More Signal. Less Noise.

V7 | Issue 2 | 1.17.23

Signals & Space: Competition in space, and protecting space systems. Soyuz to ISS. Launch failure in the UK.

Summary

By the CyberWire staff

At a glance.

Responding to space threats.
US considers implications of space rivalry with China.
Securing space systems against cyberattack.
Russia plans a special Soyuz mission to the ISS.
Launch failure in Cornwall.

Responding to space threats.

US and Japanese negotiations last week extended the two countries' defense treaty to the protection of space assets, Nikkei Asia reports. Specifically, Military.com writes, in its latest form the agreement authorizes a military response to attacks against satellites. The Atlantic Council reviews the various ways in which Western allies might prepare for, and respond to, growing threats in space.

US considers implications of space rivalry with China.

The US led the world in space launches during 2022, but China came in second (and first in terms of military payloads). Thus Beijing has replaced Moscow as the second leading spacefaring power, Breaking Defense reports, citing a study by Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell.

Sino-American rivalry isn't confined to launch-counting measures of prestige. It extends to real estate, too. NASA's Director Nelson thinks it likely that China intends to beat the US back to the moon, and in effect lay claim to the moon and its resources. “It is a fact: we’re in a space race,” Nelson told Politico. “And it is true that we better watch out that they don’t get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, ‘Keep out, we’re here, this is our territory.’” MIT Technology Review questions whether NASA's Artemis program is up to the competitive challenge.

Competition takes more familiar military forms as well. The war in Ukraine has shown the combat support value of space systems, Breaking Defense reports, most obviously in reconnaissance and communications, and there are growing concerns that space will increasingly become a domain of both cyber and kinetic conflict. The Guardian notes that the US Department of Defense has expressed alarm over what it sees as China's attempts to militarize space.

The Chinese embassy in Washington took exception to the Pentagon on the matter, saying that the US had "spoken irresponsibly to misrepresent the normal and legitimate space endeavors of China." The statement went on to avow China's peaceful intentions. "China always advocates the peaceful use of outer space, opposes the weaponization of and arms race in outer space, and works actively toward building a community with a shared future for mankind in the space domain." The Department of Defense isn't buying the pacific statement, and according to the Wall Street Journal is introducing new requirements that space service providers safeguard their missions from malign foreign interference.

Senior US Air Force and Space Force officers have continued to call for agile, innovative, development and acquisition systems as essential to staying ahead of rival powers.

Securing space systems against cyberattack.

NIST has published its framework for securing the ground segment against cyberattack. NISTIR 8401, Satellite Ground Segment: Applying the Cybersecurity Framework to Satellite Command and Control, is intended to guide vendors and operators. The framework's abstract explains:

"Space operations are increasingly important to the national and economic security of the United States. Commercial space’s contribution to the critical infrastructure is growing in both volume and diversity of services as illustrated by the increased use of commercial communications satellite (COMSAT) bandwidth, purchase of commercial imagery, and the hosting of government payloads on commercial satellites. The U.S. government recognizes and supports space resilience as illustrated by numerous space policies, executive orders, and the National Cyber Strategy. The space cyber-ecosystem is an inherently risky, high-cost, and often inaccessible environment consisting of distinct yet interdependent segments. This report applies the NIST Cybersecurity Framework to the ground segment of space operations with an emphasis on the command and control of satellite buses and payloads."

Thus the guidelines are evolutionary, building on NIST's earlier, more general Cybersecurity Framework. NISTIR 8401 represents just one aspect of space system protection. Via Satellite reviews other measures and approaches under consideration. Those range from general, deliberately vague threats of military action to indemnification of space service providers.

Russia plans a special Soyuz mission to the ISS.

The Register reported at the end of last month that a coolant leak in the Soyuz capsule docked with the International Space Station had placed its ability to return the crew to earth in question. The leak had been caused by a micrometeoroid strike. The unavailability of the Soyuz left the International Space Station with only one capsule--a Dragon--docked, and the Dragon carries a crew of four. The ISS currently has seven astronauts and cosmonauts on board. Roscosmos has decided to move up a Soyuz launch to return two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut to earth. The date for the mission has yet to be set, the Guardian notes. The International Space Station represents a now-rare area of Russo-American cooperation that's survived Russia's war against Ukraine and the ensuing strained relations between Moscow and Washington.

Failure to launch (but only for now).

US-based Virgin Orbit’s first international launch did not go according to plan. What was supposed to be the “first orbital satellite launch from the U.K., the first commercial orbital launch from western Europe and Virgin Orbit’s first international launch” did not reach orbit as the company had reported late Monday, Via Satellite said. Virgin Orbit tweeted at 11:46 PM local time Monday, January 9th, 2023. “We appear to have an anomaly that has prevented us from reaching orbit. We are evaluating the information,” following an earlier tweet announcing the rocket had reached orbit at 11:18 PM local time.

Virgin Orbit, the UK Space Agency (UKSA), Cornwall Council and the Royal Air Force announced the launch of their “Start Me Up” mission on January 6, Via Satellite reported, with the intent to “carry satellites from seven customers to space, including commercial and government payloads from several nations and a collaborative U.S./U.K. mission.” Last Monday’s Cornwall launch, the first of the seven, drew a crowd for the “Cosmic Girl” aircraft, a repurposed Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747, AP reported. The plane was piloted by a Royal Air Force pilot and released the LauncherOne rocket approximately 35,000 feet above the ocean just south of Ireland.

The launch had originally been planned for last year but was postponed for “technical and regulatory issues,” said the AP. Via Satellite noted Thursday that Virgin Orbit still intends to return to Spaceport Cornwall for another launch despite the failure, potentially even within this year. The company continues to look into the anomaly, and says they will complete their investigation before their next launch, scheduled to take place out of California, occurs.

This launch does not spell the end for Western Europe in satellite launches, however, as German launcher Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has made a deal with Scotland’s SaxaVord Spaceport for exclusive use of its Fredo launch pad, the Telegraph recounted last Wednesday. The site, also selected by the UK Space Agency for their UK Pathfinder launch, is anticipated to see the beginning of RFA’s tests in mid-2023, Via Satellite explained. Last week also saw the inauguration of the European Union’s first mainland orbital launch complex by European officials and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf on Friday, said Defense News. The complex, located at Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden, is intended to boost the EU’s small satellite launching capabilities. The premiere launch is anticipated to take place next year.

Notes.

Today's issue includes events affecting China, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Selected Reading

Appropriations, Procurement, and Acquisitions

Last year was a huge year in space. Here’s what to look for in 2023. (Washington Post) A major astronaut announcement, a crewed Starliner flight and the first orbital launch attempt of SpaceX’s Starship could highlight the year

China tops US in defense-related satellites orbited in 2022: Report (Breaking Defense) "China is replacing Russia as the No. 2 space power," Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass., told Breaking Defense.

Taiwan plans domestic satellite champion to resist any China attack (The Straits Times) Taiwan is in talks with several investors to raise funds for the project. Read more at straitstimes.com.

U.S. military Congress Shows Needed Oversight, Skepticism Over U.S. Military’s Space Bureaucracy (Defense Opinion) It is better for national security that Congress is skeptical about where U.S. space leadership and space policy are headed.

Space Launches Should Withstand Chinese Challenge, Pentagon Mandate Says (Wall Street Journal) The next generation of rockets built to launch U.S. spy satellites will have to be able to fend off attacks by China and Russia.

Report: DOD's Next Space Launch Contracting Round to Require Defenses Against Foreign Interference (GovCon Wire) Looking for the latest GovCon News? Check out our story: DOD Eyes Space Launch Contract Requirement to Fend Off Foreign Interference. Click to read more!

Silicon Valley firm sues spy agency over software contract (Federal News Network) Percipient.AI alleges NGA and prime contractor CACI are ignoring a law requiring agencies to buy commercially available products.

Space Business and Market Trends

Aerospace, Defense, and Government M&A Trends (2022) (HigherGov) Overview of the 2022 Aerospace, Defense, and Government M&A Market including number of transactions, trends, sector analysis, valuations and sector outlook.

SpiderOak raises $16.4 million to protect space mission systems (Help Net Security) SpiderOak has raised $16.4M in Series C round led by Empyrean Technology Solutions to protect space mission systems.

Josh Wolfe’s War: The Lux Capital Founder Blazes a Controversial Path in Defense Tech (The Information) Josh Wolfe arrived at a remote island in the Philippines by inflatable boat, surrounded by men with large guns. It was 2019 and the founding partner of the New York venture firm Lux Capital was on a very strange work trip. Over the course of two weeks, American soldiers escorted Wolfe through ...

SpaceX raising $750 million at a $137 billion valuation, investors include Andreessen-Horowitz (CNBC) Last year, SpaceX achieved several new milestones but faced further delays to its Starship program.

NorthStar Earth & Space Closes $35M Series C Funding Round (Via Satellite) Canadian space startup NorthStar Earth & Space raised $35 million in its Series C funding round, the company announced Thursday. NorthStar is working

L3Harris Completes Viasat Link 16 Deal (Via Satellite) L3Harris Technologies on Tuesday closed its $2 billion acquisition of Viasat’s Tactical Data Links (TDL) product line, strengthening its focus on the

Viasat Receives $325M US Special Operations Command Contract Extension (Via Satellite) U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) awarded Viasat a $325 million contract extension for tactical satellite communications and network management. It

Airbus Signs Deal to Build 2 EO Satellites for Poland Based on Pléiades Neo (Via Satellite) Poland has ordered two Earth observation (EO) satellites from Airbus based on the Airbus Pléiades Neo satellites for sovereign observation capabilities.

Es’hailSat and Axess Networks Sign New Partnership Deal (Via Satellite) Es’hailSat will work with Axess Networks as it looks to improve it service offerings to multiple sectors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

TISICS Wins UK Space Agency Funding for Launch Components (Via Satellite) Composite manufacturer TISICS has been boosted in its plans to bring more sustainable launch technology to market. It announced Jan. 4 that it has been

Maxar Receives up to $35.8M in New Contract Awards from NGA (Via Satellite) U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) awarded Maxar Technologies new contract awards worth up to $35.8 million. The NGA is the government

Raytheon Wins Prime Contract to Develop a Prototype for the U.S. Space Force (ClearanceJobs) The U.S.Space Force awarded a prime contract to Raytheon to develop a prototype Missile Track Custody (MTC) system.

Raytheon Awarded $605M Medium Earth Orbit Missile Tracking System Deal (The Defense Post) Raytheon has received a $605-million contract to develop a Medium Earth Orbit missile tracking system for the US Space Force.

Raytheon Intelligence & Space’s contract with U.S. Space Force for missile track custody system (Satnews) Raytheon Intelligence & Space has been awarded a prime contract to develop a prototype Missile Track Custody system for the U.S. Space Force. MTC is the service’s first Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) missile tracking system.

Airbus Joins the Voyager Space Team for Starlab Commercial Space Station (Via Satellite) Airbus Defence and Space is joining Voyager Space’s work to build the Starlab commercial space station. A Wednesday announcement from Airbus and Voyager

Speedcast Wins UK MoD Contract Extension for Teleport Services (Via Satellite) Speedcast has won a key contract extension deal from the UK Ministry of Defence and Airbus, the company announced Jan. 10. Speedcast will provide gateway

Embratel Executive Director Discusses Satellite Demand Trends in Latin America (Via Satellite) Latin America remains a region full of potential for satellite services. Brazil has long been a dynamic market, both for video and data services.

Northrop Grumman Awarded 2023 Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, built in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), has been selected to receive the 2023 Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, the highest honor from the National Space Club and...

Can I Work in Space? Evona’s Tom Kelly on Expanding the Sector Workforce (Via Satellite) The space industry is in a race for talent, to hire bright and innovative people to propel companies forward to meet their bold growth projections. While

Raytheon Technologies Named Top Aerospace and Defense Company on JUST Capital and CNBC's JUST 100 Ranking (MarketScreener) Raytheon Technologies was recently named one of America's Most Just Companies for its commitment to serving its workers, customers, communities, the environment and shareholders.... | January 12, 2023

L3Harris Names Samir Mehta President of Communication Systems Segment (Via Satellite) L3Harris Technologies announced Tuesday that it has named Samir Mehta as new president of its Communication Systems segment. Mehta succeeds Dana Mehnert,

Steven Kwast, a retired U.S. Air Force general, is Skycorp's new CEO (SpaceNews) Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast is taking the helm of Skycorp Inc., a California company with plans to transform space logistics in Earth orbit, cislunar space and on the lunar surface.

ST Engineering iDirect Names Don Claussen as CEO (Via Satellite) ST Engineering iDirect has named Don Claussen as its new CEO. Claussen joins ST Engineering iDirect from Intelsat General Corporation where he served as

SatixFy Names Ido Gur as New CEO (Via Satellite) SatixFy Communications Ido Gur as its new CEO, the company’s second permanent CEO in less than a year. Gur joins SatixFy after Saguna, the edge cloud

Raytheon Technologies Appoints Leanne G. Caret to Board of Directors (PR Newswire) Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) today announced that its board of directors has elected Leanne G. Caret as a director. Caret is an...

Launch Services

EU inaugurates first mainland satellite launch port (Defense News) The new facility at Esrange Space Center near the city of Kiruna should complement the EU’s current launching capabilities in French Guiana.

Virgin Orbit Expects to Return to Spaceport Cornwall After Launch Failure (Via Satellite) Virgin Orbit could return to Spaceport Cornwall for a launch attempt as soon as this year, the launcher said Thursday as it is investigating the anomaly

Britain to join space race with first rocket launch from home soil (The Telegraph) Virgin's LauncherOne set to blast off from Cornwall with a payload of satellites in historic day for UK and Europe

Virgin Orbit Says Way Clear for First UK Space Launch (Bloomberg) Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc. said it’s on course for Britain’s first-ever space launch as final preparations for the mission proceed as planned following earlier delays.

Window for Historic Virgin Orbit UK Launch to Open Jan. 9 (Via Satellite) The first major launch from U.K. soil could take place as early as next week. Virgin Orbit, the UK Space Agency (UKSA), Cornwall Council and the Royal Air

Virgin Orbit reports 'anomaly' in satellite launch from UK (AP NEWS) A mission to launch the first satellites into orbit from Western Europe suffered an “anomaly” Tuesday, Virgin Orbit said. The U.S.-based company attempted its first international launch on Monday, using a modified jumbo jet to carry one of its rockets from Cornwall in southwestern England to the Atlantic Ocean where the rocket was released.

Historic UK rocket mission ends in failure (The Telegraph) Thousands gather in Cornwall for what was supposed to be the start of a new era in which the UK can launch satellites

Britain's historic satellite launch fails after 'anomaly' (Computing) It is understood that LauncherOne rocket ran some issues during its second stage

British space ambitions fall back to Earth as Virgin Orbit's rocket launch ends in failure (The Telegraph) Investigation begins into why LauncherOne failed to reach the height needed to deploy its satellite payload

Virgin Orbit's First Launch from the UK Fails to Reach Orbit Due to an Anomaly (Via Satellite) After announcing that its rocket reached orbit on a historic first mission from the United Kingdom late Monday, Virgin Orbit changed course and said there

German firm could beat Richard Branson in race to launch satellites from Britain (The Telegraph) After Virgin Orbit’s unsuccessful launch, Rocket Factory Augsburg has landed exclusive rights to SaxaVord Spaceport’s launch pad in Scotland

Rocket Factory Augsburg Plans First Mission From Scotland's SaxaVord Spaceport (Via Satellite) German launcher in development Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has signed a deal for its first mission late this year to lift off from the SaxaVord

SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches two Space Force satellites in spectacular fashion (CBS News) The Falcon Heavy chalked up an apparently flawless climb to space in its second national security mission.

Chinese rocket startup Galactic Energy sends five satellites into space (CNN) Galactic Energy, a rocket startup in China, launched five satellites into orbit on Monday, boosting the private company's ambition to become the Chinese rival to SpaceX.

Top Launches to Watch in 2023 (Via Satellite) A number of anticipated satellites launched to orbit in 2022, but supply chain and labor headwinds kept other key programs grounded. Here is a round-up of

SpaceX gearing up for Falcon Heavy’s second national security launch (SpaceNews) SpaceX is aiming to launch Falcon Heavy’s second national security mission for the U.S. Space Force on Jan. 12 from Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX Kicks Off 2023 With Transporter 6 Rideshare Mission (Via Satellite) SpaceX kicked off 2023 with a rideshare mission on Tuesday morning, launching 114 spacecraft to orbit. The mission — Transporter 6 — was the sixth in

Sidus Space Logs a Subcontract to Support the SLS Mobile Launcher 2 (Via Satellite) Sidus Space started 2023 with the announcement of a new contract from Bechtel Corporation to manufacture cables for the NASA Mobile Launcher 2 project.

New Rockets, More Spacecraft to Take Flight in 2023 from Space Coast (Military.com) It’s slated to be a busy year of rocket launches from the Space Coast, with a pace that could introduce some new names and set new records.

Spaceflight Signs Deal to Launch Sherpa Vehicles on Maritime Launch Services Missions (Via Satellite) Spaceflight has signed a deal with Canada’s Maritime Launch Services to launch up to five of its Sherpa orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) from missions

Impulse Space Books First Mission, LEO Express-1, on 2023 SpaceX Rideshare Launch (Via Satellite) Impulse Space, an in-space transportation company founded by SpaceX founding member Tom Mueller, recently announced its first orbital mission, LEO

US Space Force

New in 2023: Saltzman leads Space Force into its 4th year (Air Force Times) Of the more than 8,100 troops who have joined the Space Force, nearly three-fourths are former airmen.

Though 'born digital,' Space Force needs 7 years to fully mature, deputy CTIO says - Breaking Defense (Breaking Defense) "We are not where we need to be as a digital service by any means," Col. Roy Rockwell told the GovConWire DoD Digital Modernization Forum today, adding that a "Spaceverse" could be a couple years away.

Space Force official: To beat China, U.S. has to spend smarter (SpaceNews) Commercial innovation should be harnessed to compete with China and also deter conflict, Space Force procurement official Col. Eric Felt said Jan. 11

Space Force shelves 'weather data as a service' model, for now (Breaking Defense) Space Systems Command believes that "WxDaaS" may become a viable option sometime after fiscal year 2030, said Lt. Col. Joseph Maguadog, but dedicated sats will have to do in the meantime.

What Is That? Space Force Uniform Insignia Made of PVC, Not Thread (U.S. Department of Defense) The Institute of Heraldry is working with Space Force leaders to create insignia for seals, badges, chevrons and other uniform accessories to differentiate the newest branch from the rest of the

Military Space Operations

Ukraine spotlights 'criticality' of space in conflict : Saltzman (Breaking Defense) Learning from Russia's failures in Ukraine, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said a key focus going forward is "making sure that not only do we have the systems to do the mission, but that our operators have the training the experience, and we have validated tactics that actually enable those capabilities."

Products, Services, and Solutions

Northrop Grumman to Modernize and Advance AFRL Intelligence Information Systems (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) MCLEAN, Va. – Jan. 17, 2023 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a $406 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) for the Intelligence Systems Infrastructure, Tools and Enhancements...

Northrop Grumman-built Satellite to Support US Space Force National Security Mission (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE: NOC) Long Duration Propulsive ESPA (LDPE)-3A spacecraft launched successfully in support of the USSF-67 mission. This spacecraft helps advance rapid access to space for the U.S....

Axelspace to Provide Satellite Imaging Data for NorthStar's SSA Services (Via Satellite) Axelspace is contributing to NorthStar Earth & Space’s space situational awareness (SSA) data under a new agreement announced Jan. 11. Axelspace is a

Starlink satellite trains: Is this the future of the night sky? (Washington Post) Almost 15 years later, seeing the aurora borealis is a bit like a drug, says photographer Ronn Murray.

IEC Telecom is Now a Starlink Reseller (Via Satellite) French satellite service provider IEC Telecom is now an official reseller for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service. IEC Telecom announced Monday

Ovzon Logs Satcom as a Service Orders from SSC and Nigma (Via Satellite) Ovzon landed end of the year deals for its satcom-as-a-service offerings with two new customers, Nigma Conseil and Swedish Space Corporation (SSC). Ovzon

Emirates Taps Inmarsat for a Major New IFC Deal (Via Satellite) Inmarsat has won a major contract in the in-flight connectivity (IFC) arena with one of the standout airlines in this area. Emirates has selected Inmarsat

Delta Makes In-Flight Wi-Fi Free on Viasat-Equipped Aircraft (Via Satellite) Delta Air Lines is offering free in-flight connectivity (IFC) on Viasat-equipped aircraft this year, a major vote for free IFC service from one of the top

Intelsat and J-AIR Launch Free In-Flight Connectivity Service in Japan (Via Satellite) Intelsat and J-AIR are rolling out in-flight connectivity on the Japanese airline’s Embraer E190 aircraft, the companies announced Dec. 28. J-AIR is a

Iridium Partners With Qualcomm for Chips That Enable Satellite-to-Cell Messaging (Via Satellite) Iridium Communications unveiled its satellite-to-cell ambitions on Thursday, announcing a partnership with Qualcomm Technologies for satellite-compatible

Bright Ascension Software Supports 6 Satellites on Latest Rideshare Mission (Via Satellite) Bright Ascension reports a record number of its software deployments were on the SpaceX Transporter 6 mission on Tuesday, taking the company’s current

Hughes Network Systems Launches New Managed Cybersecurity Service (Via Satellite) Hughes Network Systems is rolling out new managed cybersecurity services geared toward small to mid-sized businesses. The company said these offerings

Skylo Expands Satellite Access for IoT and Smart Phones With Quectel and Bullitt (Via Satellite) Satellite IoT startup Skylo announced partnerships Jan. 5 with both smartphone manufacturer Bullitt Group and IoT solutions company Quectel aimed at

Policy, Strategy, and Regulation

Attacks on Satellites May Trigger Military Response, US and Japanese Officials Say (Military.com) With additional treaty obligations between the U.S. and Japan, American forces could be drawn into a skirmish if Japanese satellites are targeted.

Japan, U.S. extend security treaty into space to protect satellites (Nikkei Asia) 2+2 affirms cooperation on counterstrike capabilities amid rising regional threats

New Report, Leaders Detail How the US Can Stay Ahead of China in Space Race (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Maj. Gen. John M. Olson and other Air Force space experts discussed how the U.S. can compete and stay ahead of China in a new space race.

‘We’re in a space race’: Nasa sounds alarm at Chinese designs on moon (the Guardian) Administrator Bill Nelson says Beijing could seek ‘own’ resource-rich areas and next two years could be key to US-China contest

Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation

NASA’s return to the moon is off to a rocky start (MIT Technology Review) Artemis aims to deliver astronauts back to the lunar surface by 2025, but it’s riding on an old congressional pet project.

France considering options for 'unexploited' higher airspace region (Breaking Defense) France is looking at operating in "higher airspace," loosely set at between 20-100 km above sea-level, which is too high for aircraft to operate in, too low for satellites to orbit in.

NASA selects concepts for experimental space tech study (Military & Aerospace Electronics) All NIAC studies are in the very early stages of conceptual development and are not considered official NASA missions.

NASA's Glenn Research Center seeks space flight systems (Military & Aerospace Electronics) Selected contractors will be responsible for the definition, design, development, analysis, fabrication, assembly, test, verification, delivery, and operation of space flight systems.

Wanted: augmented reality helmet-mounted display to help astronauts do tasks while outside the spacecraft (Military & Aerospace Electronics) Future space crews must be self-reliant because communications delays slow their ability to interact with Earth-based mission control in real-time.

DARPA releases Space-WATCH solicitation (Intelligence Community News) On January 10, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) posted the solicitation for the Space-domain Wide Area Tracking and Characterization (Space-WATCH) program. A virtual information session will take place on January 18, and Abstracts are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on February 2.

Space Force looking to extend laser communications to satellites in higher orbits (SpaceNews) The U.S. Space Force is requesting information on laser communications systems to connect satellites in medium and high orbits.

DoraHacks and Cryptosat Run the First Cryptographic Trusted-Setup for Zero-Knowledge in Space (Yahoo) DoraHacks, a leading global hackathon organizer and open source incentive platform, and Cryptosat, which develops and launches crypto-satellites into space to enable novel cryptographic applications, announced today that they have successfully performed the first experiment to initiate a Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proof system in space.

Highest-ever resolution radar Moon images pave the way for next-gen planetary defense (Interesting Engineering) The highest-resolution radar moon images ever taken were captured using a transmitter less powerful than a microwave oven.

Neuraspace and European Partners Collaborate for In-Orbit Space Traffic Management Demonstration (Via Satellite) Three European startups are working together to demonstrate a collision avoidance system in orbit, bringing together a manufacturer, space mobility

It's time to rethink how to get the most out of a Space Domain Awareness architecture (Breaking Defense) "The current SDA infrastructure simply does not address the evolving threat capabilities our potential adversaries have deployed, let alone the ones they are developing," writes Joshua Hartman of GEOST.

Space strategies, ops and tech go into hyperdrive: 5 stories from 2022 (Breaking Defense) From solar power in space to the evolving roll of commercial satellites, 2022 saw more activity, and more controversy, in the heavens.

Can these researchers help defend satellite systems targeted by hackers? (CyberScoop) Despite growing cyberattacks on satellite networks, efforts to protect communication systems in space remain nascent.

This small box could be the future of building in outer space (Washington Post) MIT scientists built a microwave-sized box that could let astronauts build parts in space that can’t be made on Earth

Space Force launches experimental weather satellite (C4ISRNet) Data collected from the demonstration will inform the Space Force's future weather monitoring constellation.

AFRL wants on-orbit servicing tech to enhance space monitoring, logistics (Breaking Defense) The lab sees "rendezvous, proximity operations and docking," or RPOD, as critical to future space situational awareness needs, AFRL's Tristan Griffith told Breaking Defense.

Tankers in Space? New Report Says ‘True Military Mobility’ Demands a More Agile USSF (Air & Space Forces Magazine) A new report breaks down key areas for the Space Force to build up its mobility and logistics enterprise for satellites in orbit.

Keysight and Qualcomm Demonstrate End-to-End 5G Non-Terrestrial Network Connection (Via Satellite) Keysight Technologies and Qualcomm Technologies have demonstrated an end-to-end 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) connection, which the companies say can

Raytheon Subsidiary to Develop Space Force Missile Track Custody Prototype (ExecutiveBiz) Looking for the latest Government Contracting News? Check out our story: Raytheon Subsidiary to Develop Space Force Missile Track Custody Prototype. Click to

Raytheon and Boeing’s Millennium Space Systems to Start Work on MEO Missile Tracking System (Via Satellite) Raytheon Technologies’ Intelligence & Space and Boeing's Millennium Space Systems — both in El Segundo, California — are to begin building the first

Airbus Partners with VDL Group on Airborne Lasercom Terminal (Via Satellite) Airbus and VDL Group are partnering to develop and manufacture a laser communication terminal for aircraft, to exchange data between aircraft, satellites,

Space Technology

Cryptosat launches second ‘cryptographically-equipped’ satellite using SpaceX rocket (Cointelegraph) One of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicles carried a “cryptographically-equipped” Cryptosat satellite named Crypto2 into orbit following a similar initiative in May.

NIST Finalizes Cybersecurity Guidance for Ground Segment of Space Operations (SecurityWeek) NIST has released the final version of its guidance on applying the Cybersecurity Framework to the ground segment of space operations, specifically satellite command and control.

NISTIR 8401, Satellite Ground Segment: Applying the Cybersecurity Framework (CSRC) Space operations are increasingly important to the national and economic security of the United States. Commercial space’s contribution to the critical infrastructure is growing in both volume and diversity of services as illustrated by the increased use of commercial communications satellite (COMSAT) bandwidth, purchase of commercial imagery, and the hosting of government payloads on commercial satellites.

Space Race: Defenses Emerge as Satellite-Focused Cyberattacks Ramp Up (Dark Reading) Amid escalating cyber activity, two separate cybersecurity frameworks are targeting the satellite arena, highlighting the ease in attacking the infrastructure and the difficulty in defending it.

Space Science

NSF and SpaceX reach agreement to reduce Starlink effects on astronomy (SpaceNews) NSF has reached an agreement with SpaceX to mitigate the effects of the company’s second-generation Starlink satellites on astronomy.

Astronomers May Have Just Spotted the Universe’s First Galaxies (WIRED) NASA’s new JWST space telescope has revealed some cosmic surprises, including galaxies that might have assembled earlier than previously thought.

Threats and Risks to Space Systems

How the US and its allies should respond to evolving space threats (Atlantic Council) Adversaries are changing the ways they disrupt or destroy US and allied space operations. Our experts give their sense of the latest challenges to security.

Report: DOD's Next Space Launch Contracting Round to Require Defenses Against Foreign Interference (GovCon Wire) Looking for the latest GovCon News? Check out our story: DOD Eyes Space Launch Contract Requirement to Fend Off Foreign Interference. Click to read more!

Russia to launch mission to rescue stranded ISS crew after meteoroid strike (the Guardian) Space agency mounts rescue mission to bring home two cosmonauts and US astronaut marooned on ISS

Key Considerations for Satellite Cybersecurity in 2023 (Via Satellite) Cyber and physical threats against commercial satellites are no longer a hypothetical discussion. Russia has demonstrated intent and capability to attack

Securing low Earth orbit represents the new space race (ComputerWeekly.com) The barriers to launching satellites into low Earth orbit are falling fast, and that brings new cyber security challenges

Miscellanea

Falling NASA Satellite Sparks Emergency Phone Alert in South Korea (Bloomberg) Seoul warns about possible debris from falling US satellite. US government confirms craft re-entry over Bering Sea.

Russia's ex-deputy PM sends Macron shrapnel embedded in his buttocks (The Telegraph) Dmitry Rogozin claims he was a millimetre from death after his birthday party in occupied Ukraine was hit by a French howitzer

An unofficial list of the most influential science fiction works ever (Washington Post) On a Monday evening last September, a NASA spacecraft intentionally blasted into an asteroid in deep space. The goal was planetary defense — protecting our planet from the kind of wayward rock that could end civilization as we know it. The unprecedented moment seemed surreal, with a camera from the craft sending footage back to Earth of a large asteroid getting bigger and bigger until — pow! — impact. It was both incredible and credible — equal parts jaw-dropping and successful in its proof of concept.

Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder on the Annual Report (U.S. Department of Defense) The director of national intelligence delivered to Congress the Annual Report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena on Jan. 11, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.

‘We Have Nothing’ to Indicate that UFOs Are Aliens, Defense Official Says (Defense One) The Pentagon says it has no data to suggest unidentified anomalous phenomena come from outer space.

Pentagon receives additional UFO reports, no sign of aliens (Military Times) The U.S. has now collected 510 reports of unidentified flying objects, many of which are flying in sensitive military airspace.

Most UFO reports ‘unremarkable,’ Pentagon says, but analysis goes on (Washington Post) More than half of 366 recent sightings of “unidentified aerial phenomena” appeared to be balloons, drones or common trash

Spy agencies report hundreds more UFO sightings since 2021 (POLITICO) Many of the over 500 “unidentified aerial phenomena” appear to perform maneuvers that are highly advanced.

Why the Search for Life in Space Starts With Ancient Earth (WIRED) Need to estimate, from trillions of miles away, how likely another world is to host life? There’s a flowchart for that.

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