The Vandenberg Tracking Station is a remote tracking station, located near Santa Maria, Calif., operating within the Space Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). This collection of remote tracking stations allow space operations centers to communicate with their space assets. Credit: U.S. Air Force (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt.
By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 1 March 2026 Officials says commercial data and software can sharpen space threat detection WASHINGTON — One of the U.S. Space Force’s most sensitive missions — tracking foreign satellites and predicting whether they could threaten American spacecraft — is increasingly drawing on commercial
Crews of the National Space Defense Center at Schriever Space Force Base, Colo. provide threat-focused space domain awareness across the national security space enterprise. (U.S. Space Force photo by Kathryn Damon) By Courtney Albon, Publsihed by Air & Space Forces, 19 February 2026 The Space Force team responsible for developing
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks about the Golden Dome initiative in the Oval Office on May 20, 2025. | Alex Brandon/AP By Brooke Griswold, Published by Defense News, 19 February 2026 Just a year ago, SpaceX majority owner Elon Musk dismissed going to the moon as a “distraction.” Now,
GSSAP space domain awareness satellite (Air Force Space Command archive) By Sandra Erwin, Publishd by Space News, 18 February 2026 The Defense Innovation Unit plans to select companies to field and operate spacecraft before transferring them to government control within three years WASHINGTON — In a departure from how military
A ground-based interceptor is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on March 25, 2019. (Department of Defense) By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 11 February 2026 At SmallSat Symposium, executives cite enduring missile threat as rationale for continued investment WASHINGTON — Space industry executives said they are continuing
An artist's depiction of a missile warning/missile tracking satellite. (credit L3Harris) By Courtney Albon, Published by Air and Space Forces, 5 February 2026 The Defense Innovation Unit, the Pentagon’s commercial technology hub, plans to demonstrate low-cost, commercially derived missile defense sensors on orbit within the next two years, according to
Asteroids contain mind-boggling amounts of valuable metals – like 16 Psyche, seen here, which holds massive reserves of iron. (NASA/JPL-Caltech) By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 5 February 2026 A niche corner of the commercial space sector is attracting attention from United States national security planners, not because of
