Space Force buys second Otter spacecraft to power satellites on orbit

Starfish's Otter spacecraft is designed to dock with and service satellites without prior modifications to enable it. (Starfish Space) By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 9 February 2026 WASHINGTON — Startup Starfish Space has won a $54.5 million contract to provide the Space Force with a second Otter satellite-servicing

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China sends fourth ‘Shenlong’ reusable spacecraft mission into orbit

A notional rendering of China's reusable space plane (Image credit: Erik Simonsen/Getty Images) By William Zheng, Published by South China Morning POst, 7 February 2026 China on Saturday launched the latest mission of its reusable experimental spacecraft – a potential rival to the US Space Force’s X-37B. It was China’s

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Dynamic Space Operations

A Falcon 9 rocket launches the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle into space in August 2025. Dynamic space operations requires more than rapid launch and repositioning and ultimately encompasses every aspect of the U.S. space enterprise. Gwendolyn Kurzen Published by Air and Space Forces, 6 February 2026 To prevail in space,

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Space Command’s case for orbital logistics: Why the Pentagon is being urged to think beyond launch

Rendering of Orbit Fab’s refueling service architecture consists of propellant depots in various orbits, and shuttles that will deliver fuel from those depots to client spacecraft. Credit: Orbit Fab By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 28 January 2026 Gen. Stephen Whiting: As space becomes a contested military domain, the

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(Image credit: U.S. Space Force)

As satellites become targets, Space Force plans for growth and a broader role

(Image credit: U.S. Space Force) By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 22 January 2026 Gen. Shawn Bratton, vice chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, says greater reliance on satellites is forcing faster integration with the joint force and long-term planning beyond Earth orbit WASHINGTON — The

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The overlooked space race: keeping satellites alive

Illustration of Northrop Grumman’s Geosynchronous Auxiliary Support Tanker (GAS-T) platform designed to fuel and extend the life of in-orbit assets. Credit: Northrop Grumman By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 4 December 2025 China’s lunar ambitions grab attention, but a quieter milestone that the country achieved earlier this year could

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Space Force Plans Surveillance Sats to Complement RG-XX Reconnaissance Fleet

GSSAP space domain awareness satellite (Air Force Space Command archive) By Courtney Albon, Published by Air and Space Forces, 1 December 2025 The Space Force’s strategy to replace its fleet of neighborhood watch satellites in geosynchronous orbit includes plans to field multiple satellite constellations, one focused on reconnaissance and one focused on surveillance

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Next chapter in space defense: Satellites that never stop moving

Rendering of Orbit Fab’s refueling service architecture consists of propellant depots in various orbits, and shuttles that will deliver fuel from those depots to client spacecraft. Credit: Orbit Fab By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 24 September 2025 Concepts like ‘dynamic space operations’ and ‘sustained space maneuver’ refer not

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