U.S. SPACECOM raises fresh concerns about Russian satellites 🛰️

National security insights for space professionals. Delivered Tuesdays.

View this email in your browser In this week's edition: • Committees advance bills shaping military space programs • Space Force on-ramps Blue Origin • Redwire's VLEO satellite selected by DARPA If this newsletter was forwarded to you, sign up for free here Thanks for reading ! Please send comments, suggestions and tips to serwin@spacenews.com Redwire was selected as the prime mission integrator for a DARPA satellite with a novel propulsion system for very low Earth orbit (VLEO). SabreSat, Redwire's VLEO satellite for government intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, will house "air-breathing" electric propulsion systems being developed through DARPA's Otter program. "We are taking an innovative approach to developing a new breed of spacecraft that bridge the gap between air and space," said Spence Wise, Redwire senior vice president for missions and platforms. RUSSIAN SATELLITE RAISES CONCERNS — U.S. Space Command is bracing for possible Russian targeting of American satellites. Gen. Stephen Whiting, speaking on Monday at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, highlighted Russia's May 16 launch of Cosmos 2576, which the Pentagon views as a counter-space weapon now in "operational capacity." Whiting noted the satellite's "co-planar" positioning relative to a U.S. national security satellite, allowing for close monitoring and potential interference. This deployment aligns with previous Russian counter-space weapon tests observed in 2017, 2019, and 2022. The threat extends beyond military concerns, potentially impacting critical services like GPS navigation and weather forecasting. Whiting said Space Command is focused on preparedness efforts. Join our expert panelists as they dive into the growing race for moon resources. REGISTER HERE Three commercial firms have won contracts from the U.S. Navy in recent months to develop solid rocket motors for the Standard missile — the Navy's go-to weapon for air defense and missile interception. X-Bow Systems, Anduril Industries and Ursa Major have inked agreements to develop and test solid rocket motors for the first and second stages of the Standard missile. The Pentagon has been sounding the alarm on the shrinking pool of domestic rocket motor suppliers. With conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East straining production capacity, DoD is eager to tap into commercial innovation. LOCKHEED MARTIN clinched a $2.2 billion deal announced last week to build the next generation of U.S. geostationary weather satellites. The contract, awarded by NASA on behalf of NOAA, covers three Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellites with options for four more. First launch is expected in the early 2030s. On the military front, Lockheed secured a $977.5 million contract extension for its Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) program. This brings the total contract value to $8.2 billion. The deal extends work until 2029 on two geosynchronous satellites designed to detect and track ballistic missile launches. The Space Force shook up the national security launch market last week, selecting Blue Origin to compete in the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program against incumbents SpaceX and United Launch Alliance for about 30 missions worth up to $5.6 billion over five years. It's a big win for Jeff Bezos' rocket company, marking the first time Blue Origin will be allowed to launch sensitive national security satellites. The upstart's New Glenn rocket is expected to attempt its first orbital flight later this year. The NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contracts cover lower-risk missions to low-Earth orbit from fiscal years 2025-2029, including Space Development Agency and spy satellite launches. Although the trio have the field to themselves for now, the Space Force will open up on-ramping opportunities for new entrants like Rocket Lab, Relativity Space and Firefly to attempt to qualify starting next year. The higher-stakes Lane 2 procurement for heavier national security payloads is still in play, with up to three contracts expected this fall. Space Force officials say the strategy aims to nurture competition and drive down costs — while maintaining the all-important "assured access to space" through redundant capabilities. LeoLabs plans to build a new type of radar under a $1.2 million AFWERX contract. The S-band 2-D Direct Radiating Array will be designed to track rocket launches and spacecraft in very low Earth orbit, said Dan Ceperley, LeoLabs founder and chief operating officer. While LeoLabs' older S-band radars include a couple hundred antennas, the new Direct Radiating Array will have hundreds to thousands of antennas. House Appropriations pares back Space Force budget The House Appropriations Committee last week advanced an $833 billion defense spending bill for fiscal year 2025, slashing $16.5 billion from President Biden's request. Some cuts impact space programs: - $900 million less than requested for the Space Force - $185.9 million cut from GPS satellite procurement - Rejected Air Force plan to reallocate $117 million for "Resilient GPS" program using commercial tech Resilient GPS Program Faces Scrutiny Appropriators expressed skepticism over the $1 billion Resilient GPS initiative, questioning if smaller commercial satellites truly boost resilience against jamming threats. They directed cost analysis and review of alternative PNT systems. NDAA Moves in Senate, House The Senate Armed Services Committee cleared its version of the 2025 NDAA on Friday, including a compromise on integrating Air National Guard space units into the Space Force. The House passed its NDAA version the same day, but with controversial social policy riders that could derail negotiations with the Senate. Key Space Provisions in Senate NDAA - Requires the Air Force to transfer certain space functions to Space Force without reducing state Air National Guard end strength - Directs engagement with private equity on space industrial base opportunities   - Authorizes a commercial space reserve program and directs an insurance study - Mandates the establishment of a Space Command & Control integration program office What's Next? With the defense policy bills now teed up, intense negotiations loom as the House and Senate reconcile differences on topline spending levels and contentious policy matters. In other news 🚀 The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is turning to the commercial satellite imagery industry for help monitoring objects in Earth's orbit. The agency on June 12 released a request for information seeking input from companies in the emerging non-Earth imagery (NEI) market. NGA said it wants to better understand unclassified non-Earth imaging capabilities and data analytics, including imagery of uncooperative platforms. Today's highlights: Copyright (C) 2024 Multiverse Media Inc.. All rights reserved. You signed up to receive this newsletter on Spacenews.com. At times you may receive marketing material. Our mailing address is: Multiverse Media Inc. 100 Fillmore St. 5th Floor Denver, CO 80206 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe