More Signal. Less Noise.

V5 | Issue 12 | 12.1.21

Signals and Space for December 2021

Summary

By the CyberWire staff

At a glance.

ASAT tests and orbital debris.
Developing an approach to cleaning up orbital debris.
Planetary protection and asteroid diversion.
Cybersecurity for space systems.
Allied cooperation in space.
SpaceX's Raptor worries.

ASAT tests and orbital debris: the messy demise of Kosmos-1408.

Messy, but from an RDT&E point-of-view it was a successful demise. Breaking Defense reports that on November 15th, in a Russian anti-satellite test, an A-235/PL-19 Nudol interceptor launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrone north of Moscow hit and destroyed Kosmos-1408. It's thought to represent Russia's first test of a ground-based ASAT system. Kosmos-1408 was a retired intelligence satellite placed in orbit in 1982. It had a total mass of about 1750 kilograms, and that, plus whatever fragments the Nudol contributed, was enough to produce a non-trivial debris cloud, readily trackable from earth. Debris tracking and collision avoidance firm LeoLabs tweeted soon after the interception that it was following at least thirty objects spread over some forty kilometers. Slingshot Aerospace tweeted radar and telescopic images from its partner, space-domain awareness firm Numerica, that indicated there were around 1500 pieces of wreckage in the debris field. Some will decay in a matter of months; the entire debris cloud is expected to deorbit in about two years.

The International Space Station's (ISS) orbit took it through the vicinity of the debris cloud, and the ISS crew as a precaution sheltered in their Soyuz and Crew Dragon capsules. Air Force Magazine has an account of the emergency call between a US astronaut on board and controllers at NASA. Even Roscosmos, the Russian space agency that operates the ISS with NASA, acknowledged a disruption of ISS activities, albeit in a rather anodyne tweet: "The @Space_Station crew is routinely performing operations according to the flight program. The orbit of the object, which forced the crew today to move into spacecraft according to standard procedures, has moved away from the ISS orbit. The station is in the green zone." (That is, out of danger.)

But international reaction to the test has been uniformly negative. Slingshot's November 15th tweet was an early, representative comment: "Our #SlingshotBeacon partner, @Numerica_Corp, leveraging their global telescope network, imaged the debris field created by the Russian anti-satellite test against #Cosmos1408 in #LEO causing alarm to the #ISS crew, satellite operators, and spacefaring nations." Other industry reaction was equally harsh. Space sustainability company Astroscale wrote, on November 16th:

"The intentional and unnecessary destruction of any object in space is irresponsible. This ASAT test threatens the incredible progress we are making as a global community, endangering humans in orbit and the long-term stability of the space environment. Our orbital highways are already congested, and every further piece of debris created increases the risks and costs of operating in space."

US Secretary of State Blinken called the Russian test "irresponsible," and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg agreed, saying, “This was a reckless act by Russia to actually shoot down and destroy a satellite as part of a test of an anti-satellite weapons system,” NASA Administrator Nelson issued a full statement on the 15th that read, in part:

“Earlier today, due to the debris generated by the destructive Russian Anti-Satellite (ASAT) test, ISS astronauts and cosmonauts undertook emergency procedures for safety.

“Like Secretary Blinken, I’m outraged by this irresponsible and destabilizing action. With its long and storied history in human spaceflight, it is unthinkable that Russia would endanger not only the American and international partner astronauts on the ISS, but also their own cosmonauts. Their actions are reckless and dangerous, threatening as well the Chinese space station and the taikonauts on board.

“All nations have a responsibility to prevent the purposeful creation of space debris from ASATs and to foster a safe, sustainable space environment.

“NASA will continue monitoring the debris in the coming days and beyond to ensure the safety of our crew in orbit.”

Russia officially dismissed Western expressions of outrage as "hypocrisy," C4ISRNet reports, and also dismissed the notion that the test had endangered the ISS or its crew. But international reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, and prompted calls for development and enforcement of norms to prevent further formation of dangerous clutter in low earth orbit. In the US, members of Congress have written, Via Satellite says, letters to both Vice President Harris and Commerce Secretary Raimundo calling for US action on the problem: “While the Russian actions are disturbing, they are a reminder of the need for U.S. leadership on SSA [Space Situational Awareness] and STM [Space Traffic Management] and provide an opportunity to disseminate lessons learned that will protect U.S assets and personnel in the future.”

Developing an approach to cleaning up orbital debris.

The destruction of Kosmos-1408 brought into prominence the existence of a number of private companies in the orbital tracking and collision-avoidance business. It also brought renewed attention to programs intended to find ways of clearing debris from low earth orbit. US Space Force's Orbital Prime program, for one, drew new attention after the Russian test (see this WIRED piece, for example). SpaceWerx describes the program as follows:

"The first Space Prime effort, Orbital Prime will invigorate the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (OSAM) market using Active Debris Remediation (ADR) as a use case for the foundational technologies. As congestion and debris threaten the long-term sustainability of the space domain, Orbital Prime will transition agile, affordable, and accelerated OSAM space capabilities to build the foundation for space logistics while preserving the global commons. On-orbit capability will be demonstrated on an accelerated timeline in two to four years."

The program's vision is to "accelerate transition of technologies and architectures that enable a sustainable space infrastructure and preserves an open and prosperous space domain." Space Force has an STTR solicitation open. Note the connection between debris removal and "on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing."

Two days after the Russian ASAT test Virgin Orbit and Astroscale announced that they'd concluded a memorandum of understanding under which they would collaborate to develop on-orbit servicing capabilities that would include debris removal. One of Astroscale's relevant products was revealed on November 16th: a docking plate designed to hitch up defunct satellites that would enable them to be towed to safety. The interest in the problem isn't confined to a small number of companies. Via Satellite has an overview of industry thinking on the technological innovation that will be required to foster a "more sustainable" space environment.

Planetary protection and asteroid diversion.

Natural hazards also drew attention. On October 24th Asteroid 2021 UA1 made a close pass to earth, coming within 3000 kilometers of the planet. The asteroid, Space.com says, went undetected until after its closest point of approach, probably because it came from sunward and was lost in the glare. Asteroid 2021 UA1 wasn't particularly large by Asteroid standards--about, Space.com writes, the size of a refrigerator, and even had it hit the earth, it's unlikely in the extreme that enough of it would have reached the surface to do any damage. But the fact that it went undetected prompted some thought about the hazards asteroids present.

That risk is small, but non-negligible, and given the planet-killing potential of a big impact, policymakers have been devoting some thought to planetary protection. NASA launched its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) aboard a SpaceX Falcon on November 23rd. That was of course not a response to the passage of Asteroid 2021 UA1 (the launch had been originally planned for earlier in the year) but it's a sign that asteroid diversion technology is under preliminary development. The spacecraft will intercept, according to Space.com, the binary near-Earth asteroid 65803 Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos. DART will hit its target, the smaller of the two objects, Dimorphos, in October of next year. The European Space Agency will launch a follow-on mission ("Hera") aboard an Ariane 6 in 2024. Hera's goal will be to observe what, if any, changes DART's impact made to Dimorphos's orbit.

It would seem, POLITICO muses, that there ought to be some sort of international body charged on a permanent basis with planetary protection, but as yet no such organization has been formed.

Cybersecurity for space systems.

Not all threats to space systems are kinetic. Cyberthreats pose a growing risk to space operations. As a Bloomberg headline puts it, "The next big hack could come from the stars." A cyberattack might affect satellite communication (especially as more Internet connectivity comes to be delivered by low-earth orbit constellations like StarLink) or navigation and timing (GPS is always of concern). It might also, however, affect ground stations, or the industrial hardware and software supply chains on which space operations depend.

The relatively young Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space-ISAC) conducted an exercise at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ ASCEND space technology conference to help determine how Space-ISAC will organize the watch center it intends to stand up to maintain cyber situational awareness. And CISA, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has, FedScoop reports, assembled a working group to assess cyber risks to space infrastructure. The US has yet to formally designate space infrastructure as critical, but the CISA study suggests that it may be moving in that direction. The Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) has published a paper laying out the case for designating space systems as critical infrastructure. INSA sees better information-sharing and more clarity with respect to roles and missions as two of the principal benefits that such designation would bring.

Allied cooperation in space.

US allies are looking for "niche" space capabilities they might be able to contribute to combined operations, Breaking Defense reports. A great deal of allied cooperation will be in research and development. There are currently four multilateral Project Arrangements under which such cooperation is ongoing:

"Micro-Satellite Military Utility (MSMU) PA: to evaluate the utility, performance, technical feasibility, and potential cost of microsatellite concepts to determine the extent to which military Microsatellite systems can provide a cost-effective replacement or complement to other space assets."
"Military Optical Satellite Communications and Optical Space Data Relay (MOSCOM) PA: to determine the interoperability, benefits, and limitations of evolving optical satellite communications technologies, including data relay and machine to machine interactions."
"Responsive Launch and Range (ReLaR) PA: explore, identify, and assess concepts to reduce the cost of launch and improve the military space launch responsiveness of the Participants to this Project. This ReLaR PA will explore responsive space capabilities-related technologies that may increase the responsiveness of launch operations."
"Low-Light Automatic Identification System (AIS) for Maritime Domain Awareness (LLAMDA) PA: The development of a low-cost non-cooperative space-based maritime surveillance capability using an EO sensor and a micro-satellite approach."

And some allies are working toward becoming major space powers in their own right. Via Satellite summarizes British Prime Minister Johnson's strategy for "Galactic Britain."

Industry notes: Mr. Musk wants the Raptor engine fixed pronto.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend Elon Musk emailed concerns about the development of SpaceX's Raptor engine to the company's employees. The Raptor is intended to power SpaceX's advanced, deep-space-exploring, Tintinesque Starship. The Verge reports that Musk's email characterized the Raptor as a "disaster," and said that if the program weren't put right, it might place SpaceX at risk of bankruptcy. So it's all hands on deck. The email read, in part, “I was going to take this weekend off, as my first weekend off in a long time, but instead I will be on the Raptor line all night and through the weekend.” Few think SpaceX is in imminent danger of going under, and Musk has had a tendency to speak and write for effect (he's said the company's flirted with bankruptcy before, for example), but the recent departure of some senior executives seems to have induced some stress at SpaceX.

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Notes.

Today's issue includes events affecting , and .

Selected Reading

Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities

Chinese orbital bombardment? Don't panic! (Breaking Defense) Around this time last month the defense world was sent a tizzy by a reported Chinese hypersonic orbital weapons test. While many questions remain unanswered, Bleddyn Bowen and Cameron Hunter of the University of Leicester have some advice: calm down. The following is an abridged and updated summary of a report published by the Asia-Pacific…

An asteroid barely missed Earth last week, and no one knew it was coming (Space.com) The space rock was a cosmic visitor that no one expected.

Space rock alert: Should you worry about an asteroid impact? (Space.com) Nah, probably not for yourself.

US Government Calls Russian Anti-Satellite Test 'Reckless' (Via Satellite) Russia conducted a Direct-Ascent Anti-Satellite (DA-ASAT) test on Monday against one of its own satellites, generating hundreds of thousands of pieces of

How much space debris is there? Russian anti-satellite test creates 1,500 pieces of junk (Newsweek) The missile target is believed to have been a Russian satellite destroyed in the explosion. It highlighted the risk of space junk to missions like the ISS.

Russia blows up a satellite, creating a dangerous debris cloud in space (The Verge) The astronauts on the space station had to shelter in place

Russian suspected ground-launched ASAT test scatters dangerous debris through LEO (Breaking Defense) Consensus is forming that the most likely cause of the breakup was a strike by a A-235 / PL-19 Nudol ASAT system

Space debris forces astronauts on space station to take shelter in return ships (Space.com) Seven astronauts on the International Space Station were forced to take shelter in their transport spacecraft early Monday (Nov. 15) when the station passed uncomfortably closed to orbital debris, according to reports.

Russian anti-satellite test a 'dangerous and irresponsible' act that threatens astronauts, US says (Space.com) "The test has so far generated over 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris," a State Department spokesperson said.

NASA chief Bill Nelson condemns Russian anti-satellite test (Space.com) "I'm outraged by this irresponsible and destabilizing action," he said.

Space debris from Russian anti-satellite missile test spotted in telescope images and video (Space.com) You can see the doomed satellite before and after impact.

Surprise Russian ASAT test shows need to 'scale' space tracking, LeoLabs says (Breaking Defense) While Russia's Defense Minister has claimed that debris from the ASAT test doesn't endanger the US and Russian crew on the ISS, the laws of physics beg to differ.

Russia rejects accusations of endangering ISS astronauts (C4ISRNet) A Russian official confirmed that the anti-satellite test took place, but denied that the resultant debris would endanger the International Space Station or other spacecraft.

Russia Confirms ASAT Test, Space Industry Condemns 'Deliberate Action' (Via Satellite) Russian officials on Tuesday confirmed that the Russian Defense Ministry destroyed a defunct satellite with a weapons system, but rejected the U.S.

Listen to a USAF Astronaut's Emergency Call With NASA After Russian ASAT Test (Air Force Magazine) Col. Raja Chari is the astronaut on the International Space Station who received emergency instructions after Russia's ASAT test.

Just how many threatening asteroids are there? It's complicated. (Space.com) You don't have anything to worry about right now, scientists emphasize.

NASA postpones spacewalk at space station due to space debris warning (Space.com) A scheduled spacewalk by two NASA astronauts outside of the International Space Station has been postponed after a debris warning for the orbiting outpost caused NASA to act on the side of caution.

The Next Big Hack Could Come From the Stars (Bloomberg) A new era of space development also means more opportunities for hackers to hit vulnerable systems and cause havoc with the growing number of satellites spinning around our skies.

CISA working group assessing cyber risks to space infrastructure (FedScoop) The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency established a cross-sector space working group that is performing an assessment of risks to both federal and commercial space infrastructure, said Assistant Director Bob Kolasky. CISA’s primary concern is mitigating cyber risks to position, navigation and timing (PNT) services and GPS, Kolasky said, during an AFCEA Bethesda event on […]

Space cyber wargame exposes satellite industry risks (README) Space industry executives grappled with a simulated crisis Monday as a hacker compromised a satellite and set it on a collision course.

It’s Only a Matter of Time and Space Until a Satellite Takeover (Via Satellite) The United States suffers from a catastrophic cybersecurity problem with its critical infrastructure – industries which are dependent on satellite

'The game has changed': VMware exec says defense industry faces destructive cyberattacks, belligerent foes (Breaking Defense) VMware's Tom Kellerman linked an increased aggressiveness in attacks to geopolitical tensions with Russia and Belarus.

Trends

Episode 50 - Building the Next Gen Space Enterprise (Podbean Biz Podcast App) Episode 50 – Building the Next Gen Space Enterprise Episode Summary: In Episode 50 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Building the Next Gen Space Enterprise, host John “Slick” Baum speaks to a number of key leaders in the Space Force and industry to discu...

Samuel Adams brews 'Space Craft' beer with Inspiration4-flown hops (Space.com) 'Who wouldn't order a beer brewed with space hops?'

The real Space Force — a great second season (Air Force Times) We cannot deter future threats if our ability to sustain space superiority is questioned, writes the author of this commentary.

Marketplace

Failure to Launch: Why CMMC requirements will trip up the defense industrial base (Washington Technology) The road to cyber compliance is bumpy and many contractor are bound to fail. Here's why and what you can do to protect your organization.

Space Investment Has Moved Past Max-Q, Can it Continue to Ascend? (Via Satellite) “Max-Q” is the moment in the launch sequence where a rocket experiences maximum dynamic pressure. After this point, the force on the rocket decreases quickly and the entire mission control room can rest a little easier. The space industry with its myriad of new startups has now successfully gone through its own Max-Q. Over the last decade, these startups have grinded, innovated, and withstood the drag of naysayers and limited amounts of early capital to blaze ahead into higher altitudes.

US space industry 'tactically strong' but lacks long-term investment, new study finds (Breaking Defense) Despite investments of nearly $200 billion in commercial space since 2012, the US will lose what the authors paint as a vital race with China without more strategic vision, study sponsored by DoD's Defense Innovation Unit says.

DoD picks Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Oracle for multibillion dollar project to replace JEDI Cloud (Federal News Network) The decision followed several months of market research, and represented a change from DoD’s initial plans for the contract.

DOD splits massive cloud contract among multiple vendors (Washington Business Journal) Four cloud services providers will split a divided award on the Pentagon's follow-up to the failed JEDI contract.

DoD identifies companies to bid on its new cloud effort (C4ISRNet) The Department of Defense has issued solicitations to select companies to bid on it's new multicloud effort.

Space Force Searching for Spying-as-a-Service Satellite Options (Bloomberg Law) Boeing has accrued $157 million in obligations to date providing the current space and ground segments of military space-based surveillance, but the U.S. Space Force is indicating a potential shift in strategy that could bring different companies into the picture.

Space Development Agency Chief Would Like to Link Transport Layer With Commercial Satellites (Via Satellite) The Space Development Agency (SDA) would like to link its planned constellation of satellites for transferring military data to warfighters with

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency issues new commercial strategy (C4ISRNet) The agency's director says the new strategy will encourage employees to leverage more commercial technology.

SES Orders 2 GEO Satellites from Thales for Broadcast Services - Via Satellite - (Via Satellite) SES has ordered two new Geostationary Orbit (GEO) Ku-band satellites from Thales Alenia Space to replace aging broadcast satellites in its prime video

U.S. Space Force buys three new GPS satellites from Lockheed Martin (SpaceNews) The U.S. Space Force has ordered three GPS 3F satellites from Lockheed Martin for $737 million, a spokesperson said Nov. 11.

Space Force launches ‘Orbital Prime’ program to spur market for on-orbit services (SpaceNews) The U.S. Space Force is kicking off a new initiative, called Orbital Prime, to fund commercial technologies for in-space operations

National Reconnaissance Office wants satellite imagery from commercial providers (C4ISRNet) A new request for proposals will govern the agency's new commercial imagery contracts.

National Reconnaissance Office further expands contract with Planet (C4ISRNet) The contract extension gives the NRO more access to Planet's capabilities just as the agency prepares to issue new commercial imagery contracts in 2022.

NRO Says It Buys 50K Commercial Images Weekly — Tally Likely to Grow (Via Satellite) The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) said on Nov. 3 that it has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the agency’s Electro-Optical Commercial Layer (EOCL), as the agency looks to boost its involvement with commercial companies. “Right now, we procure approximately 50,000 commercial images each and every

Planned NRO Imagery Contracts To Ease Sharing, With One Big Exception (Breaking Defense) NRO use of shutter control on commercial electro-optical imagery would be "very rare," and "limited in both area and time," said Peter Muend, head of the spy agency's commercial office.

NASA, Space Force see growing opportunities to use commercial space services (SpaceNews) NASA’s chief economist Alexander MacDonald said aggressive competition for space agency contracts is “one of the most exciting things that we're seeing.”

Starship engine 'crisis' poses possible bankruptcy risk for SpaceX, Elon Musk says: report (Space.com) SpaceX "will need all hands on deck to recover from what is, quite frankly, a disaster," Musk wrote in an email recently.

Elon Musk says Raptor engine production is a "disaster" that puts SpaceX at risk of bankruptcy (The Verge) "I will be on the Raptor line all night and through the weekend"

It's not the first time Elon Musk's worried about the demise of SpaceX — he once thought it would be worth '$0' (CNBC) Billionaire Elon Musk warned his employees in a company email that SpaceX faces a "genuine risk of bankruptcy." It's not the rocket company's first time and it might now be the last.

Elon Musk tells SpaceX employees that Starship engine crisis is creating a 'risk of bankruptcy' (CNBC) Elon Musk is angry with the lack of progress SpaceX has made in developing the Raptor engines that power its Starship rocket.

Elon Musk confirms he's worried SpaceX could go bankrupt (CNET) The world's richest person is worried one of his companies could go bankrupt if it doesn't make it to space early and often starting next year.

Maersk Expands FleetXpress Service Agreement With Inmarsat (Via Satellite) Inmarsat, which announced an In-Flight Connectivity deal with Saudia this week, has now announced a new maritime contract with Maersk. Inmarsat has

Missile Defense Agency selects Raytheon Missiles & Defense to develop first-ever counter-hypersonic interceptor (PR Newswire) Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, has been selected by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) as one of the...

Telos Corporation Awarded Additional $3.1M Contract with National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (GlobeNewswire News Room) Cybersecurity leader to build on longstanding NGA relationship with additional Xacta support...

Hughes Continues to See Lower Subscribers, Higher Revenue in Q3 (Via Satellite) Hughes Network Systems has now seen four quarters in a row of revenue growth despite a decline in subscribers. The company also confirmed its on track for

AST SpaceMobile Reports Third Quarter Results, May Push Back Launch Date (Via Satellite) AST SpaceMobile, which is working to build a space-to-cell network, posted its third quarter 2021 financial results on Monday, and raised the possibility

Northrop Grumman Advancing Connectivity Layer for JADC2 with SATCOM-Enabled Freedom Radio Technology (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) was recently awarded an expanded scope of work contract that further enables Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) with the development of a satellite communications...

US Army Awards Raytheon $17.5M Surveillance Contract (The Defense Post) The US Army has awarded Raytheon Intelligence & Space a contract worth $17.5 million to provide improved Mode 5 and ADS-B surveillance capabilities.

Raytheon to provide advanced surveillance capabilities for US Army (Army Recognition) Raytheon to provide improved Mode 5 and ADS-B surveillance capabilities for safe airspace engagement with its Identification Friend or Foe, or IFF, transponders and cryptographic technologies to support the military’s effort through 2026.

Orbital Assembly to Use LEOcloud Cloud Services on Future Space Stations (Via Satellite) LEOcloud has established a partnership with Orbital Assembly to provide cloud services onboard Orbital Assembly’s future commercial space station

Rocket Lab Grows Backlog by 30%, Acquires Space Separation Systems Company PSC (Via Satellite) In the span of 24 hours, New Zealand's Rocket Lab reported a 360% increase in third quarter 2021 space systems revenue, a 30% increase in total backlog,

Mercury Systems completes acquisition of Avalex Technologies (GlobeNewswire News Room) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical...

Telesat Will be Publicly Traded by End of Year, CEO Forecasts in Q3 Report (Via Satellite) Telesat reported a modest revenue decline of 5% in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, and CEO Dan Goldberg said Telesat expects to complete its deal to become publicly traded by the end of the year. Third quarter revenue was $192 million Canadian dollars ($154 million), down 5% compared

Mynaric Places Shares on US Nasdaq Market (Via Satellite) Laser communication company Mynaric, which is publicly traded in Germany, placed shares in the Nasdaq market on Friday. Mynaric announced Friday that it

CACI to Acquire Optical Communications Tech Provider SA Photonics for $275M (Via Satellite) CACI International on Wednesday said it has agreed to acquire SA Photonics for $275 million in a deal that complements its existing Free Space Optical (FSO) communications capabilities for the U.S. government and commercial customers, and adds development and production capacity. The transaction is subject to

Firefly Establishes Space Transport Services Subsidiary, Hires Jason Mello (Via Satellite) Firefly Aerospace has renamed its subsidiary that serves government customers and hired former U.S. Air Force Colonel Jason Mello to lead it. Mello will join as president of Firefly Space Transport Services (STS), formerly known as Firefly Black, located in Washington D.C. The company said that subsidiary Firefly

Astroscale Completes its Largest Financing Round Yet, Raising $109M (Via Satellite) Astroscale has achieved a significant financing milestone, completing the largest funding round in its history. The company announced Nov. 25 that it has

Astra Reports $16M Net Loss in Q3, Files for V-Band Spectrum Access (Via Satellite) Smallsat launcher in development Astra released its third quarter financial results on Nov. 11, its second financials since going public in July. Astra

FCC Authorizes Boeing V-Band LEO Broadband Constellation (Via Satellite) Boeing could be joining the fray of broadband constellation competitors in the coming years, expanding its role in space beyond manufacturing. On Wednesday, the FCC approved a Boeing application for a license to construct, deploy, and operate a satellite constellation. Boeing’s plan is for a V-band constellation of

Boeing Jumps Into Musk-Led Race for Broadband From Space (1) (Bloomberg Law) The Boeing Co. won permission from U.S. regulators for a fleet of 147 communications satellites, following Elon Musk’s SpaceX in a new rush to offer commercial services from low orbits in space.

HawkEye 360 raises $145M to scale space-based radio frequency data and analytics (TechCrunch) The biggest players in the Earth observation industry use imaging satellites to deliver intelligence and analytics, but startup HawkEye 360 is taking a different tack. The company monitors radio frequency (RF) signals, like those emitted by marine radios or emergency beacons, on the premise that in…

Planet to Acquire Earth Data Company VanderSat (Via Satellite) Planet has announced a deal to acquire Earth data and analytics company VanderSat, in its first acquisition while going public. The $28 million deal

OneWeb Signs New Agreements with BT and Leonardo (Via Satellite) OneWeb continues its momentum by announcing another new deals with BT Group and Leonardo DRS. OneWeb and British telecommunications company BT have agreed on a new distribution partner agreement to provide Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication services across BT Group. This deal was announced Nov.2. This

Thaicom Profit Doubles in Q3 2021 Compared to 2020 (Via Satellite) Thaicom doubled its profit in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same time in 2020, according to results released Oct. 20. The Thai satellite operator had profits for the three months to the end of September of 146 million Baht ($4.31 million). This compares to Baht 77 million ($2.31 million) in the same

Intelsat Restructuring Costs Add Up to a Net Loss in Q3 2021 (Via Satellite) Global satellite operator Intelsat generated a 7% year-over-year increase in total revenue during its third fiscal quarter of 2021, but its hefty legal and restructuring costs caused net losses to jump from $15.9 million to $145.7 million. Intelsat earned $526.1 million in revenue and spent $98.3 million in

Northrop Grumman Announces Team for NASA’s Next-Generation Lunar Terrain Vehicle (SpaceRef) Northrop Grumman Announces Team for NASA’s Next-Generation Lunar Terrain Vehicle

Mercury Systems acquires Atlanta Micro (GlobeNewswire News Room) Expands Company’s RF and microwave component portfolioDeepens market penetration in core EW, radar, and weapons marketsStrengthens Mercury’s leadership...

Mercury Systems announces appointment of Roger Wells as Executive Vice President, President of Microelectronics division (GlobeNewswire News Room) Mercury Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical...

Former SpaceX exec says the public has a different perception of Elon Musk: 'We see him differently during work.' (Business Insider) Elon Musk jokes around at work but it's harder for the public to know when he's joking, former SpaceX Vice President Hans Koenigsmann told Insider.

Viasat Names Kevin Harkenrider as COO (Via Satellite) Viasat has named a new chief operating officer, selecting Kevin Harkenrider for the role. Harkenrider has been with the company since 2006. As COO, he

Northrop Grumman Names Tom Wilson New Chief of Space Systems (Via Satellite) Northrop Grumman on Thursday said it has appointed Tom Wilson as president of its Space Systems segment effective Jan. 1, 2022, succeeding Blake Larson,

Products, Services, and Solutions

Viasat, China Satcom Set to Provide IFC Service in Chinese Airspace (Via Satellite) Viasat's in-flight connectivity (IFC) Ka-band service is now ready to commence operation in Chinese airspace, the satellite operator announced Tuesday.

Arianespace Launches 3 French Military Satellites (Via Satellite) Arianespace launched three French military satellites on Tuesday morning in its 12th launch of the year. A Vega rocket took off from the Guiana Space

France launches three CERES satellites aboard Arianespace Vega rocket (Defense News) The constellation — called CapacitÉ de Renseignement Électromagnétique Spatiale, or CERES — will allow France to better collect intelligence from electromagnetic origins in space, the country’s Ministry of Defense.

SpaceX launches 53 Starlink internet satellites and lands rocket in foggy flight (Space.com) It's SpaceX's second rocket launch in a busy week.

Iridium Debuts Iridium Certus 100 Midband Service (Via Satellite) Iridium launched the Iridium Certus 100 midband service this week for maritime, land mobile, IoT, aviation, and government customers. The midband speeds

Northrop Grumman’s missile-tracking satellite passes critical design review (SpaceNews) A satellite designed by Northrop Grumman to track hypersonic and ballistic missiles has passed a critical design review.

Rocket Lab Deploys 2 Satellites for BlackSky, Recovers Rocket (Via Satellite) Rocket Lab deployed two satellites for BlackSky in its latest launch, and recovered the first stage of the Electron rocket afterward. The mission, dubbed

Capella to Add Mynaric Optical Terminals on Future Satellites (Via Satellite) Capella Space plans to add optical communication terminals to future satellites, and will use Mynaric’s terminals, the company announced Tuesday. In

ANA Holdings to Procure 20 Virgin Orbit Flights from Japan (Via Satellite) Virgin Orbit has signed an MoU with the holding company of Japan’s largest airline that paves the way for 20 LauncherOne flights from Japan. On Nov. 4, Virgin Orbit announced the MoU with ANA Holdings, the owners of Japan’s largest airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA), which will procure 20 flights of the LauncherOne

Amazon seeks approval to launch 4,500 satellites for internet connections (CRN Australia) To compete with Starlink network as a broadband internet provider.

Intelsat and OneWeb Demonstrate GEO/LEO Service to U.S. DoD (Via Satellite) Intelsat, OneWeb, and Linchpin Solutions demonstrated a multi-orbit satellite communications solution for the U.S. Army and Department of Defense (DoD). Intelsat and OneWeb government subsidiary OneWeb Technologies used both Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites simultaneously, and software

Amazon to Launch Prototype Kuiper Satellites with ABL Space Systems in 2022 (Via Satellite) Amazon plans to launch its first two prototype satellites for the Project Kuiper constellation with ABL Space Systems in the fourth quarter of 2022, the company announced Monday. Amazon has signed a multi-launch agreement with ABL Space Systems, which is developing the RS1 rocket, for launches from Cape Canaveral

Tom Hanks said 'No thanks' to a space trip offer from Blue Origin's Jeff Bezos. Here's why. (Space.com) "I don't need to spend $28 million bucks to do that."

Lynk Signs Commercial Agreement with Mongolian MNO Unitel (Via Satellite) Lynk Global has signed another mobile network operator for service on its satellite-to-cell service. Mongolia’s largest mobile operator, Unitel, has signed on as a member of Lynk’s flagship carrier program. Lynk is working to launch a satellite-to-cell network, which allows cell phone users to send messages outside

Measat Inks New Capacity Deal With Rock Entertainment Holdings (Via Satellite) Measat Satellite Systems has signed a new capacity deal with Rock Entertainment Holdings. The company announced Nov. 2 that it will distribute Global Trekker HD via its Measat-3a satellite. The channel joins Measat’s HD video neighborhood at 91.5 degrees East for viewers across the Asia Pacific region. The 91.5

Hispasat Signs Exclusive Capacity Agreement with Eutelsat for Portugal and Spain (Via Satellite) Hispasat has signed a capacity agreement with Eutelsat Communications to be the exclusive operator and distributor of KONNECT capacity in Spain and Portugal. This is a multi-year agreement that Hispasat said will support ubiquitous access to high-speed fixed broadband in Spain and Portugal. Eutelsat said in the Oct.

SpaceBridge VSAT Network Deployed to 2,000 Sites in Oman With SCT (Via Satellite) SpaceBridge has delivered a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network to connect 2,000 locations in Oman, the company announced Oct. 26. SpaceBridge worked with Space Communication Technologies (SCT), which is owned by the government of Oman. SpaceBridge delivered its multiple spot beam (MSB) Ka-band broadband

SpaceX shows off epic photo of Starship SN20 engine test (Space.com) Starship SN20 will be SpaceX's first to reach orbit.

InterSAT, Kymeta and Azercosmos Partner for Mobility Service in Africa (Via Satellite) Azercosmos is teaming up with InterSAT and Kymeta to deliver mobility services in Africa. The partnership agreement enables InterSAT to deliver a complete

Astra's Rocket 3.3 Reaches Orbit (Via Satellite) California-based rocket startup Astra Space became the latest private launch company to reach orbit this weekend, after it successfully launched its

Intelsat to Expand FlexMaritime Service to India's Territorial Waters Early Next Year (Via Satellite) Intelsat is expanding its FlexMaritime service to reach vessels traveling in Indian territorial waters, the global satellite operator announced November

Airbus Ships First Inmarsat-6 Satellite to Japan for Launch (Via Satellite) The first Inmarsat-6 satellite built by Airbus is now on the way to Tanegashima in Japan ready for launch, the manufacturer confirmed Nov. 22. The first

Thuraya Taps Cobham SATCOM for a New Mobile Broadband Partnership (Via Satellite) Thuraya, a Yahsat subsidiary, has linked up with Cobham SATCOM for a partnership deal that will provide Thuraya with a range of next-generation broadband

Denver executive to fly to space with GMA host, others on Blue Origin rocket (Denver Business Journal) The trip fulfills a lifelong dream for the longtime investor and champion of commercial space flight.

Space company launches first rocket for US Space Force from Kodiak (KINY) Kodiak, Alaska (KINY) - A launch of a test rocket in Kodiak was successful over the weekend.

Kacific Brings New Backhaul Service to Customers in Asia (Via Satellite) Kacific Broadband Satellites is introducing a new backhaul service targeting ISPs and telcos in Asia and the Pacific, the company announced November 22.

India tells public to shun Musk-backed Starlink until it gets licence (Reuters) The Indian government advised people against subscribing to

Swedish Space Corporation Upgrades to Global Ka-Band Ground Network (Via Satellite) Swedish Space Corporation (SCC) has upgraded its Ka-band ground station network to provide global coverage. To do this, the company upgraded its polar and

Mercury Systems announces high-speed 3U VPX synchronizer module for phase-coherent signal acquisition (GlobeNewswire News Room) SOSA aligned module accelerates design of complex beamforming and phased array applications...

Hunton Andrews Kurth Launches National Security Practice (Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP) Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP helps businesses around the world navigate complex legal challenges in the energy, financial services, real estate investment and finance, retail and consumer products, and technology sectors and beyond. The firm has offices in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Technologies, Techniques, and Standards

New Earth-observing satellite beams back first images (Washington Post) Landsat 9, launched in September by NASA and USGS, offers ultra-detailed views of the Earth’s surface.

The Navy is testing a GPS-like device that doesn’t require satellites (Task & Purpose) The Navy is studying muons, a natural source of radiation that, unlike GPS, can be used deep underground or in the Arctic.

Massive Technical Leaps Push Satellite to the Fronthaul of 5G IoT (Via Satellite) Former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s “big day for American leadership” was Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021 — The start of a public auction of 120 megahertz of 3.7 gigahertz C-band spectrum to be repurposed for 5G. Pai’s 5G FAST plan, which he spent years promoting as the creator of, “millions of jobs, billions of dollars in investment, innovation on our shores, and stronger economic growth,” grossed $80.9 billion in government revenue.

Networks as 'center of gravity': Project Convergence highlights military's new battle with bandwidth (Breaking Defense) In desert experiments, Army races to develop tactics for transferring data — and realizes high-def video can create potentially fatal data bottlenecks.

Exotrail Teams Up with OHB LuxSpace to Develop Micro-Satellite Platform (Via Satellite) Exotrail, a French space company, is teaming up with Luxembourg-based satellite manufacturer OHB LuxSpace to collaborate on a new micro-satellite

A Space Force general said US hypersonic missile capabilities are 'not as advanced' China and Russia's (Business Insider) Gen. David Thompson said on Saturday: "We're not as advanced as the Chinese or the Russians in terms of hypersonic programs."

DHS Weighs How to Protect Increasingly Critical Space Systems - Via Satellite - (Via Satellite) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is deciding how to incorporate space assets like new multi-orbit constellations of broadband communications

The US Space Force Wants to Clean Up Junk in Orbit (Wired) Debris from a Russian anti-satellite weapons test adds new urgency to international and government efforts to get rid of high-flying trash.

Virgin Orbit and Astroscale Explore Partnerships on Space Debris (Via Satellite) Virgin Orbit and Astroscale announced a new MoU to collaborate on satellite servicing, that could include work together on launches, policy, and a

Space Force satellite operators not yet ready to embrace in-orbit servicing (SpaceNews) Space Force logistics lead Karl Stolleis said Nov. 16 at the ASCEND conference that the culture of military satellite operators has not yet caught up to the technology now available for in-orbit servicing

EXCLUSIVE: General Atomics is secretly flying a new, heavily armed drone (Breaking Defense) The new yet-unnamed drone can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles at a time — double the load of an MQ-1C Gray Eagle.

NASA Pushes Artemis Return to the Moon to 2025 at Earliest (Via Satellite) NASA has pushed back its target date to return humans to the Moon through the Artemis program to “no earlier than 2025.” The agency said the Blue Origin

NASA will spend $93 billion on Artemis moon program by 2025, report estimates (Space.com) And NASA likely won't return astronauts to the moon until several years after 2024, the report found.

NASA Tries to Save Hubble, Again (Wired) The space telescope’s latest hardware problem has kept it offline for two weeks, raising concerns that the decades-old spacecraft is running out of time.

Space Force Detects Mystery Object in Orbit Alongside Chinese Satellite (Gizmodo) They’re calling it an “apogee kick motor,” but the object’s true identity and purpose remain unknown.

Lockheed Martin and Verizon to Partner to Develop 5G Tech for the Military (Defense One) The companies recently connected a military communications network to a commercial 5G network.

Next Generation Of Tactical Terminals for Resilient Tactical SATCOM (SatNews) Today the Army’s tactical SATCOM network uses GEO satellites to deliver services to the warfighter. This legacy capability allows Army commanders to perform command and control duties while on the move (OTM) in ground tactical vehicles. Future US Army’s SATCOM solution will add resiliency for operations by incorporating emerging LEO, MEO and GEO HTS services into this network.

For JADC2 to have a chance, DoD needs to get serious about data standards (Breaking Defense) "We are past the tipping point where information and decision-centric capabilities are more important instruments of war than kinetic weapons," write former deputy secretary Bob Work and Govini's Bill Fabian.

NASA wants to use the sun to power future deep space missions (MIT Technology Review) Solar energy can make space travel more fuel-efficient.

Next-Gen OPIR Program Completes System-Level Critical Design Review (Via Satellite) The U.S. Space Force and Lockheed Martin completed a system-level Critical Design Review (CDR) of the company’s Next Generation Overhead Persistent

Design and Innovation

Inside Blue Origin's Astronaut Village where space tourists sleep in Airstream trailers and hang out around a firepit: 'It's not a five-star hotel.' (Business Insider) Blue Origin's Astronaut Village has a restaurant, bar, and firepit where passengers and staff can "bond," astronaut Chris Boshuizen told Insider.

Space Force sees AI as 'absolutely essential' for JADC2 (Breaking Defense) Brig. Gen. John Olson said that for JADC2 to work, "artificial intelligence and machine learning are absolutely essential enablers to make us able to react, and respond, and again, make sense of the information, then act upon it."

How Tech Innovations Can Support a More Sustainable Space Environment (Via Satellite) On the tail end of 2021, investments in technology to keep space functional, minimize harmful debris, and extend the life of satellites, are booming. But can the satellite industry innovate fast enough to keep the pulse strong?

Behind Anduril’s Effort to Create an Operating System for War (Wired) The company, launched by Oculus cofounder Palmer Luckey, is building software to connect multiple Air Force systems—allowing officers to act more quickly.

Sure, there's hype. But blockchain has concrete space applications (SpaceNews) Blockchain's promise of direct, secure transactions between individuals or organizations promises to revolutionize space commerce.

This Startup Wants to Throw Satellites into Orbit With a Giant Centrifuge (ExtremeTech) SpinLaunch has just completed its first kinetic launch test by heaving a vehicle high into the atmosphere.

Debris removal a key goal in Space Force’s ‘Orbital Prime’ project (SpaceNews) SpaceWERX plans to select at least one team to conduct an on-orbit demonstration of active debris removal within the next two years

DOD Invites Companies to Help It Visualize the Space Domain (Air Force Magazine) The DOD is inviting companies—both from the U.S. and internationally—to propose user-friendly ways of visualizing space operations.

Urban Life on Mars? (Bloomberg) In October, an international cohort of thinkers beamed into the virtual 2021 conference of the Mars Society, which has advocated colonizing the planet since 1998. In an age of low-cost rocket launches and Shatner space jaunts, it was a sign of how attainable the possibility of reaching Mars suddenly seems that the discussions were often about mundane logistics. How would criminals be jailed? What would safe sex mean in a low-gravity, low-oxygen environment? Should Mars have a Catholic diocese?

Army’s Shark Tank-style innovation competition is now open to other services (Army Times) Winners get a four-day liberty pass, Army school of their choice and a Meritorious Service Medal.

Networks as 'center of gravity': Project Convergence highlights military's new battle with bandwidth (Breaking Defense) In desert experiments, Army races to develop tactics for transferring data — and realizes high-def video can create potentially fatal data bottlenecks.

Research and Development

Army adds Finnish satellite startup ICEYE to SAR research effort (Breaking Defense) Under the agreement with ICEYE, the Army will look especially hard at the ability to significantly cut the time it takes to relay ISR data from a satellite to shooters on the ground.

Promising new electric iodine thruster passes key test in orbit (Space.com) Electric thrusters that use iodine as a propellant could soon find their way onto lots of spacecraft.

Northrop Grumman proposes lunar rover for Artemis program (SpaceFlight Insider) A team of companies led by Northrop Grumman has put forth a proposal for an astronaut-driven lunar rover for the agency’s Artemis Moon program.

Upgraded Missile Warning Satellites Come 'Another Significant Step' Closer to Reality (Air Force Magazine) New US missile warning satellites passed a design review, keeping the Next-Gen OPIR program on track for the first launch as soon as 2025.

Army adds Finnish satellite startup ICEYE to SAR research effort (Breaking Defense) Under the agreement with ICEYE, the Army will look especially hard at the ability to significantly cut the time it takes to relay ISR data from a satellite to shooters on the ground.

UK-Led TRUTH Mission to Fight Climate Change Moves to Early Design Phase (Via Satellite) The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has revealed new details this week at COP26 for a United Kingdom-led mission that will aim to set a new benchmark to detect change in Earth’s climate system. This mission called TRUTHS — Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio- Studies — will aim to be the gold standard

Killer Asteroids Abound. NASA Is Ready to Do Something About It (Bloomberg) The agency is launching a mission to crash into an asteroid, a test to learn how humans can nudge threatening rocks and avoid an extinction-level event.

Nasa launches spacecraft in first ever mission to deflect asteroid (the Guardian) Spacecraft heads off on 6.8m-mile journey to crash into moonlet Dimorphos in test to see if asteroids can be diverted from collision with Earth

NASA's DART mission to deliberately crash into an asteroid: What you need to know (CNET) How will we defend the planet from a catastrophic collision? DART hopes to lead the way. Here's how you can watch it launch.

Watch live @ 9 pm ET: SpaceX launching 60 Starlink internet satellites (Space.com) Liftoff is set for 9:13 p.m. EST (0213 GMT).

What To Know About NASA's Asteroid Impact Mission To Test Earth's Defences (Newsweek) Scientists want to know if smashing the DART spacecraft into the Dimorphos asteroid system at 15,000 miles per hour could protect our planet from possible future impacts.

Why NASA's DART Mission Will Slam a Spacecraft Into an Asteroid (Wired) The DART mission is scheduled to launch early Wednesday. It will crash into an asteroid to see if it's possible to deflect one.

How NASA will practice saving the world from an asteroid apocalypse (TheHill) The prerequisite for stopping an asteroid or comet headed to Earth is to detect it.

Academia

Space Force leader suggests education secretary should be on the National Space Council (SpaceNews) arly education about the value created by space technology should be a national priority, the top enlisted leader of the U.S. Space Force said Nov. 11.

Air Force Research Laboratory awards university $1 billion for space technology research (C4ISRNet) The contract further strengthens the relationship between AFRL and the Space Dynamics Laboratory.

Space Force detachment opens at Academy with high-altitude celebration (United States Air Force Academy) Guardians at the Air Force Academy hiked to the top of Eagles Peak Nov. 5 to celebrate the activation of a Space Force detachment at the school.

What Converting from the Air Force to Space Force Means for One JROTC Unit (Military.com) Space Coast Junior/Senior High in Florida is one of 10 Air Force JROTC units nationally to convert to the Space Force during the 2021-22 school year.

Notre Dame and Lockheed Martin partner to advance aerospace research // Notre Dame Research // University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame Research) Notre Dame Research supports its researchers in advancing human understanding through research, scholarship, education, and creative endeavor in order to be a repository for knowledge and a powerful means for doing good in the world.

Notre Dame and Lockheed Martin Partner on Aerospace Research (Building Indiana) Notre Dame and Lockheed Martin Corporation signed a Master Research Agreement to facilitate future collaborations in aerospace research.

NMSU engineering students explore new technology for the ‘New Space Era’ (Las Cruces Sun-News) Through a new partnership, NMSU engineering students could have a big impact on our lives today and the promise of even more for the future.

Legislation, Policy, and Regulation

Senate Commerce Committee Calls for Action After ASAT Test (Via Satellite) A group of senators is calling for greater U.S. space leadership after the Russian Anti-Satellite (ASAT) tests earlier this month. Four senators on the

Whose job is it to prevent Armageddon? (POLITICO) Calls grow for a global planetary defense strategy as thousands of near-Earth asteroids are discovered each year.

Clarke Foundation Lifetime Award Winner Dr. Michio Kaku Calls for a New Global Space Treaty (Via Satellite) One of the world's most renowned scientists and theoretical physicists, Dr. Michio Kaku, is urging world leaders to update the multilateral 1967 Outer

The UK’s Space Strategy Casts the Nation as a Rising Space Super Power (Via Satellite) The United Kingdom’s National Space Strategy sets direction for its burgeoning space tech players as the kingdom readies for a transformative year. 2022 will see the revival of its historic heritage in launch technology combine with present-day strengths

Allies eyeing 'niche' space capabilities for warfighting with US (Breaking Defense) "The key to success is frank and open discussion ... tearing down those information sharing barriers, to be sure that we're truly interoperable," said Australian Air Commodore Nicholas Hogan.

FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Announces Initiatives on Space and Cybersecurity | The White House (The White House) Following her meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France, Vice President Kamala Harris is announcing a number of collaborative initiatives that the

Let’s Get to Know Space Force, Trump’s Most Misunderstood Creation (Intelligencer) Despite Trump’s misleading hype and the constant sci-fi jokes, the newest military branch has a serious mission (though it’s still a bit funny).

Space Force takes first step to establish components in commands from Europe to Asia (Breaking Defense) Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has given the go-ahead for Space Force components in EUCOM, INDO-PACOM, CENTCOM and US Forces in Korea, but questions remain about Guardians' "global responsibility."

Space Force wants a more detailed picture of what other nations are doing in space (SpaceNews) The U.S. Space Force needs better space situational awareness to understand what rivals are doing in orbit, said Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno at the ASCEND 2021 conference.

UK, French officials gather to decide future of missile technologies (Breaking Defense) Officials and executives want to focus on mission systems and algorithms; seekers; lethal packages; propulsion; and materials, structures and electronics.

An easy fix to Space Force’s most glaring vulnerability - Breaking Defense (Breaking Defense) A rapid response space capability must be an integral component of the president’s response options to not only deter an adversary, but also to avoid repeating the humiliation of revealed impotence in the face of a threat.

Harris says National Space Council will develop “comprehensive framework” for space priorities (SpaceNews) Vice President Kamala Harris said she will direct the National Space Council to develop a “comprehensive framework” for national space priorities.

Exclusive: Amid national security concerns, US slaps overhead time limits on satellites (Breaking Defense) "These restrictions would severely hurt commercial companies' ability to operate high resolution constellations and is counter to the efforts of the past two years to make NOAA regs streamlined and enable US companies to compete internationally," one industry rep said.

VP Harris to chair first National Space Council meeting Dec. 1 - Breaking Defense (Breaking Defense) Harris will visit NASA Goddard to promote the criticality of space capabilities to climate change mediation.

VP Harris To Convene First Space Council Meeting on December 1 (Space Policy Onlne) Posted: November 5, 2021 6:50 pm ET | Last Updated: November 6, 2021 1:07 pm ET | Find out what Vice President Kamala Harris's plans are for the White House National Space Council, which she chairs, and her views on the value of space activities to combat climate change.

Space hacking risks pose cyber policy test for Biden admin (README) The White House won’t be defining the space industry as critical infrastructure, despite mounting pressure from business and lawmakers.

INSA Argues for Space Systems Classification as Critical Infrastructure (MeriTalk) The Intelligence and National Security Alliance – a trade group for the intel and national security communities – is arguing in a new white paper that United States space systems should be classified by the Federal government as critical infrastructure.

Designating the U.S. Space Sector as Critical Infrastructure (INSA) It is in the national interest to designate space systems as a sector of the critical infrastructure of the United States. As commercial companies have driven significant technological innovation and growth in the space sector, space-related technologies and systems have become increasingly critical to U.S. national and economic security. Designation of space as a critical infrastructure sector would enable public-private collaboration and information-sharing regarding both the space sector’s vulnerabilities and the threats space assets face.

INSA Calls for Designating Space Systems as New U.S. Critical Infrastructure Sector (Hstoday) Paper says it would enhance the resiliency of space-related assets and thereby make these other critical infrastructure sectors more secure.

Exclusive: SPACECOM reorganizing amidst theater component command debate (Breaking Defense) It remains to be seen if the creation of a new Joint Force Space Component Command will help or hurt the chain of command for military space.

Where will the Space National Guard land? (Air Force Times) Congress is divided on whether to establish a Space National Guard apart from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units with space missions.

Space sector exec: Spain must stand out among its neighbors in nascent domain (Defense News) Spain requires a national strategy to grow and nurture its military space-industrial potential, and stand out as a European leader in the nascent domain, according to a small satellite company leader.

How Will SATCOM Evolve From GWOT To Great Power? (Breaking Defense) DoD Satcom Chief Mike Dean discusses how new, disruptive capabilities for SATCOM in LEO, MEO, and GEO are creating novel mission sets for all-domain operations and new ways of paying for it. He also provides a status report on developing enterprise SATCOM command and control.

Buy American: Biden sees industry pushback as allies warn of trade consequences (Defense News) President Biden has taken executive action to boost Buy American requirements, but not everyone is happy about it.

Why ‘Buy American’ Isn’t The Answer To Safeguard NatSec Supply Chains - Breaking Defense (Breaking Defense) To harden supply chains against Chinese influence, what the US needs is not protectionism but a defense and economic security alliance among friendly nations.

Moving Beyond Assured Access to Space - Breaking Defense (Breaking Defense) By diversifying our approach to launch, we will achieve an increase in launch and payload options.

Air Combat Command transfers SIPRNet mission to the Air Education and Training Command (DVIDS) In a historical transfer of responsibility, Lt. Col. Traci Sarmiento, 690th Intelligence Support Squadron commander transferred the local Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) mission to the 502nd Communications Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Christopher Waddell, Oct. 29, 2021 at Joint Base San Antonio- Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Air Force Research Laboratory names new head of space science and technology efforts (C4ISRNet) The new deputy technology executive officer for space science and technology will oversee the lab's space portfolio and ensure it is aligned with the Space Force's mission.

The Army is looking for industry to help shape its future SATCOM needs (C4ISRNet) The Army is looking into a managed service model for SATCOM and wants industry to help shape it.

DoD unveils next iteration of sprawling cybersecurity initiative (C4ISRNet) After a review, the Pentagon announces CMMC 2.0.

Pentagon issues revised cyber standards for contractors (The Record by Recorded Future) The Defense Department on Thursday released a revamped framework and digital security standards for contractors that is intended to “minimize barriers” for compliance.

The General of the Space Force Has Heard Your Jokes (The New Yorker) Gen. John W. Raymond discusses being memeified, Steve Carell, and how his military branch plans to keep your smartphone from being turned into a stupid phone.

The Pentagon Forms New Department to Watch and Study UFOs (Vice) The new group will coordinate efforts across branches in an effort to figure out what, exactly, is flying around up there.

Pentagon will track unexplained airborne objects through new intelligence group (Washington Post) The Pentagon has created a new intelligence division exclusively dedicated to investigating unidentified objects that breach sensitive U.S. airspace, to understand both their origin and whether they could threaten national security.

Pentagon silent on whether UFO tracking officials will wear black suits, sunglasses (Task & Purpose) So don't fear us, cheer us. If you ever get near us, don't jeer us, we're fearless.

Bill LaPlante to be tapped as Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief (Breaking Defense) LaPlante served as the Air Force's top acquisition official from 2013 to 2015.

Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement

The EU Faces Legal Changes Ahead for Cybersecurity in Space (Via Satellite) Cybersecurity remains one of the central topics when it comes to the space sector, not the least because of the role that satellite networks play in society, from satellite communications to Earth Observation (EO), to navigation. Nevertheless, few national space legislations have expressly addressed the need to meet cybersecurity requirements.

Blue Origin Plans No Further Legal Action After Losing NASA Lunar Lander Appeal (Via Satellite) A judge in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims denied Blue Origin’s request for judgement in a lawsuit over SpaceX receiving NASA’s sole lunar lander award on Thursday. This uphold’s NASA’s selection of SpaceX in April 2021 for a firm-fixed price, $2.89 billion contract to send astronauts to the Moon on the Starship

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