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National security insights for space professionals. Delivered Tuesdays. |
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In this week's issue: Vulcan finally flies • Rocket Lab scores big SDA contract • Change of command at USSPACECOM • And much more
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In the spotlight |
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"This is a groundbreaking day," the Space Systems Command declared on Monday after United Launch Alliance successfully carried out the first flight of the company's new Vulcan Centaur rocket. Following the launch, Vulcan Cert-1 mission's main payload — Astrobotic's Peregrine spacecraft — suffered a propulsion anomaly that prevent it from landing on the moon. Vulcan must perform a second successful flight in order to be certified to launch national security space missions. Credit: ULA |
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The Space Development Agency confirmed Monday that it awarded Rocket Lab a $515 million contract to build and operate 18 spacecraft that will be part of a low Earth orbit network of military satellites.
Rocket Lab will act as a prime contractor for SDA, leading the design, development, production, test, and operations of the satellites, including procurement and integration of the payload subsystems. "This contract marks the beginning of Rocket Lab's new era as a leading satellite prime," said Rocket Lab's founder and CEO Peter Beck. "We welcome Rocket Lab as the newest member of Team SDA," said Derek Tournear, SDA director. Rocket Lab USA, based in Long Beach, California, specializes in small-satellite launch services with its Electron rockets. The company also has a burgeoning Space Systems business that manufactures components and spacecraft. The contract with SDA would be the largest to date for Rocket Lab's satellite operations. The buses for SDA's satellites will be a derivative of those Rocket Lab is developing for the communications company Globalstar.
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U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting tomorrow assumes duties as commander of U.S. Space Command from U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, who is retiring after 38 years of service. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks will preside over the change of command ceremony at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. |
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In other news |
MICROSOFT won a $19.8 million contract from the U.S. Space Force for an immersive augmented-reality environment used for space experiments, the Space Systems Command announced Jan. 5.
The so-called Integrated, Immersive, Intelligent Environment (I3E) augmented reality space simulation is powered by Microsoft's HoloLens headsets and constructed on an Azure cloud infrastructure. It features a real-time display of orbital objects and allows users to interact with them in an accurately scaled space environment.
Technologies like I3E "enhance our ability to gain situational awareness and enable decision-makers to act at a higher velocity than our adversaries", said Shannon Pallone, program executive officer for Battle Management Command, Control and Communications. |
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THE U.S. SPACE FORCE is accepting proposals for the University Consortium/Space Strategic Technology Institute 3, focused on advanced space power and propulsion.
In a request for information posted Dec. 21, the Space Force invites universities and partners to submit white papers by Feb. 2 for collaborative research projects.
"The research opportunity will involve a minimum of three universities, with one taking the lead in research efforts," said the announcement.
The Space Force on Monday announced that the University of Cincinnati and Texas A&M University will receive a combined total of $49.9 million for the Space Strategic Technology Institute 2, or SSTI 2, focused on in-space operations, including space access, mobility and logistics. |
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Headlines you might have missed 🚀 |
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A SPACE FORCE training exercise known as Red Skies was completed in December. It emphasized orbital warfare, or the application of orbital dynamics and satellite flight to Space Force operations.
The Space Training and Readiness Command said these exercises are designed to help guardians develop skills necessary to respond to potential attacks on U.S. satellites.
Red Skies is a simulation-based exercise, but the Space Force plans to transition to live on-orbit operations via satellites in the future. |
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AS NEW TECHNOLOGIES pave the way for refueling satellites in space, the U.S. Space Force is exploring how to integrate these capabilities into its operations. A tabletop exercise dubbed Parallax Rising 2.2 shed light on the strategic and logistical considerations involved in this emerging field.
Parallax Rising 2.2 went beyond the technical aspects of refueling, delving into the policies and procedures necessary to ensure satellites receive timely logistical support, particularly in a contested space environment. |
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'DIGITAL SPACEPORT' is a new Space Force initiative focused on modernizing outdated information systems at the nation's space launch facilities.
"SpaceWERX, in partnership with Assured Access to Space, is seeking cutting-edge ideas and state-of-the-art capabilities that will advance the United States Space Force's digital transformation, hardware modernization, and operational enhancement of our current and future spaceports," said the solicitation. |
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MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES won a contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to provide advanced satellite imagery and data for 3D maps and models.
The company will supply a 3D data bundle covering 160,000 square kilometers within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. |
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