Space Force intel focus: 50% on China; 25% on Russia

Space Force intel focus: 50% on China; 25% on Russia
Space Force intel focus: 50% on China; 25% on Russia

China’s “space weaponry” arsenal “includes missiles that launch from the Earth that go up and destroy satellites, it includes lasers, it includes jammers, it includes a whole magazine of diversity for that,” a top Space Force officer said.

Draft commercial space ‘reserve’ plan allows DoD ‘exclusive access’ to services during conflict

Draft commercial space ‘reserve’ plan allows DoD ‘exclusive access’ to services during conflict
Draft commercial space ‘reserve’ plan allows DoD ‘exclusive access’ to services during conflict

In exchange for consenting to allowing DoD to commandeer services, the framework document suggests incentives for industry participants such as giving them status as a “preferential provider” to US government contracts and “war-risk insurance.”

Top-level study on Intel Community, Space Force satellite control coming soon

Top-level study on Intel Community, Space Force satellite control coming soon
Top-level study on Intel Community, Space Force satellite control coming soon

The National Reconnaissance Office has “grown and evolved and recognized, just as well as we have, that they have responsibilities that are not traditional” with regard to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from satellites, said Space Force vice chief Gen. DT Thompson.

Along with new office, Space Force plots new funding pot for commercial buys by 2025

Along with new office, Space Force plots new funding pot for commercial buys by 2025
Along with new office, Space Force plots new funding pot for commercial buys by 2025

Space Systems Command’s new Commercial Space Marketplace for Innovation and Collaboration (COSMIC) facility in Chantilly, Virg., will serve as the “physical headquarters” for the SSC Commercial Space Office.

EXCLUSIVE: Space Force, IC warily approach agreement on commercial intel imagery buys

EXCLUSIVE: Space Force, IC warily approach agreement on commercial intel imagery buys
EXCLUSIVE: Space Force, IC warily approach agreement on commercial intel imagery buys

While there is no formal agreement, NRO and the Space Force have reached an informal accord to each use commercial imagery the other has acquired, and are in discussions about a potential DoD-IC “marketplace” to ease sharing.

How Space Force, NRO are sharing the ground-tracking mission, for now

How Space Force, NRO are sharing the ground-tracking mission, for now
How Space Force, NRO are sharing the ground-tracking mission, for now

“The good news about this approach is this really fits my priority of speed, speed and speed,” Frank Calvelli, space acquisition czar at the Department of the Air Force, said of the plan to have NRO take the lead with Space Force oversight and some funding.

Albedo catches Space Force eyes with ultra-high fidelity imagery from very low satellites

Albedo catches Space Force eyes with ultra-high fidelity imagery from very low satellites
Albedo catches Space Force eyes with ultra-high fidelity imagery from very low satellites

Under a new grant, the company will demonstrate to the Air Force’s National Air and Space Intelligence Center its ability to take very high resolution images at night using a thermal infrared sensor.

Space Force ‘framework’ for commercial reserve satellite fleet coming in summer

Space Force ‘framework’ for commercial reserve satellite fleet coming in summer
Space Force ‘framework’ for commercial reserve satellite fleet coming in summer

Col. Rich Kniseley, newly appointed as the head of SSC’s Commercial Space Office, told Breaking Defense on Wednesday: “I’m hoping to deliver a framework to leadership this summer.”

NRO expects prototype moving target sensor on orbit in ‘8 to 12 months,’ director says

NRO expects prototype moving target sensor on orbit in ‘8 to 12 months,’ director says
NRO expects prototype moving target sensor on orbit in ‘8 to 12 months,’ director says

NRO and Space Force “are working hand in hand to shape the future of ground moving target indicators, which will provide day/night, all-weather detection and tracking of ground and maritime targets for the warfighter,” NRO Director Chris Scolese said.

International meeting could imperil Pentagon’s radar, intel-gathering systems

International meeting could imperil Pentagon’s radar, intel-gathering systems
International meeting could imperil Pentagon’s radar, intel-gathering systems

The month-long World Radiocommunications Conference in Dubai will decide whether to change how spectrum use is allocate among various users – including spectrum needed by DoD planes and ships operating abroad.

Spurred by Ukraine war, 18 Western countries plan to share remote sensing data

Spurred by Ukraine war, 18 Western countries plan to share remote sensing data
Spurred by Ukraine war, 18 Western countries plan to share remote sensing data

“Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the importance of a persistent space surveillance capability,” said the United Kingdom, as European nations (and Canada) band together.

Space Force seeks ideas for potential ‘commercial space reserve’ fleet

Space Force seeks ideas for potential ‘commercial space reserve’ fleet
Space Force seeks ideas for potential ‘commercial space reserve’ fleet

“Just as we saw the value of commercial space systems in the Ukraine crisis, we’ve also seen the potential vulnerability and [the possibility] of commercial capabilities to be attacked as well. And so we’ve got to consider commercial capabilities and how they operate not just now, but also in the time of crisis,” Chirag Parikh, executive secretary of the National Space Council, said today.

Balloons vs. satellites: Popping some misconceptions about capability and legality

Balloons vs. satellites: Popping some misconceptions about capability and legality
Balloons vs. satellites: Popping some misconceptions about capability and legality

There may not be an agreement on where airspace ends and space begins, but experts say other questions floated during the balloon saga have down-to-earth answers.

Air Force to evaluate intel value of Hydrosat’s hot spot data

Air Force to evaluate intel value of Hydrosat’s hot spot data
Air Force to evaluate intel value of Hydrosat’s hot spot data

While the company currently is using already available data from satellites like NASA’s Landsat and ESA’s Sentinel-2, Hydrosat also intends to launch its own constellation of 16 microsats to low Earth orbit (LEO).