A note to readers of Signals & Space.
This issue marks our shift to a fortnightly summary of space news, designed to give you more timely insight into the events and trends shaping the space sector.
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This issue marks our shift to a fortnightly summary of space news, designed to give you more timely insight into the events and trends shaping the space sector.
As Western sanctions bit harder into Russia's economy during the first half of March, pushing the country into financial extremis and to the brink of default, Russia responded by suspending sales of rocket engines to countries that had undertaken economic retaliation for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. TASS reported that Roscosmos would no longer sell the US RD-180 engines (used as main propulsion systems in US Atlas V launch vehicles) and RD-181 thrusters (used in the first stage of Antares rockets). Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin made the announcement. "Today we have made a decision to halt the deliveries of rocket engines produced by NPO Energomash to the United States. Let me remind you that these deliveries had been quite intensive somewhere since the mid-1990s." Mr. Rogozin, who's given to colorful expression, added, according to Reuters, "In a situation like this we can't supply the United States with our world's best rocket engines. Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks, I don't know what."
C4ISRNet quotes Air Force Secretary Kendall's as saying, “I have not been informed at this point of any major launch concerns associated with that," which is a bland Washingtonian way of saying "we got your broomstick right here, Dmitry." The Department of the Air Force apparently won't miss a meal or a minute's sleep, let alone a launch. The US has been weaning itself from the Russian engines since 2016, and the process is due to be effectively complete this year. United Launch Alliance has enough engines to meet existing requirements, and says it doesn't need any Russian help to maintain or operate them.
Roscosmos has severed other relationships, canceling, for example, joint scientific endeavors with Germany over that country's participation in sanctions. Director Rogozin went so far as to suggest that Russia would be willing to see the International Space Station deorbit to crash into the ocean (or perhaps somewhere in North America). Mr. Rogozin has, as Smithsonian Magazine points out, a well-earned reputation for "hyperbolic retorts," and in NASA's view international cooperation with respect to the ISS is likely to continue, and a "weird video" Roscosmos posted showing its modules breaking off the ISS seems just that--a weird video. And rumors that Russia intended to strand US astronauts in orbit have been debunked (by Ars Technica, for one). But there seems little doubt that Russia has moved beyond the effects of the sanctions themselves to a self-imposed policy of isolation in space technology. Space News reports that Moscow is now looking for cooperation with Beijing, but that it remains for the moment at least isolated.
The economic sanctions and tensions provoked by Russia's war against Ukraine have had other effects on the space industry. OneWeb's board of directors has voted to suspend launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Arianespace has called a halt to Soyuz missions, Via Satellite reports. There will be no more Soyuz launches from the European Spaceport in French Guiana. And Spacewatch Global says that Starsem has also suspended launches from Baikonur.
According to Space News, on March 9th, the UK announced a comprehensive ban on the export of space-related technology to Russia.
A cyberattack against Viasat's KA-SAT service disrupted the company's Internet service on February 24th, around H-hour of Russia's invasion. The timing of the incident, and the scope of its effects, suggests a connection to Russia's war against Ukraine. General Michel Friedling, head of France's Space Command confirmed that the incident was a cyberattack. "For several days, shortly after the start of operations," he said, by which he meant the Russian invasion of Ukraine, "we have had a satellite network that covers Europe and Ukraine in particular, which was the victim of a cyberattack, with tens of thousands of terminals that were rendered inoperative immediately after the attack." Spiegel reports that sources within the German government think the attack is related to the war. "Over the past week, Internet outages have been reported in Mariupol, Sumy, Kyiv and Kharkiv."
The company began investigating the incident on February 28th. Since that time the attack's effects have been seen by broadband customers in much of Europe, particularly in Eastern Europe. Viasat has released few details on the incident beyond saying that it was working with "police and state partners" to investigate the incident. Among the systems affected by the outage are 5800 wind turbines operated by Germany's Enercon.
The US National Security Agency, France's ANSSI cybersecurity authority, and Ukrainian intelligence services have begun jointly investigating whether the incident was a Russian cyberattack. The target and the timing suggest, circumstantially, that it was. "The hackers disabled modems that communicate with Viasat Inc's KA-SAT satellite, which supplies internet access to some customers in Europe, including Ukraine. More than two weeks later some remain offline," Reuters reports.
Satellite firm Hawkeye 360 has observed GPS interference in the Donbas region which it tentatively attributes to Russian jamming, Space News reports.
These incidents, especially the one involving ViaSat, seem to represent actions taken by Russia in support of its battlefield objectives in Ukraine. Yet Russian policy would seem to forswear such measures. Roscosmos Director Rogozin said, unambiguously, that "Offlining the satellites of any country is actually a casus belli, a cause for war," as Reuters reports. What, then, are we to make of Russian actions against foreign space-based capabilities? They're not a cause of war, because they're already at war? But Moscow has insisted that there's no war in Ukraine, merely a "special military operation." Perhaps Mr. Rogozin will clarify his comments.
According to Space News, SpaceX at the end of February made a contribution in-kind to a more resilient Ukrainian Internet, delivering, as promised, a number of StarLink terminals and the services that go with them. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy tweeted on March 5th that SpaceX was sending more Starlink terminals to his country: "Talked to @elonmusk. I’m grateful to him for supporting Ukraine with words and deeds. Next week we will receive another batch of Starlink systems for destroyed cities. Discussed possible space projects. But I’ll talk about this after the war." The first deliveries of Starlink terminals arrived on February 28th, accompanied by warnings that Russia had the capability of locating and targeting satellite uplinks.
Open-source intelligence can sometimes be overlooked by intelligence services who fall into the trap of confusing cost with value. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown the value that open-source intelligence can bring. Commercial satellite imagery is now widely available, and its resolution is sufficiently high that it's been relatively easy to watch the progress (or lack thereof) of Russian forces in Ukraine. That imagery is useful enough that Ukraine's government has asked commercial firms to provide it with satellite-derived data that can be used to organize defenses or humanitarian relief. Russian forces have also shown signs of an interest in commercial information, which is why, Buzzfeed reports, Google Maps has removed recent user-contributed content out of the proverbial "abundance of caution" lest it assist the invading forces with targeting and tactical planning.
Ordinary, freely available commercial imagery has been valuable to journalists and relief organizations, but governments have also availed themselves of other sources of imagery. Canada's MDA Ltd. is providing the Ukrainian government with near-real-time imagery that enables them to track Russian troop movements. They're doing so in response to a plea from Ukraine's government. Reuters reports, "Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, made an appeal to the international community on Twitter a week ago, asking for synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data. 'We badly need the opportunity to watch the movement of Russian troops, especially at night when our technologies are blind,' Fedorov said on March 1." MDA explained what its radar imaging can do: "We can deliver intelligence reports and people can make determinations of what's going on the ground, or on the sea, from our radar imagery. It's all about... doing the right thing and giving Ukraine the support that they need."
Other companies are providing Ukraine with similar support. Satellogic and Astraea have teamed up to deliver sub-meter resolution images directly to Ukraine's government, allied governments, and humanitarian organizations. Satellogic explained in its release, "This service delivers a direct stream of high-resolution satellite imagery collections over Ukraine’s sovereign territory as well as neighboring areas of interest. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has spread across the country, targeting multiple cities and critical infrastructure. High-resolution satellite imagery offers detailed visibility at scale to monitor military movement, assess post-event damage, plan civilian evacuation routes, and evaluate effective distribution of resources."
Homeland Security Today reports that Anonymous is crowing high over an effort directed against Russian space surveillance and reconnaissance systems, quoting the Anonymous-affiliated group NB65 as follows: “The Russian Space Agency sure does love their satellite imaging,” the NB65 posted Tuesday morning. “Better yet they sure do love their Vehicle Monitoring System. The WSO2 was deleted, credentials were rotated and the server is shut down. Network Battalion isn’t going to give you the IP, that would be too easy, now wouldn’t it? Have a nice Monday fixing your spying tech. Glory to Ukraine. We wont stop until you stop dropping bombs, killing civilians and trying to invade. Go the f**k back to Russia.”
Space Force Chief of Staff General Raymond sees cislunar space as the new high ground, and sees the region between earth orbit and the moon as the special responsibility of his young Service, Air Force Magazine reports. He told the McAleese Conference on March 9th:
“First of all, I think it will become key terrain. And as … the nations of the world go further out from Earth, so is the Space Force going to have to do that I’ve walked you through the near-term priorities: We have to be able to ensure that we can provide capabilities for our nation and for our joint coalition forces—it’s critical for the defense of all of our forces. If you were to look at the force structure of any other service, and if you took space away from it, that doesn’t close. They’re all built around having that assured access. That’s Priority 1.
“But as nations move out, and as the economy grows between here and the lunar surface, and as you look at key terrain for the defense of our nation, I think it’s an area that will be significant as we move forward.”
The Air Force Research Laboratory has unveiled very preliminary plans for what it's calling the "Cislunar Highway Patrol System," with the inevitable acronym "CHPS." Details are, as Ars Technica points out, a bit misty, but then the program is a visionary, aspirational one.
Space Force's Range of the Future program mandates autonomous flight safety systems (AFSS) for all launches by 2025. Savings in labor will reduce operating costs, and greater efficiencies will enable Space Force to achieve a higher launch tempo, Air Force Magazine reports. The program is well underway: SpaceX and Blue Origin launch vehicles already have AFSS, and United Launch Alliance, which doesn't currently have AFSS on its Atlas Vs, will have it on its next-generation Vulcan Centaurs. The Vulcan Centaur, which will also represent United Launch Alliance's farewell to Russian RD-180 engines, is scheduled to begin flying later this year.
Virgin Orbit and Space Forge announced plans to launch a Space Forge space manufacturing satellite later this year. The launch will represent a Celtic Fringe endeavor: not only is the satellite produced in Wales, but the launch will be made from the UK's new Spaceport Cornwall.
Another British facility, SaxaVord Spaceport, has been cleared for construction in Scotland. The new spaceport will be located on Ust, one of the Shetland Islands, and will give the UK another vertical launch site. Three launch service providers have signed on to operate from SaxaVord, and they're an international group: Scottish-based Skyrora, a Scottish company, ABL Space Systems, a US outfit, and France's Venture Orbital Systems.
Launch facilities aren't being universally welcomed. Voters in Camden County, Georgia, rescinded their local government's authorization to purchase 4000 acres of land on the Atlantic Coast to establish a small satellite launch facility. Parabolic Arc says it was a lopsided vote, with more than 71% of those going to the polls opposing the facility. Proponents had argued that the launch facility would bring in new, high-tech jobs. Opponents said it would detract from the Cumberland National Seashore, and anyway none of the residents wanted to worry about rocket parts hitting their houses when launches failed.
Intelsat emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 28th, Via Satellite reports, and is now operating as a private company.
Space Force's recently revealed uniforms are going through a "true development cycle," Air Force Magazine reports, and they're being tweaked in response to feedback offered by the Guardians who will wear them. The Guardians want their pants to be less baggy, the opening of their collars not quite so wide. Space Force also plans to outfit the Guardians with wearable fitness monitors to track fitness, sleep cycles, and general wellness.
Today's issue includes events affecting Australia, Bahrain, China, the European Union, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
NASA would get $24 billion in new omnibus spending bill (Space.com) That's $760 million less than the Biden administration requested.
Proposed Space Development Agency funding boost falls short of earlier request (Defense News) The $550 million increase for the Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer satellites is $200 million less than what Senate appropriators proposed in an earlier bill.
Tuberville defends Space Command move in Senate hearing (al) Alabama U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville pushed back against critics of the Air Force plan to move Space Command headquarters to Alabama
NATO releases IMINT RFI (Intelligence Community News) On March 8, the U.S. Department of Commerce, on behalf of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), issued a request for information for the NATO Command Structure Imagery Intelligence (IMINT) Production Scheme. Responses are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 29.
Ukraine conflict: Invasion will boost US defence budget, lawmaker says (Janes) Russia's invasion of Ukraine will spur the US to spend more on defence than previously thought, according to the chairman of the US House Armed Services Committee.
You don’t need to rewrite acquisition regulations to improve DoD buying (Defense News) While there is a need for structural reform in defense budgeting, our playbook demonstrates the flexibility in today’s authorities and regulations. To accelerate the next generation of military capabilities, we need to adopt an Acquisition Next mindset focused on modularity, speed, iteration, competition. Let’s get rolling.
SatixFy, a Leader in Next-Generation Satellite Communication Systems, to Go Public via Combination with Endurance Acquisition Corp. (Yahoo Finance) SatixFy Communications Ltd. ("SatixFy"), a leader in next- generation satellite communication systems based on in-house developed chipsets, and Endurance Acquisition Corp. ("Endurance") (NASDAQ: EDNC), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company formed by an affiliate of Antarctica Capital, an international private equity firm with $2 billion of assets under management, announced today a definitive merger agreement that will result in SatixFy
Northrop Grumman, York Space and Lockheed Martin have been chosen by the Department of Defense to create a constellation of internet-in-space satellites (NyseNewsGuild) The Defense Department’s Space Development Agency stated on February 28 that it had granted contracts worth almost $1.8 billion to Northrop Grumman, York Space and Lockheed Martin to build 126 satellites for a worldwide communications network in LEO (low Earth orbit). For the Transport Layer Tranche 1, the organization awarded three deals: $692 million, $382 million and $700 million to Northrop Grumman, York Space and Lockheed Martin respectively. By 2024, each company must deliver 42 satellites. For the three awards, a combination of eight bids competed.
Raytheon inaugurates headquarters in Riyadh as it assures commitment to Saudi Arabia (Arab News) American multinational aerospace and defense firm Raytheon Technologies has inaugurated the new headquarters of its Saudi Arabian subsidiary company in Riyadh. Addressing an audience of senior military officials and strategic industry partners during an official ceremony, Raytheon Saudi Arabia CEO David Hanley said the new building affirms the company’s multi-decade commitment to the Kingdom.
Raytheon Division Sold to Mississippi Company (Inside INdiana Business) Raytheon Intelligence & Space in Virginia has sold its training and services business, which has a major presence in Indianapolis, to Mississippi-based The Vertex Co. Raytheon employed about 600 people in Indy and a spokesperson says there were no job cuts as part of the acquisition.
Intelsat Emerges from Bankruptcy as a Private Company (Via Satellite) Intelsat has emerged from a long Chapter 11 process as a private company. Its plan of reorganization, confirmed in court in December, reduced the
Ukraine's proud space industry faces obliteration, but country's former space chief has hope for the future (Space.com) "Leave Soyuz, go Zenit!"
The Verge: Russia to Stop Selling Rocket Engines to US (Via Satellite) Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos has issued its latest round of threats in response to global sanctions, this time claiming Russia will no
Elon Musk is in a war of words with Russia over rockets (Fortune) At the same time, Musk is providing internet to besieged Ukraine via his Starlink statellites, and he's reportedly facing an SEC probe and union drive at Tesla.
US Air Force not concerned about Russia’s decision to halt rocket engine sales, support (C4ISRNet) Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told reporters he's confident the Department of Defense will maintain assured access to space despite Russia's decision to cut off sales of its RD-180 rocket engine.
Kristin Robertson Takes Helm At Raytheon Space As Company Bids To Lead Technological Revolution (Forbes) The new head of Raytheon Space & C2 Systems says her business can compete at any level—terrestrial or orbital, hardware or software, integrator or supplier.
Spaceflight Signs Multi-Launch Contract With Astra, Monday Launch Scrubbed (Via Satellite) Rideshare provider Spaceflight signed a multi-launch agreement with Astra Space, and is targeting the first launch under the agreement on Tuesday.
Automating Launch Safety Is Helping the Space Force Speed Up the Tempo (Air Force Magazine) Adoption of autonomous flight safety systems on rockets is saving the Space Force money and manpower while boosting launch tempo.
Virgin Orbit to Launch First Welsh Satellite From UK Spaceport Summer 2022 (Valdosta Daily Times) LONG BEACH, Calif. & CARDIFF, Wales--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 9, 2022--
Voters Overwhelmingly Reject Spaceport Camden Plan (Parabolic Arc) Camden County voters overwhelmingly rejected the Board of Commissioners plan to buy 4,000 acres of land to build a spaceport near on the Georgia coast for small-satellite launch vehicles.
Scottish spaceport cleared for construction, UK on track to enter orbital market (NASA Spacefligfht) SaxaVord Spaceport has become the second launch facility in the United Kingdom to receive its milestone approval to begin construction. This comes after Sutherland Spaceport, another British vertical launch facility, cleared legalities last year and is now also in a similar position to begin its construction.
Long March rocket deploys six Chinese internet satellites (Spaceflight Now) Six demonstration satellites for a future Chinese broadband internet mega-constellation launched March 5 on a Long March 2C rocket.
Satellite photos show Iran had another failed space launch (AP NEWS) Iran likely suffered another failed launch of a satellite-carrying rocket in recent days attempting to reinvigorate a program criticized by the West, even as Tehran faces last-minute negotiations with world powers to save its tattered nuclear deal in Vienna.
Soyuz launches operated by Arianespace and Starsem suspended (SpaceWatch.Global) Edinburgh, 4 March 2022. - Arianespace is strictly abiding by the sanctions decided by the internati
OneWeb Suspends Launches From Baikonur, Arianespace Suspends Soyuz Launches (Via Satellite) OneWeb’s board of directors voted to suspend all launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and Arianespace is suspending Soyuz launches as the
Russia-Ukraine war raises questions for upcoming OneWeb launches (SpaceNews) Mounting international sanctions amid Russia’s war on Ukraine have thrown plans to launch 36 OneWeb satellites this week into uncertainty.
Rocket Lab launches Electron rocket, selects Virginia for Neutron factory (SpaceNews) Rocket Lab carried out its first Electron launch of the year Feb. 28 at the same time it released its earnings and selected Virginia for a rocket factory.
Rocket Lab Makes Wallops Island in Virginia Home for its Neutron Rocket - Via Satellite - (Via Satellite) Rocket Lab is cementing its presence on the East Coast of Virginia, selecting Wallops Island as the launch and landing site for its new reusable Neutron
Astra Space scrubs first launch since rocket failure because of lightning (UPI) California-based Astra Space scrubbed the launch of a rocket from Alaska on Monday due to a potential for lightning in the area, company officials said.
Raymond Foresees Cislunar Space as ‘Key Terrain,’ Guardians Going to Space (Air Force Magazine) Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond discussed cislunar space domain awareness and Guardians in orbit.
Six Space Technologies the USSF Needs in Order to Maintain the US Advantage (Air Force Magazine) Experts addressed the space technologies necessary to maintain US superiority during a March 4 discussion at the AFA Warfare Symposium.
Space Force reveals new structure for acquisition command (C4ISRNet) The new structure organizes Space Systems Command around mission-focused offices rather than enterprise-oriented offices.
New agreement aims to bolster US Army, Space Force cooperation on architecture requirements (C4ISRNet) Signed in February, the memorandum of agreement will make sure Army and Space Force requirements for tactical space capabilities are aligned.
What's Next for Space Force Uniforms: Tweaked Collars, Less Baggy Pants, Supply Chain Problems (Air Force Magazine) The Air Force Uniform Office is in the process of tweaking parts of the Space Force dress uniforms, but a final product is still far away.
Space Force's Physical Training Will Include Wearable Fitness Trackers (Military.com) The Space Force plans to rely on wearable fitness monitors to track troops' sleep routines, heart rates and physical activity.
[Exclusive] Indian Army likely to get independent communication satellite capability (TimesNow) Currently, the army was having to share satellite facilities with the Navy and Air Force.
Launch of U.S. Space Force missile-warning satellite delayed indefinitely (SpaceNews) The launch of a U.S. Space Force mission known as USSF-12 has been put on indefinite pause.
United Launch Alliance’s USSF-12 Mission Is Postponed (Satnews) The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket carrying the USSF-12 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has been delayed due to a customer request.
U.S. Says North Korean ‘Satellite’ Launches Were Tests for ICBM (MSN) The U.S. is preparing new penalties against North Korea after determining that a pair of purported satellite launches by Kim Jong Un’s regime were used to test systems for a long-anticipated new ICBM.
Iran’s military successfully launches satellite (Spaceflight Now) U.S. military tracking radars confirmed claims from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Tuesday that the Iranian military placed a small satellite into orbit.
Canada's MDA providing Ukraine with satellite imagery to fight Russia (Reuters) Canada's satellite builder and operator MDA Ltd. is providing Ukraine with near real-time satellite images to track Russian troop movements even at night or through cloud cover, Chief Executive Officer Mike Greenley said on Tuesday.
Satellogic and Astraea Enable Direct Collection Access for Emergency Response in Ukraine (SpaceRef) Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ:SATL), a leader in sub-meter resolution satellite imagery collection, announced a collaboration with Astraea, a geospatial and AI analysis software company, to distribute critical Earth Observation (“EO”) data directly to the Ukrainian government, allied governments, and humanitarian organizations on the ground.
Italy’s defense chief of staff urges better protection of satellites (Defense News) Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone was speaking at a seminar marking the launch of a new think tank report, which urged the Italian government to beef up space defense and keep orbital paths clear of debris.
Space Command looking to ground, ship-based missile defense radars to improve monitoring (Breaking Defense) "My number one priority within the command is: how do I increase my battlespace awareness, in particular, how do I look at the space domain?" SPACECOM head Gen. Jim Dickinson said.
The Space Force wants to launch a ‘Highway Patrol’ between Earth and the Moon (Task & Purpose) The Space Force hopes the new system will keep an eye on the growing commercial space traffic going to the moon.
The US Space Force plans to start patrolling the area around the Moon (Ars Technica) "Until now, the United States space mission extended 22,000 miles above Earth."
Lockheed, Northrop choose payloads for Space Force missile warning satellites (C4ISRNet) The companies' selections solidify the payload providers for the first five Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites.
Navy wants tighter linkage between space and cyber (FedScoop) The Navy wants to more closely align space and cyberspace operations, given natural synergies between the two. “They go hand in hand,” Vice Adm. Ross Myers, commander of the Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command/10th Fleet, said in an interview. Space — to include communications and actions — is most often secured through cyberspace, he said, adding […]
Intelsat Orders Gilat’s SkyEdge IV Taurus Modems for IFC (Via Satellite) Intelsat has placed a multimillion-dollar order for Gilat Satellite Networks' SkyEdge IV Taurus modems to expand its capabilities the in-flight
Blue Origin: Next Suborbital Travelers Announced (Inside Outer Space) Blue Origin’s 20th mission of its suborbital New Shepard vehicle is slated for March 23rd.
Acme plans 250-satellite weather data constellation (SpaceNews) Acme AtronOmatic, vendor of the MyRadar weather app, won FCC approval to launch satellites to demonstrate technology for a constellation that ultimately could include 250 satellites or more.
Commercial satellites test the rules of war in Russia-Ukraine conflict (Washington Post) Companies are releasing images that once were seen only by intelligence agencies
Brampton company to provide military intel on Russian troops through satellite imagery - Toronto (Global News) Brampton-based company MDA says by using satellite radar imagery it's able to locate Russian troops and share intelligence with officials.
SpaceX Orbits 48 Starlink Satellite in 10th Launch in 10 Weeks (Parabolic Arc) On Wednesday, March 9 at 8:45 a.m. EST, Falcon 9 launched 48 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Mercury Systems receives $21M follow-on order for high-definition video recorders (Yahoo Finance) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, announced it received a $21.3 million follow-on order from a leading defense prime contractor for high-definition video recorders to be used on an airborne fighter platform. The order was received in Mercury’s fiscal 2022 second quarter and is expected to be delivered over the next several quarters. Why It Matt
SpaceX upgrading Starship noses and domes for easier assembly (TESLARATI) While a separate team closes in on the completion of a new and improved Starship nosecone, SpaceX also appears to have begun assembling upgraded ‘tank domes’ that feature a similar underlying design change. On the nose front, SpaceX has been working on a new and improved version of Starship’s nosecone for at least a year …
Lockheed Martin UK looking to invest in new space-based manufacturing facility (Janes.com) Lockheed Martin UK is exploring options for a potential new GBP50 million (USD67 million) space-based facility in the northeast of England, the company announced on 1...
“Nothing to share”: South Korean firm turns down Ukrainian request for satellite imagery (SpaceNews) South Korea’s Earth observation company SI Imaging Services (SIIS) turned down a request to share satellite imagery of Ukraine and neighboring countries to assist Ukrainian efforts to repel Russia’s invasion.
SpaceX Launches More Starlink Satellites as Service Operates in Ukraine (Via Satellite) SpaceX launched a batch of Starlink satellites on Thursday morning, as the constellation is getting global attention for providing internet connectivity
The internet in Ukraine is still mostly online. Could Starlink be a backup if it goes out? (The Record by Recorded Future) Elon Musk has a tendency to be outrageous on Twitter, and the Ukrainian government may have found a way to leverage him to help the country stay online if the internet goes out during the Russian invasion.
Northrop Grumman GEM 63 Solid Rocket Boosters Help Successfully Launch GOES-T Satellite aboard a ULA Atlas V Rocket (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) MAGNA, Utah – March 2, 2022 – Four Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) 63-inch-diameter Graphite Epoxy Motors (GEM 63) solid rocket boosters helped successfully launch and deploy the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA)...
SpaceLink Adjusts Plan for Constellation Rollout With Smaller, Cheaper Satellites (Via Satellite) SpaceLink is adjusting the plan to roll out its in-space relay constellation with plans to first launch a constellation of smaller satellites to go to
Kymeta Partners with PathFinder Digital for Updates to the u8 MIL Terminal (Via Satellite) Kymeta is working with PathFinder Digital for updates to the Kymeta u8 MIL terminal. PathFinder Digital specializes in the design, manufacturing, and
GOES-T satellite has reached geostationary orbit, now named GOES-18 (WPEC) Two weeks after asuccessful launch from Cape Canaveral, NOAA Satellites has confirmed that GOES-T, the newest weather satellite from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has executed its final engine burn, placing the satellite in geostationary orbit and has been renamed GOES-18. GOES satellites are designated with a letter prior to launch and a number once they achieve geostationary orbit.
EOS Data Analytics issues urgent plea for imagery of Ukraine (SpaceNews) EOS Data Analytics is asking Earth observation companies around the world to share up-to-date optical and radar satellite imagery of Ukraine.
Optus deploys space robots to bolster D3 satellite (CRN Australia) To prolong satellite’s lifespan into the 2030s.
France puts space at top of national — and European — security priorities (Defense News) France is using its temporary role leading the European Council presidency to emphasize the operational domain’s importance across the continent.
Iran’s Raisi Says Satellite Advancement Should Continue With Greater Force (Iran Front Page) Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi says the recent successful launch of the Iranian military satellite Noor-2 (Light-2) is a manifestation of Iran’s national might that should continue with greater force.
Russian Space Agency drops weird video showing the ISS being split up (TweakTown) The Russian Space Agency has posted a video that showcases Russian modules detaching from the International Space Station.
N.J. astronaut Scott Kelly says Russia’s International Space Station video ‘crossed the line’ (nj.com) Kelly exchanged tense tweets with the head of the Russian space agency after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
UK bans space-related exports to Russia (SpaceNews) New trade sanctions aimed at Russia’s space sector were announced March 9 by UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
How Sanctions on Russia Affect International Space Programs (Smithsonian Magazine) Roscosmos is severing ties with global partners in response to restrictions
Kremlin holds 36 UK taxpayer-owned satellites hostage in OneWeb stand-off (The Telegraph) Russia refuses to send satellites into orbit and even covers up British flags on their launch rocket
Russia to prioritise making military satellites (Space War) Moscow (AFP) March 3, 2022 - Russia's space agency Roscosmos said Thursday it will be changing its programme to prioritise making satellites for military purposes as Moscow becomes increasingly isolated following its invasion of Ukraine.
Germany switches off black hole telescope on Russian satellite, halts space cooperation (Space.com) Germany stopped all science cooperation with Russia over its Ukraine invasion, but space station work continues.
Russia space agency head says satellite hacking would justify war -report (Reuters) Russia will treat any hacking of its satellites as a justification for war, the head of the country's space agency was quoted as saying in a news report on Wednesday.
Russia looks to China for collaboration in space but faces isolation over Ukraine invasion (SpaceNews) Roscosmos is looking to China as a supplier of components and a partner in missions following the invasion of Ukraine, but sanctions could still heavily impact any new plans.
Peace in space: Nasa says US and Russian astronauts still working together (The Telegraph) Russia’s space chief had raised the prospect of pulling out of the partnership in response to American sanctions
Romania Signs the Artemis Accords - United States Department of State (United States Department of State) At a virtual ceremony, Romania became the 16th nation to sign the Artemis Accords. President and CEO of the Romanian Space Agency Marius-Ioan Piso signed the Accords on behalf of Romania. His actions were witnessed and welcomed by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, U.S. Embassy in Romania Chargé d’affaires, a.i. David Muniz, and Principal Deputy Assistant […]
‘Dancing with the gorilla’: Aussies launch space strategy (Breaking Defense) "Whenever you start dancing with the gorilla, it’s the gorilla who decides when to stop. You could very easily be overwhelmed by these behemoths,” the head of Nova Systems, Jim McDowell, said.
ISS operations remain normal ahead of private astronaut mission (SpaceNews) NASA said that operations of the International Space Station remain normal despite the growing rift with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
Bahrain joins US-led Artemis Accords on responsible space exploration (The National) It is the second Arab country, after the UAE, to sign the agreement
US Space Force won’t say it why it delayed an upcoming Wide-Field-of-View Testbed launch (C4ISRNet) The service said it is working to find a new launch date for the experimental satellite, which will shape requirements for future Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites.
Isro successfully tests boosters that will power Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (India Today) Isro is developing a new class of launchers called Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) that can be assembled in just 72 hours.
Space station to host 'self-healing' quantum communications tech demo (Phys.org) A tiny experiment launching to the International Space Station later this year could set the stage for a future global quantum network. Called the Space Entanglement and Annealing QUantum Experiment (or SEAQUE), the milk-carton-size technology demonstration will test two communications technologies in the harsh environment of space.
Stratolaunch carrier aircraft 'Roc' completes test (Military & Aerospace Electronics) The primary mission objective was to fully retract and extend the aircraft's landing gear for the first time.
China launches test satellites for broadband constellation (Space News) Verification of satellites' data and networking capabilities could lead to role in Chinese megaconstellation project.
Chinese space startup GalaxySpace launches mini LEO satellite constellation (Data Center Dynamics) Company launches six satellites for mini test constellation, plans to expand fleet to 144 in future
NASA's 1st Artemis moon landing will likely slip another year to 2026 (Space.com) The spacesuits and Human Landing System can't be ready before then, NASA's Inspector General told lawmakers.
Northrop Grumman’s Space Tracking and Surveillance System Satellites Complete Mission (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) in support of the Missile Defense Agency, two demonstration Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) satellites successfully completed their missions and have...
NASA Seeks Ideas for Handling Waste on Future Human Missions to Mars (SpaceRef) With a horizon goal to send humans to Mars, NASA continues to develop technologies needed to send humans farther into the solar system than ever before.
A new satellite system sucks in air to provide unlimited propulsion (Interesting Engineering) A new satellite system from Kreios Space only needs air and solar energy for propulsion while improving satellite image resolution 16 fold.
Optus deploys space robots to bolster D3 satellite (CRN) Optus is set to deploy space robotic technology from Northrop Grumman-owned SpaceLogistics to extend the life of its D3 satellite into the 2030s.
China's space station to host 6 astronauts by end of 2022 (Xinhua) China's space station to host 6 astronauts by end of 2022-
New Zealand and German Researchers Team Up for Space Exploration (OpenGov Asia) The New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) has teamed up with its German counterpart to study the use of carbon fibre for spacecraft and laser light technology in Earth observation.
Chandrayaan-2 spectrometer makes first-of-its-kind observations. Details (mint) These observations provide insight on the dynamics of the lunar exospheric species, as well as on the radiogenic activities in the first few tens of metres below the lunar surface
China’s Mars Sample Return, Next Moon Probes Discussed (Inside Outer Space) China’s Mars sample return project will mirror to a large degree the technological prowess the country exhibited in their Chang’e-5 lunar sample return mission.
China Outlines Plan for an International Lunar Research Station (Inside Outer Space) China has approved the fourth phase of its lunar exploration program, a phase that includes building an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) at the south pole of the Moon.
'Local' Russian GPS jamming in Ukraine hasn't affected US support ops, so far (Breaking Defense) The Pentagon doesn't believe Russia has fully unleashed its significant electronic warfare capabilities, a senior defense official said.
U.S. spy agency probes sabotage of satellite internet during Russian invasion -sources (Reuters) Western intelligence agencies are investigating a cyberattack by unidentified hackers that disrupted broadband satellite internet access in Ukraine coinciding with Russia’s invasion, according to three people with direct knowledge of the incident.
US intelligence officials investigate satellite internet cyberattack in Ukraine, which took place on day Russia invaded, reports say (Yahoo) The cyberattack began on February 24 between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., just as Russia began its assault on Ukraine, according to Reuters.
Report: NSA Investigates Viasat Hack That Coincided With Ukraine Invasion (PCMAG) The agency is said to be collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence and ANSSI on the investigation.
Viasat Investigating KA-SAT Outage Due to Potential Cyber Event (Via Satellite) Viasat is investigating a partial network outage on its European KA-SAT network that may be the result of a cyber event, the company confirmed to Via
Hackers Breach Russian Space Research Institute Website (Vice) Hackers defaced a website linked to Russia’s Space Research Institute (IKI) and leaked files they claimed came from Roscosmos.
International Space Station could crash if sanctions continue, Russia warns (The Telegraph) Head of Russia's space agency says the ISS could 'fall into the sea or onto land' due to the disruption of Russian vessels servicing the ISS
No, Russia has not threatened to leave an American astronaut behind in space (Ars Technica) The status of the ISS partnership is subject to change, of course.
Tulane launches space law program with $1 million gift (Tulane Law) Tulane Law will launch a new program in space law with a generous gift of $1 million from alumna Darleen Jacobs (L’81). The program will leverage Tulane’s world-leading strength in maritime law to address related legal issues now emerging with the private exploration and exploitation of space. The gift will create the Judge S. Sanford Levy and Judge Anna Veters Levy Endowed
Spy agency sent multiple warnings to space agency about ex-engineer now facing charges: court docs (CBC) Canada's spy agency sent multiple warnings to the Canadian Space Agency about Wanping Zheng, a former engineer now accused of negotiating on behalf of a Chinese aerospace company — and even refused to give a presentation at the CSA because it knew Zheng would be there, according to new court documents.
Space Junk Just Dug Big New Crater on Moon, Astronomers Say (Wall Street Journal) The object, believed to be a spent Chinese rocket booster, was expected to create a 65-foot-wide crater on the moon’s far side. A NASA orbiter is being enlisted to confirm the impact.
How Believers in the Paranormal Birthed the Pentagon’s New Hunt for UFOs (Military.com) The Pentagon's new office for what has been rebranded as unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAP, has deep roots in the paranormal.