Appropriations, Procurement, and Acquisitions
Space Force rolls out cybersecurity standards for commercial providers of satellite services (SpaceNews) The Space Systems Command announced May 26 the official rollout of a new process to assess the cybersecurity of commercial satellite operators that do business with the Defense Department.
Space Force Finally Rolls Out Cyber Standards for Commercial SATCOM Providers (Air Force Magazine) The Space Force rolled out new cybersecurity standards for commercial satellite vendors; those who meet them might be able to charge more.
National Reconnaissance Office expands use of commercial satellite imagery (Defense News) The contracts — awarded to Maxar, BlackSky and Planet — are part of NRO's response to a growing demand for commercial satellite imagery.
NRO Awards Imagery Contracts to Maxar, BlackSky, and Planet Worth Billions (Via Satellite) The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) awarded contracts to Maxar Technologies, BlackSky, and Planet, for satellite imagery worth billions of dollars
UNITED KINGDOM : Thales Alenia Space and In-Space become last contendors for UK defence's spy satellites constellation project (Intelligence Online) France's Thales Alenia Space (TAS) and the UK's In-Space, a subsidiary of BAE System, are the last contenders for the Jove project, which aims to create a constellation of three observation cubesats
US Space Force Awards BlueHalo $1.4B to Bolster Communications for GEO Satellites (Via Satellite) The U.S. Space Force Space Rapid Capabilities Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has awarded BlueHalo a $1.4 billion contract for the Satellite
Space Business and Market Trends
Astroscale Receives ESA Funding for 2024 ELSA-M Debris Removal Mission (Via Satellite) Astroscale’s U.K. subsidiary received 14.8 million euros ($16 million) in funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) for its ELSA-M servicer mission,
SatSure Enters US Market By Acquiring Philadelphia-Based Geospatial Services Company (ReleaseWire) Press Release issued May 31, 2022: SatSure, a deep tech startup working at the intersection of spacetech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Software as a Service (SaaS) to drive decision intelligence, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Philadelphia based Old City Innovations (formerly Geospoc LLC, USA) in a cash plus stock deal, marking its entry into the U.S. market.
Viasat Reports Record Revenue of $2.8B in 2022 (Via Satellite) Viasat posted record revenue of $2.8 billion in its 2022 fiscal year, up 24% over the prior year. The company logged gains in each of its three business
Satellite-imagery firms Maxar, Planet and BlackSky awarded billions of dollars in government contracts (CNBC) The National Reconnaissance Office announced contracts worth billions of dollars over the next decade to satellite-imagery companies Maxar, Planet and BlackSky.
SAIC to Engineer, Modernize National GPS Program Under $390M Space Force Task Order; Michael LaRouche Quoted (ExecutiveBiz) Looking for the latest Government Contracting News? Check out our story: SAIC to Engineer, Modernize National GPS Program Under $390M Space Force Task Order;
SAIC Selected for $390 Million Task Order to Provide Systems Engineering and Integration Services To U.S. Space Force (Business Wire) Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE: SAIC) was awarded a $390 million task order by the General Services Administration on behalf of U.S. S
War Stories: Ukraine’s Space Professionals Share Their Experiences (Satellite Today) Ukraine has a vibrant, up and coming space industry with rich heritage that has been thrown into doubt due to Russia’s invasion. In this feature, some of Ukraine’s most prominent space professionals share their personal accounts of the invasion, and how they see the future for the space industry as war rages in their country.
Smallsat IoT Players See Big Opportunity in Small Connections (Satellite Today) Analysts say the smallsat IoT business is on the way to becoming a $1 billion market in the next 10 years. New Space startups in this area are increasing their momentum building constellations and developing technologies to connect devices in remote areas outside the bounds of terrestrial networks.
SpaceX Said in Talks to Raise Fresh Funds at $125 Billion Value (Bloomberg) New valuation would make it the highest valued US startup. Shares also being offered in a so-called employee tender offer.
SpaceX Seeks Funding Following Boeing's Successful Weekend (TheStreet) SpaceX is looking to raise over a billion dollars in funding.
Rocket Lab More Than Doubled Revenue in First Quarter of 2022 (Via Satellite) Rocket Lab more than doubled revenue in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same time last year, driven by growth in its Space Systems segment. On
Raytheon to continue supporting US Air Force geospatial intelligence (GPS World) Contract to provide geospatial intelligence, infrastructure support and training for the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System.
Why Boeing Moved Their Global Headquarters to Northern Virginia (Northern Virginia Magazine) The aerospace company could have major implications for Arlington's growth as a tech hub.
Measat Launches Competition to Encourage Malaysian Students into Space Careers (Via Satellite) Measat has revealed details about a new competition to inspire young people about the space industry in Malaysia. To celebrate the launch of the MEASAT-3d
ABS Wins Satellite Bandwidth Deal with Asian Oil & Gas Company Seanet (Via Satellite) Satellite operator ABS won a new contract in the oil and gas arena. The company announced late Wednesday that Seanet Technologies Myanmar (Seanet), a VSAT
Inmarsat Completes First Orchestra Technical Trials in Singapore (Via Satellite) Inmarsat completed the first phase of testing for its new Orchestra network, which aims to bring together existing GEO satellites with LEO satellites and
General Dynamics Mission Systems and Iridium Awarded $324 Million Ground Control and Operations Contract by the Space Development Agency (Benzinga) General Dynamics Mission Systems (NYSE:GD) and Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today that they have been awarded a contract by the Space
Space Development Agency taps GD-Iridium team for complex ground system (Breaking Defense) Under the $324.5 million contract, the team will develop the "ground Operations and Integration (O&I) segment for Tranche 1 of the National Defense Space Architecture."
Launch Services
HSV is the first commercial airport slated to receive FAA license to land commercial space vehicle (Military & Aerospace Electronics) Initially, the obtaining of the FAA license is specific to Dream Chaser; however, this proof of concept supports other space reentry vehicles, and each would require additional FAA licensing, AviationPros reports
Space Systems Command Awards ULA and SpaceX Launch Task Orders (Via Satellite) Space Systems Command ordered five launches from United Launch Alliance (ULA) and three launches from SpaceX for national security missions on May 26.
SpaceX Launches 59 Spacecraft in Rideshare Mission (Via Satellite) SpaceX launched 59 spacecraft to orbit in a rideshare mission on Wednesday. The Transporter-5 mission was the fifth mission in SpaceX’s dedicated smallsat
An Inside Look: SpinLaunch Flight Test #7 (YouTube) Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how SpinLaunch conducts a typical flight test on our Suborbital Accelerator Launch System. Located at Spaceport Am...
Ovzon CEO Details How Ovzon 3 Launch Will Boost its Satcom-as-Service Offering (Via Satellite) Ovzon, a mobile satellite communications solutions company, is preparing for the launch of its Ovzon 3 satellite, a major milestone for the company. Ovzon
US Space Force
Space Force Can Only ‘Mitigate’ China-Russia Space Cooperation (Air Force Magazine) The China-Russia relationship in space has security implications as they unite financing and know-how to threaten the U.S. in space.
Space Force, Pentagon still hashing out service's presence in theater commands (Breaking Defense) With an eye on China, the plan is to start in the Indo-Pacific, Lt. Gen. Chance Saltzman, deputy chief of space operations, cyber and nuclear, told the Defense Writers Group.
The Space Force hopes to have an initial resilient orbit posture capability by 2027 (Bollyinside) The Space Force’s investment in new space technologies meant to provide higher resiliency against adversary attack will begin to bear fruit in 2027,
Space Force Expands Cyber Defense Operations (Dark Reading) Space Force's Delta 6 cyber-defense group adds squadrons, updates legacy Satellite Control Network.
Space Force adding new cyber squads, improving satellite control (Breaking Defense) Space Force's Delta 6, known as the "Cyber Delta," currently has three squadrons assigned to cyber defense. Four new squadrons will stand up in the summer, Col. Roy Rockwell, who heads the delta, said.
Space Force will likely add a component to Cyber Command, senior official says (FedScoop) As the newest military branch, the Space Force is currently leveraging the Air Force’s component to U.S. Cyber Command as its conduit and connection to the organization. But that may change, according to a senior official. “We don’t have our own cyber component yet in U.S. Cyber Command [but] I think that day will come, […]
Space Force, newest branch of US military, to stand up new squadrons to address growing threats (Fox News) U.S. Space Force is to stand up three new squadrons in the next two years to address growing threats from Russia, China and other actors.
Bill Would Establish Space National Guard (FEDweek) Bipartisan bills now pending before Congress would establish a Space National Guard. Sens. Dianne Feinstein, (D-CA) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sponsored the
US Space Force Evaluating Options for Incorporating National Guard Units (Via Satellite) The U.S. Space Force is assessing whether to recommend the creation of a Space National Guard or the formation of a combined active duty and Reserve
Air National Guard Leaders: Time is Running Short for a Space Guard (Air Force Magazine) Leaders of Air National Guard units with space missions are ramping up their push for Congress to create a Space National Guard.
Wildfire monitoring, other state missions in jeopardy without a Space Guard, these officials say (Air Force Times) Space Force officials want to move away from the traditional Guard and Reserve. These colonels say that's a bad idea.
Guardians will be allowed to sport neck tattoos (Military Times) Don't let you neck tattoo keep you from becoming a Guardian.
Space Force Will Allow Neck Tattoos, Longer Mustaches and More Makeup Options for Guardians (Military.com) The new policy eases mustache restrictions at the outer corners of the mouth and increases color options for nail and lipstick to allow variations for skin tones.
Space race for an identity: Why the Space Force needs beards (Air Force Times) "I’m not advocating for unkept spec ops beards, but rather, well-groomed facial hair with tight standards."
Military Space Operations
Boots on the Ground, Eyes in the Sky (Foreign Affairs) How commercial satellites are upending conflict.
Products, Services, and Solutions
Elon Musk Reveals Details of Next-Generation Starlink Satellites (Gizmodo) The generation-2 satellites are meant to be more powerful than their earlier counterparts.
Cryptosat’s first nanosatellite blasts off Wednesday on SpaceX rocket (Cointelegraph) The crypto-satellite company Cryptosat will launch a small blockchain module into low Earth orbit using a SpaceX rocket.
CACI to demonstrate GPS supporting time-based navigation (Geospatial World) As part of its DemoSat launch in January 2023, U.S. defense contractor CACI International intends to demonstrate a supporting navigation technology for military use.
Wyld Networks Develops Terminals for Satellite IoT Project in the UAE (Via Satellite) Wyld Networks is helping develop IoT terminals to support a new satellite IoT network in the UAE, the company announced May 19. The Dubai Electricity and
ViaLite Wins Expanded L-Band Links Order from Emirates Teleport Operator (Via Satellite) Ground systems technology company ViaLite Communications won an expanded order for ViaLiteHD L-band links from an unnamed teleport operator in the United
ABS Wins Satellite Bandwidth Deal with Asian Oil & Gas Company Seanet (Via Satellite) Satellite operator ABS won a new contract in the oil and gas arena. The company announced late Wednesday that Seanet Technologies Myanmar (Seanet), a VSAT
Inmarsat Completes First Orchestra Technical Trials in Singapore (Via Satellite) Inmarsat completed the first phase of testing for its new Orchestra network, which aims to bring together existing GEO satellites with LEO satellites and
The Boeing Commercial Crew Starliner: Third time’s the charm (The Hill) The Boeing Commercial Crew Starliner rose into the evening sky over Florida in a perfect launch on May 19.
NASA and Boeing Complete Successful Starliner Test to the ISS (Via Satellite) NASA and Boeing successfully completed an uncrewed flight test of the Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station, ending with a desert
Boeing Starliner Capsule Lands In New Mexico After Its First Successful Test Launch In Years (Forbes) Boeing’s spacecraft has touched down after its first successful test launch—setting the stage for the capsule to eventually compete with SpaceX to carry NASA astronauts.
Boeing docks crew capsule to space station in test do-over (AP NEWS) With only a test dummy aboard, Boeing’s astronaut capsule pulled up and parked at the International Space Station for the first time Friday, a huge achievement for the company after years of false starts .
Boeing Is Ready to Launch Starliner, a Rival to SpaceX’s Dragon (Wired) The company’s uncrewed spacecraft will fly to the International Space Station, and if successful, will give NASA astronauts another way to get to orbit.
Maritime Tech Company Navarino Signs with OneWeb (Via Satellite) OneWeb has won a new deal in the maritime sector with Navarino, a maritime technology company. Navarino joins OneWeb's global distribution partnership
NASA Awards Contract for Cybersecurity, Privacy Enterprise Solutions (PR Newswire) NASA has awarded the Cybersecurity and Privacy Enterprise Solutions and Services (CyPrESS) contract to Booz Allen Hamilton of McLean, Virginia....
AST SpaceMobile Previews BlueWalker 3 Launch (Via Satellite) AST SpaceMobile previewed the launch of its BlueWalker 3 test satellite in first quarter 2022 financial results on May 16. The company said the satellite
OneWeb to Bring Connectivity to Uzbekistan Under MoU (Via Satellite) OneWeb plans to bring its high-speed, low-latency broadband satellite connectivity across the Republic of Uzbekistan. The company announced May 17 that it
Avanti Signs Agreement for Satellite Gateway in Senegal (Via Satellite) Senegalese telecommunications provider Free in Senegal will build and host a new satellite gateway for Avanti Communication’s Hylas 4 satellite under a
OneWeb Signs MoU With Benya Group for MENA Service (Via Satellite) OneWeb continues to gain more customers for capacity for its capacity. Last week, the company announced deals with Navarino and Uzbekspace. Now, its
Inmarsat and Honeywell Debut L-Band SwiftJet Service for Business Aviation (Via Satellite) Inmarsat and Honeywell Aerospace announced a new in-flight connectivity (IFC) service for business aviation on Monday. SwiftJet is set to debut in the
Satellite and Ground Station Operations
Eyeing DoD and IC work, ICEYE boosts 'parallel' US-only radar-sat constellation (Breaking Defense) ICEYE currently is planning to launch another five satellites this year, Jerry Welsh, CEO of the Finnish firm's US arm, told Breaking Defense. But he did not provide a breakout of those to be built in Finland vice the US.
Policy, Strategy, and Regulation
UN talks on space norms surprisingly collegial, but fireworks to come: Sources (Breaking Defense) Though even global rivals had substantive discussions this time, "I imagine that it will start to get spicier," an allied expert said of the next meeting of the UN group that will focus on threatening behavior by military space operators.
China wants to search for habitable planets to "expand our living space" (Newsweek) The proposed mission would involve a new planet-hunting telescope that would scan nearby stars for signs of Earth-like worlds.
Cyber and Space Command: The New Geographical Pivot of History? (Inkstick) In his 1904 article, “The Geographical Pivot of History,” Halford John Mackinder, the founding father of geopolitics and geostrategy, argued that in the 20t
Key Air Force, Space Force Leaders Set to Retire (Air Force Magazine) The Department of the Air Force announced the retirements of several senior leaders and new assignments for more.
Laura Taylor-Kale officially nominated as DoD industrial policy chief (Breaking Defense) Taylor-Kale, who has a long history of working on manufacturing issues, is currently a fellow for innovation and economic competitiveness at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
Next step for AFRL's space-based solar power quest: energy beaming (Breaking Defense) SSPIDR consists of several small-scale flight experiments that will mature technology needed to build a prototype solar power distribution system.
DARPA seeks predictive battlefield network capability (Janes) The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has begun prototype development of a new system to automate data flow and dissemination of combat information...
Raytheon Intelligence & Space sheds light on Department 22 (Raytheon Intelligence & Space) Raytheon Intelligence & Space today introduced Department 22, a strategic business unit focused on rapidly developing next-generation military technologies aimed at widening the capability gap over the nation’s near-peer adversaries.
Space Development Agency Director Tasks Industry for Cyber Solutions (Via Satellite) LOS ANGELES — Frank Turner, technical director of the Space Development Agency, is a man with a lot of problems, and he doesn’t mind talking about them.
CACI Announces Successful Demonstration of Optical Intersatellite Links in Low Earth Orbit (Business Wire) CACI International Inc (NYSE: CACI) announced today it successfully demonstrated space to space optical communications links in low earth orbit (LEO)
Telesat and Nelco Perform LEO Demonstration in India (Via Satellite) Telesat performed a Low-Earth Orbit broadband connectivity demonstration with Indian satellite service provider Nelco. The testing campaign in late April
Mitsubishi Electric Develops Technology to 3D Print Satellite Antennas in Space (Via Satellite) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced Tuesday that it has developed an additive manufacturing technology to 3D print satellite antennas in space. The
Space Technology
How Space Tech Can Play a Role in Methane Detection to Impact Climate Change (Via Satellite) ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing has become mainstream and is now estimated to account for more than one third of the $51 trillion of
Op-ed | Protecting Space Assets Above to Assert Geopolitical Dominance Below (SpaceNews) The conflict in Ukraine has shown us that we must now protect and make both our government and commercial space assets more resilient.
Quantum Computing Gains Momentum (Crunchbase News) The promise of quantum computing has swirled for decades, but as it gets closer to reality more investors, the government and several industries seem to be taking note.
Threats and Risks to Space Systems
NASA Official Speaks to Cybersecurity 'Language Gap' in the Agency (Via Satellite) Getting cybersecurity right at a federal agency means learning to speak the language of the program and mission managers who actually run the IT systems
Russian space debris almost obliterates European satellite (Newsweek) The European Space Agency said it had to quickly conduct a difficult maneuver to avoid a "high-risk collision" with debris from an exploded Soviet satellite.
China must destroy Elon Musk's satellites with ‘hard kill’ weapon, say academics (The Telegraph) Researchers from Beijing call Starlink a threat to China's national security
China must be able to destroy Musk’s Starlink if it poses threat: scientists (South China Morning Post) Researchers call for development of anti-satellite capabilities including ability to track, monitor and disable each craft.
Miscellanea
UFO hearing features historic testimony from Pentagon officials (Washington Post) The hearing marked the first time in more than 50 years that U.S. officials have provided testimony for public consumption about their investigation of UFOs.
Pentagon getting more UFO reports now that 'stigma has been reduced' (POLITICO) A DoD official asserted that "we're open to all hypotheses, we're open to any conclusions that we may encounter."
UFO House Intel panel: Director can’t explain UFO in declassified videos (New York Post) The Pentagon’s task force investigating UFO sightings has received hundreds more reports since last year, a top naval intelligence official told lawmakers.
UFOs pose real danger, DOD says, but aliens aren’t to blame — probably (Military Times) Congress this week held its first public hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena in more than 50 years.