lynk to launch commercial services later
Planet’s Hyperspectral Tanager Satellites Will Have More Than 400 Spectral Bands (Via Satellite) Planet announced Monday that its hyperspectral satellites with the Carbon Mapper Coalition will have 30-meter resolution and cover more than 400 spectral
SAIC to build small satellites with startup Rogue Space (SpaceNews) SAIC is partnering with startup Rogue Space Systems to develop small satellites for in-space services, the companies announced Sept. 20.
SES Signs New Indonesian OTT Broadcast Deal With Mola (Via Satellite) SES has signed a new video deal in the Indonesian market, one of Asia’s largest broadcast markets. The operator announced Sept. 21 that Indonesian
Open Cosmos to Launch OpenConstellation to Democratize Satellite Imagery (Via Satellite) Open Cosmos is preparing to launch the first satellites of a newly-announced OpenConstellation, meant to democratize access to satellite imagery through a Open Cosmos is preparing to launch the first satellites of a newly-announced OpenConstellation.
Northrop Grumman Meets Rocket Motor Casting Milestone on Road to Sentinel’s First Flight (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully cast the LGM-35A Sentinel program’s first inert stage-one and stage-two solid rocket motor set this summer. The casting event demonstrated the maturity of...
UK Government Gives Viasat/Inmarsat Combination National Security Approval (Via Satellite) The U.K. government approved the Viasat/Inmarsat business combination on Friday under the National Security & Investment Act. This is one step in
Enveil Announces The Continuation And Advancement Of Its Contract To Support The HSA Program (Security Informed) Enveil, the pioneering Privacy Enhancing Technology company protecting Data in Use, announces the continuation and advancement of its contract to support the Hybrid Space Architecture (HSA) program.
Satellogic to Monitor Protected Forests in Climate Change Contract (Via Satellite) Satellogic has won a contract to monitor all subnational protected areas on the planet through the new Green+ Jurisdictional Programme, the company
Skylo Partners With floLive for Cellular/Satellite IoT Solution (Via Satellite) IoT company floLive is partnering with satellite IoT company Skylo to extend its network with Skylo’s non-terrestrial network (NTN) IoT connectivity.
AsiaSat Signs Deal with French Broadcaster TV5Monde (Via Satellite) AsiaSat has signed a new broadcast capacity contract with a leading French broadcaster. The company announced TV5Monde, will use AsiaSat 5 to distribute
Anuvu to Use Hispasat Capacity to Serve Maritime Customers (Via Satellite) Hispasat has teamed up with Anuvu, and the service provider will use capacity on Hispasat’s satellites to provide services to key maritime customers in
Satellite and Ground Station Operations
Elon Musk's Starlink is now active in Iran amid widespread internet outages, academic says after speaking to Musk (Business Insider) Disruption to Iran's internet began after protests started over a young woman dying in police custody. Elon Musk said SpaceX was activating Starlink.
Why Elon Musk’s Starlink will not affect protests in Iran (Al Jazeera) So far the only effect of Starlink’s ‘activation’ has been indirectly helping spread malware on Iranian devices.
Policy, Strategy, and Regulation
Infrastructure, allies and 'one space effort' key to US ahead of China in space: DIU official (Breaking Defense) Chain wants "nothing less to be the dominant space power by 2045. And they have a plan to achieve that economically, scientifically and militarily," said Steve Butow, director of the Defense Innovation Unit’s Space Portfolio.
The UK Is Rejoining the Space Race (WIRED) Virgin Orbit will launch satellites from the country for the first time, bringing orbital flight capability to Europe.
Europe Steps up Cybersecurity Efforts in Response to the War in Ukraine (Via Satellite) “Cyber has arrived in space and here is stay. What happened in Ukraine with Viasat, means it is here to stay. We need to look at new approaches
The UN Wants to Curb Anti-Satellite Missile Tests (WIRED) At a high-profile meeting in Geneva, international negotiators are moving closer toward developing rules for space actors in low Earth orbit and beyond.
Space-based solar power is viable energy solution, says Government (The Telegraph) UK Space Energy Initiative is teaming up with aerospace company Airbus to explore the possibility of beaming solar energy back to Earth
A new space race? China adds urgency to US return to moon (AP NEWS) It's not just rocket fuel propelling America's first moonshot after a half-century lull.
Space Traffic at Turning Point as US Seeks ASAT Ban, Pentagon to Hand Off Tracking (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Biden Administration is proposing new actions designed to confront the proliferation of space traffic and space debris.
Congress saves SBIR program at the last minute, with strings attached (Breaking Defense) After lawmakers raised concerns about potential abuse, there was a "Herculean" effort to rewrite the legislation.
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
With warning tool, Slingshot Aerospace pushes industry-led space traffic management (Breaking Defense) "We believe that space needs to be in a more sustainable state — that spaceflight safety is critical to connecting the world and making sure that we continue to have space as a portal of progress and knowledge. And that's at risk today," said Slingshot Aerospace co-founder Melanie Stricklen.
UK Space Agency Funds Debris Removal Project Led by ClearSpace (Via Satellite) ClearSpace won a new contract from the UK Space Agency (UKSA) to lead a consortium to design a debris removal mission. The contract announced Monday
NASA seeks proposal for lunar landers to deliver astronauts to the Moon's Aer (Military & Aerospace Electronics) These efforts will pave the way for multiple companies to provide recurring Moon landing services beyond the Artemis III mission, which is planned for no earlier than 2025.
Storm Ian delays launch of Nasa's Artemis I Moon rocket (BBC News) The launch of the American space agency's big new Moon rocket is being delayed for the third time.
Hurricane Ian Blows Back NASA’s Artemis Launch (WIRED) Bad weather forced a third delay for the space agency’s SLS rocket plans—another setback for the uncrewed back-to-the-moon mission.
Nasa delays Artemis 1 moon rocket launch again as tropical storm Ian looms (the Guardian) Third delay in the past month for test flight as technical issues and weather hamper US effort to return to the moon after five decades
Target Venus not Mars for first crewed mission to another planet, experts say (the Guardian) Despite its ‘hellish’ environment, scientists argue there are good reasons to focus on ‘Earth’s sister’
Ohio State to Host Voyager Space’s Earth-Based Research Park (Via Satellite) Voyager Space has chosen Ohio State to host the Earth-based component of the George Washington Carver Science Park, a research park in space. The George
Swedish Space Corporation Steps Up Lunar Ground Network Efforts (Via Satellite) Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) is stepping up its efforts in the lunar space as it looks to develop an advanced ground network for lunar missions. The
Army ponders satellite partners for 'Lonestar' GPS interference warning system (Breaking Defense) The experimental tech would directly alert soldiers on the ground when GPS signals have been disrupted.
ESA Funds Development of CAES User-Selectable CPU for Space (Via Satellite) The European Space Agency has awarded CAES multiple contracts to develop what it calls the first user selectable CPU (central processing unit) for space
Celestia UK to Develop PNT Solution With LEO Networks for ESA (Via Satellite) Celestia UK won a European Space Agency (ESA) contract to develop a PNT solution based on Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations for 5G networks
Space Technology
Space Command, Commerce to stage commercial space tracking pilot this fall - Breaking Defense (Breaking Defense) The Commerce Department doesn't simply want to replicate what DoD does now in providing space situational awareness data to industry, but go beyond to provide "a technologically superior product," said Richard DalBello, head of DoC's Commercial Space Office.
Satellite Operators Respond to Cyber Threats in a Rapidly Changing Environment (Satellite Today) With the satellite ground segment increasingly in the attack zone, industry leaders debate cyber strategy in a rapidly changing threat environment
EXCLUSIVE: DoD-Commerce yet to hash out review of commercial space data sharing (Breaking Defense) Traditionally, DoD and the Intelligence Community — as well as some US allies — have been leery about revealing the position of US national security satellites, because they wish to conceal their activities and characteristics.
Exclusive: India's push for home-grown navigation system jolts smartphone giants (Reuters) India is pushing tech giants to make smartphones compatible with its home-grown navigation system within months, worrying the likes of Samsung, Xiaomi and Apple who fear elevated costs and disruptions as the move requires hardware changes, according to two industry sources and government documents seen by Reuters.
Redwire Joins Bradford Space, SSC Orbital Debris Removal Project (Via Satellite) Redwire is joining a project between Bradford Space and Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) to develop a commercial orbital debris removal service. Redwire
SES, ESA Announce Eagle-1 Quantum Key Distribution Satellite (Via Satellite) The European Space Agency (ESA) announced Thursday that SES will lead a consortium of 20 companies to develop and launch a secure quantum key distribution
Space traffic management: Time for action (Atlantic Council) Mir Sadat and Julia Siegel highlight challenges to and opportunities for addressing space traffic management in this Forward Defense issue brief.
Space Science
The Search for Intelligent Life Is About to Get a Lot More Interesting (New York Times) There are an estimated 100 billion galaxies in the universe, home to an unimaginable abundance of planets. And now there are new ways to spot signs of life on them.
NASA’s DART Spacecraft Slams Into Asteroid in Effort to Alter Its Orbit (Wall Street Journal) Here’s how and when to watch the collision between the spacecraft and the distant space rock called Dimorphos.
NASA’s DART Mission Crashes Into an Asteroid to Defend the Earth (New York Times) The spacecraft plowed into a space rock with the goal of demonstrating how an asteroid threatening Earth could be deflected.
NASA crashes spacecraft into asteroid, passing planetary defense test (Washington Post) NASA managed Monday to crash a small spacecraft directly into an asteroid, a 14,000-mile-per-hour collision designed to test whether such a technology could someday be deployed to protect Earth from a potentially catastrophic impact.
Opinion Three cheers for NASA’s asteroid smasher (Washington Post) Who ever thought crashing into space rocks could be so useful to science — and to the defense of humanity?
NASA spacecraft will slam into an asteroid Monday — if all goes right (Washington Post) Heart rates are spiking in the Washington suburbs, where scientists and engineers on Monday evening hope to witness a vending-machine-sized spacecraft that is 7 million miles from Earth crash into an asteroid.
Why is a NASA spacecraft crashing into an asteroid? (AP NEWS) In the first-of-its kind, save-the-world experiment, NASA is about to clobber a small, harmless asteroid millions of miles away. A spacecraft named Dart will zero in on the asteroid Monday, intent on slamming it head-on at 14,000 mph (22,500 kph).
What Climate Scientists Want from Satellite Data Providers (Satellite Today) Climate technology investment is booming. Scientists have more access than ever to data acquired by space-based, remote-sensing technologies to help monitor and mitigate the effects of climate change, but need to access it faster, and make sure it can be translated into actionable policy.
Threats and Risks to Space Systems
Russia could carry out attacks in space, warns British Armed Forces head Tony Radakin (The Telegraph) Admiral says if Russia did carry out strikes on satellites it would provoke 'a strong response' from Nato
Miscellanea
This was the Army's Cold War plan for a war on the Moon, and the weapons it'd use to win it (Task & Purpose) What could combat look like on the Moon? In 1965 the Army laid out some ideas, including some hypothetical space weapons.
What's with the UFO on a U.S. intelligence agency seal? (CyberScoop) The image of a UFO and Russian fighter jet on the seal led some to wonder if the intelligence agency had been hacked.