Government/Military

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to evolve the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) system, the Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system. The BMDS operates collectively and continuously through a multi-domain system that connects traditionally autonomous sensors, satellites and weapon systems. Fielded and operational since 2004, C2BMC gives commanders at...

Spaceflight managed the procurement, integration, and mission management services for three spacecraft on Rocket Lab’s next mission aboard an Electron rocket. This mission, called “Look Ma, No Hands” by Rocket Lab, represents Spaceflight’s second of several launches scheduled with Rocket Lab this year, and follows the launch of seven spacecraft on its inaugural “Make it Rain”...

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) significantly streamlined the application process for small satellites, providing an alternative, cheaper, and more flexible authorization process. Given recent innovation in the small satellite sector and the increasing number of commercial operations, the regulations adopted set out a new optional authorization process, within Part 25 of the Commission’s rules, to govern...

A Mishap Investigation Board appointed by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) identified the most likely cause for an instrument issue aboard NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-17 satellite that launched March 1 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. During post launch testing of the satellite’s Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI),...

Gilat Satellite Networks subsidiary Wavestream received orders for over $7 million for the U.S. Army‘s Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program. WIN-T was established to provide connectivity via the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite network. Wavestream’s Solid State Amplifier (SSPA) helps enable the Satellite Transportable Terminals (SSTs) to deliver a “Communications-on-the-Halt” solution across...

The government of Luxembourg and Canadian technology company NorthStar Earth and Space are a launching a “Clean Space” initiative to foster sustainability in space. The Clean Space initiative would evaluate the use of NorthStar Earth and Space Information services with the support of Luxembourg’s insurance, financial, and satellite operator communities to address some key issues...

NASA selected 10 U.S. companies for 19 partnerships to mature industry-developed space technologies. As NASA prepares to land humans on the Moon by 2024 with the Artemis program, commercial companies are developing new technologies, working toward space ventures of their own, and looking to NASA for assistance. NASA centers will partner with the companies, which range...

The Russian military launched a Soyuz-2.1 carrier rocket today, carrying the Meridian communications satellite, according to the Defense Ministry’s Zvezda broadcasting service. The rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia’s northern Arkhangelsk region at 8:56 a.m. Moscow time, and the satellite separated from the rocket nine minutes later. This was the third launch...

Several U.S. satellite companies have joined together in protest of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s recently proposed rules and regulations on remote sensing. Executives from Maxar Technologies, Planet, HawkEye 360, and Spire Global penned a joint response to the regulatory proposal, calling it “burdensome,” and claiming that, if enacted, would, “undermine U.S. competitiveness, impair U.S....

France is accelerating plans to militarize its satellite technology, French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly said during a July 25 presentation of the European nation’s new space strategy. Parly’s plans include the development of anti-satellite laser weapons that would, “only be used in self-defense.” “If our satellites are threatened, we intend to blind those of...