Earth observation startup Planet trims workforce by “less than ten percent”
San Francisco — Planet, the startup that operates the world’s largest constellation of Earth imaging satellites, laid off dozens of workers July 13. One source put the number at 38. A Planet spokesperson declined to confirm that number, but said the firm restructured its operations in a move that affected less than ten percent of its workforce. “Planet has grown [...]
Patriot North Exercise Prepares Military, Civilian First Responders
VOLK FIELD, Wis. -- Natural disasters cause a great amount of devastation each year. They can happen any time, to anyone and in any area in the world -- they do not discriminate. A quick and decisive response to these tragedies can help mitigate their impact. To that end, about 900 military members and civilian emergency management personnel and responders [...]
Blue Origin successfully tests escape system in latest New Shepard launch
FARNBOROUGH, England — Blue Origin conducted a successful test flight of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle July 18 that demonstrated its crew capsule escape system. The vehicle lifted off from the company’s West Texas test site at 11:11 a.m. Eastern. The launch, the ninth test flight in the overall New Shepard development program, was announced a day in advance by [...]
Afghan 205th Corps Increases Capabilities with Quick-Response Company
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- More than 100 soldiers from the Afghan army’s newly established Eagle Strike Company, a quick-response company, finished six weeks of training and exercises and received their graduation certificates July 5 during a ceremony at Camp Hero here. “[The company] is designed to be used to take back overrun check points and district centers that are under attack,” [...]
Maxar moves to capture satellite-servicing business in U.K, Europe
FARNBOROUGH, England — With hundreds of satellites projected to launch from future UK spaceports and elsewhere in Europe in the coming years, an industry race is underway to develop space robots that will fix and maintain constellations in orbit. Maxar Technologies has made inroads in satellite servicing with Pentagon and NASA contracts in recent years. It now also wants to [...]
Air Force Recruiters Learn About Innovations for Next-Gen Special Ops Airmen
WASHINGTON -- For the first time in the Defense Department, a series of career field specialties is using human performance monitoring and a data collection system, as well as specialized recruiters. Because of high attrition rates in its special operations career fields -- pararescue, combat controller, tactical air control party and special operations weather technicians -- the Air Force stood [...]
SN Military.Space | Selling U.S. aerospace overseas amid trade tensions • U.S. Air Force excited about U.K. space • Quantum computing as space weapon
You’re reading the SN Military.Space newsletter we publish Tuesdays. If you would like to get our news and insights for military space professionals before everyone else, sign up here for your free subscription. U.S. officials on a mission to sell American products. It has been awkward Trump administration officials — including representatives from Defense, State, Commerce and NASA, as well [...]
NNSA funds innovation in radiological security transport containers
All shipments of radioactive materials, whether from private industry or government sites, must be packaged and transported according to strict federal regulations. These regulations protect the public, transportation workers, and the environment from potential exposure to radiation. The packaging required is determined by the type of material to be shipped and its level of radioactivity. Depending on these factors, two [...]
Astrobotic selects Dynetics for lunar lander propulsion system
LONDON — As Astrobotic prepares to compete for NASA lunar payload delivery contracts, the company has signed an agreement with Dynetics for the last major component of its lunar lander. Under the teaming agreement announced July 17, Dynetics will provide a main propulsion system for Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander, as well as attitude control thrusters. The companies did not disclose [...]
Face of Defense: Sailor Finds Balance as Navy Recruiter
DALLAS -- Recruiters’ lives are rooted in their communities, making them representatives of the life the Navy has to offer. It’s a unique and often stressful job that requires sailors to creatively adapt to an ever-changing landscape, but also allows for great growth in a sailor’s personal and professional life. Petty Officer 1st Class Travis Wyatt, an operations specialist and [...]
Contracts For July 17, 2018
AIR FORCE Aero-Glen International LLC, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, has been awarded a $403,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for F-16 Systems Program Office support at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The contractor will provide F-16 service life extension program kits for the F-16 fleet. Work will be performed in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, and is expected to be completed [...]
Bridenstine discusses ISS future, exploration cooperation in Europe
FARNBOROUGH, England — NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said July 17 that he’s had good discussions with European officials here about potential cooperation on NASA’s plans to return to the moon. In a brief interview after a panel discussion at the Farnborough International Airshow, Bridenstine described the meetings he’s held during the event, including with the heads of the European Space [...]
Clearer picture emerging of the future of “rapid space”
FARNBOROUGH, England — The top weapons buyer of the U.S. Air Force said more “rapid acquisitions” are happening in the service’s space portfolio than in any other area. “We have to go much faster,” Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force, told reporters on Tuesday. Roper planned to spend Wednesday visiting the U.K. military’s “rapid capabilities office” and British [...]
Lockheed Martin yet to select vehicle to launch from British spaceport
FARNBOROUGH, England — While Lockheed Martin continues to suggest it will use Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket at a Scottish launch site announced at the beginning of this week, company officials said July 17 they have yet to formally select a vehicle to fly at the site. The U.K. Space Agency awarded $31 million to Lockheed Martin July 17 to establish [...]
Watercraft Operators Gain Experience in Annual Exercise
TACOMA, Wash. -- The U.S. Army Reserve offers a wide variety of career fields ranging from logistical support to human resources. However, with so many jobs to choose from, some military occupational specialties can sometimes be overlooked by potential recruits. One such specialty is watercraft operator. Watercraft operators play a huge role in ensuring the Army’s overall mission readiness by [...]