Spy satellites, classified payloads among the newly scheduled launches.
By Theresa HitchensGray Eagle is the low-cost, low-risk answer to Army modernization
Gray Eagle STOL and Gray Eagle 25M are the best options for Army aviation as it assesses where to move from its current inflection point.
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.
By Theresa Hitchens
The NRO is planning to award new contracts for commercial satellite imagery, perhaps including that of other satellites, the spy-sat agency’s head of commercial operations, Pete Muend, said today.
By Theresa Hitchens
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.
By Theresa Hitchens
“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.
By Theresa Hitchens
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.
By Theresa Hitchens
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.
By Theresa Hitchens
How to ensure readiness of next-generation defense technology: Solving the issue of massive heat.
High-performance systems generate tremendous amounts of heat that can compromise missions and make high-tech systems less effective in tactical environments. But there is a solution to this modern-age challenge.
Hyperspectral sensors can “see” what materials a surface is made of and identify individual elements in the surrounding atmosphere. For national security purposes, hyperspectral imagery could for example detect evidence of chemical weapon production and/or use.
By Theresa Hitchens
The Space Force is “working with the Air Force and the Intelligence Community (IC) in a complementary way to design, develop, and deploy space-based GMTI systems,” the service’s FY24 budget documents explain.
By Theresa Hitchens
Under the deal, Maxar will be able to expand its SAR data offerings to international customers, and Umbra will get global eyes on its products, company officials told Breaking Defense.
By Theresa Hitchens
“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.
By Theresa Hitchens
“There is significant value in unclassified, shareable SAR imagery. And we’ve seen that in Ukraine. And so I think that has changed people’s minds quite a bit which has given a lot of momentum to … how government thinks about future procurements,” Capella CEO Payam Banazadeh told Breaking Defense.
By Theresa Hitchens
The US and UK had two defense-related satellites apiece on the Start Me Up mission, which will now need to be replaced.
By Tim Martin
Once airborne, LauncherOne will detach from under the 747’s wing and nine satellites – both civil and defense types – will be sent into orbit.
By Tim Martin
