Defense Daily reports, “SpaceX has received a more than $178 million task order from U.S. Space Force’s Systems Command (SSC) for two National Security Space Launch Phase 3, Lane 1 launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., for the Space Development Agency-4 (SDA-4) mission in fiscal 2027. The latter includes ‘dozens of missile tracking satellites’ by Sierra Space, SSC said on Tuesday.”
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Tag: US Space Force
Space Force Pauses Vulcan Missions Supporting National Security Payloads
Breaking Defense reports, “The Space Force is holding off on launching further national security payloads aboard United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket until an anomaly observed during a recent military mission is resolved, according to a top service official. ‘We are going to work through this anomaly until we launch again on Vulcan,’ Col. Eric Zarybnisky, the Space Force’s portfolio acquisition executive for assured access to space, said.”
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Space Force Asking Industry for Ideas On ‘Quick and Efficient’ SBI Deployment
Defense Daily reports, “The U.S. Space Force program executive office for space combat power is soliciting input from industry on the rapid fielding of space based interceptors (SBI), which the Trump administration’s Golden Dome is to use against hypersonic and ballistic missiles…”
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US Space Force Develops Framework for War Fighting in Space
SPACE reports that the U.S. Space Force now has an official “Space Warfighting” doctrine outlining how the service “can train and prepare units” for a war fought in space. “The document ‘establishes a common lexicon for counterspace operations’ and lays out a ‘range of responsible offensive and defensive actions Guardians may employ to maintain control of space’ and ensure the success of the U.S. military, according to a Space Force statement.”
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US Space Force Selects Rocket Lab and Stoke Space to Compete for Future National Security Launches
SPACE reports, “Private launch companies Rocket Lab and Stoke Space have been selected to compete for future U.S. national security space launches. The two launch companies were awarded ‘National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 contracts’ by the U.S. Space Force on March 27, broadening the military branch’s launch options and strengthening access to space.”
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ULA Vulcan Receives Certification for US National Security Missions
Via Satellite reports, “The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket is now certified for U.S. national security missions after receiving certification from the U.S. Space Force. Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Assured Access to Space organization announced the certification on Wednesday for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. ULA is now eligible to launch NSSL missions as one of two certified providers, the other being SpaceX.”
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ULA Awaits Space Force’s Certification of its New Vulcan Rocket
Ars Technica reports, “Last October, United Launch Alliance started stacking its third Vulcan rocket on a mobile launch platform in Florida in preparation for a mission for the US Space Force by the end of the year. That didn’t happen, and ULA is still awaiting the Space Force’s formal certification of its new rocket, further pushing out delivery schedules for numerous military satellites booked to fly to orbit on the Vulcan launcher.”
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Silent Barker Spacecraft Expected to Begin Operation in 2025
Aviation Week reports, “The first spacecraft from a joint U.S. Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) program to conduct space situational awareness are close to entering operation next year. The Silent Barker spacecraft were launched Sept. 10, 2023, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Since then, the satellites have been undergoing the test-and-checkout phase, which is nearing completion, U.S. Space Command chief Gen. Stephen Whiting told reporters Dec. 11.”
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Space Force Selects Four Companies to Develop Concepts for ‘Resilient GPS’ Satellites
Space News reports, “The U.S. Space Force selected four companies to develop concepts for smaller, more cost-effective GPS satellites based on commercial designs, aiming to augment the existing Global Positioning System network, the Department of the Air Force announced Sept. 23. Astranis, Axient, L3Harris Technologies and Sierra Space have been chosen to submit proposals for the Resilient GPS (R-GPS) program, which seeks to explore the use of proliferated small satellites transmitting core GPS signals.”
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US Space Force Eyes Satellite “Jetpacks” to Keep Old Spacecraft Operational in Orbit
SPACE reports that the U.S. Space Force is looking for new ways “to extend the lives of satellites that run out of fuel,” including small “’jetpacks’” that “can be added on to existing spacecraft already in orbit.”
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