US, RAAF senior leaders integrate for future operations in Air Senior National Representatives forum
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -- U.S. and Royal Australian Air Force service members came together to discuss challenges and posture for the future during this year’s iteration of the Air Senior National Representatives forum at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, May 15-17.The ASNR forum is a bilateral U.S. Air Force - RAAF engagement that lays the foundation for the interoperability of [...]
NOAA is tracking smoke moving from the East Coast over the Atlantic
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s is closely tracking smoke from the Canadian wildfires moving June 9 from the Northeastern United States over the Atlantic Ocean. The post NOAA is tracking smoke moving from the East Coast over the Atlantic appeared first on SpaceNews.
AF Week in Photos
U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, fly alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, over the Pacific Ocean, May 23, 2023. The U.S. is committed to denying adversarial aggression through strategic airpower aimed to deter and dominate aggressors in any airspace. [...]
China’s first stackable satellite reaches orbit on solid rocket launch
A light-lift solid rocket sent an experimental “plate-like” stackable satellite into orbit late Thursday as the country looks to build its answer to Starlink. The post China’s first stackable satellite reaches orbit on solid rocket launch appeared first on SpaceNews.
New spending caps to create challenges for NASA
NASA and congressional officials are still grappling with the implications of a debt-ceiling agreement that enacts spending caps, but acknowledged it likely means the agency will get less money than it requested for 2024. The post New spending caps to create challenges for NASA appeared first on SpaceNews.
Video shows Astroscale’s plan to deorbit multiple satellites
In 2025, Astroscale plans to send ELSA-M into very low Earth orbit for commissioning. The post Video shows Astroscale’s plan to deorbit multiple satellites appeared first on SpaceNews.
GAO flags concerns about Space Force satellite procurements
The Government Accountability Office in its annual assessment of Pentagon procurements provided an update on the Space Force’s satellite programs and found a few red flags. The post GAO flags concerns about Space Force satellite procurements appeared first on SpaceNews.
Nelco invests in router maker to improve Indian satcoms network
Indian satellite communications provider Nelco has invested around $121,000 in a network equipment startup based in Mumbai, India, to bolster its services amid a growing competitive threat from international players. The post Nelco invests in router maker to improve Indian satcoms network appeared first on SpaceNews.
Space Force assigns 12 national security missions to SpaceX and ULA
The U.S. Space Force launch procurement office on June 8 announced an additional 12 missions assigned to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract. The post Space Force assigns 12 national security missions to SpaceX and ULA appeared first on SpaceNews.
Firefly Aerospace acquires Spaceflight Inc.
Firefly Aerospace announced June 8 it has acquired Spaceflight Inc., adding its satellite transportation services to its portfolio of launch vehicles and spacecraft. The post Firefly Aerospace acquires Spaceflight Inc. appeared first on SpaceNews.
SAIC to develop ‘software factory’ for Space Development Agency
The Space Development Agency awarded a $64 million contract to Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) to develop a software applications factory for the agency’s low Earth orbit constellation. The post SAIC to develop ‘software factory’ for Space Development Agency appeared first on SpaceNews.
Hydrosat acquires IrriWatch
IrriWatch, founded in 2019 by Wim Bastiaanssen, an expert on remote sensing and water resource management, feeds imagery and data, much of it provided by thermal sensors on government satellites, into proprietary algorithms to gauge leaf and soil temperatures, soil moisture content, water consumption and agricultural production. The post Hydrosat acquires IrriWatch appeared first on SpaceNews.
Albedo expands staff and facilities
Albedo also announced the opening June 8 of a Broomfield facility large enough to build three to four satellites simultaneously. The post Albedo expands staff and facilities appeared first on SpaceNews.
NASA concerned Starship problems will delay Artemis 3
NASA has growing concerns that the lunar lander version of SpaceX’s Starship vehicle will not be ready in time for the Artemis 3 mission in late 2025, given the amount of work needed to get the vehicle ready. The post NASA concerned Starship problems will delay Artemis 3 appeared first on SpaceNews.
Vulcan performs static-fire test
United Launch Alliance carried out a static-fire test of its Vulcan Centaur rocket June 7, one of the final milestones before the vehicle’s first launch. The post Vulcan performs static-fire test appeared first on SpaceNews.