Space Force, SPACECOM pushing to speed ‘sustained’ maneuverability on orbit

By Theresa Hitschens, Published by Breaking Defense, 19 April, 2023 The Space Force is rushing to meet SPACECOM's demand, developing a new acquisition plan for space "mobility and logistics" — including on-orbit servicing and repair, satellite refueling and space junk cleanup — a plan that will lean heavily on use

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NRO signs agreements with commercial providers of hyperspectral imagery

By Sandra Erwin, Published by SpaceNews, 22 March 2023 The companies selected are BlackSky, HyperSat, Orbital Sidekick, Pixxel, Planet and Xplore WASHINGTON — The National Reconnaissance Office has signed five-year agreements with six commercial providers of hyperspectral satellite imagery, the agency announced March 22. The selected companies — BlackSky Technology,

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Limits on Ukraine’s use of Starlink for war operations is a lesson for U.S. military

By Sandra Erwin, Published by SpaceNews, 9 March 2023 Gen. Dickinson: “A shared understanding” is needed between commercial providers and their customers WASHINGTON — SpaceX’s decision to limit Ukrainian troops’ use of the company’s satellite internet is a cautionary tale for the U.S. military as it grows its reliance on

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DoD interested in smartphone-to-satellite communications services

By Sandra Erwin, Published by SpaceNews, 1 March 2023 The Commercial Services Communications Office is working on a solicitation for direct-to-device satellite communications services to be released later this year WASHINGTON — The technology race to connect cellphones to satellite networks has not gone unnoticed by the Defense Department. “That

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Space Force FY24 request likely to jump by billions, but lawmakers may balk: Analyst

By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 17 February 2023 While there's broad support on the Hill for space operations, long-time space budget guru Mike Tierney says language in recent policy and appropriations bills suggests lawmakers want Space Force and the Pentagon to "show their work." WASHINGTON — The Defense

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Pentagon working with Congress on unclassified space strategy

By Sandra Erwin, Published by SpaceNews, 15 February 2023 Congress directed DoD and the director of national intelligence to “make publicly available a strategy regarding defending and protecting on-orbit satellites” WASHINGTON — The Defense Department’s space policy office is drafting a congressionally mandated report explaining how the U.S. will defend

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Spurred by Ukraine war, 18 Western countries plan to share remote sensing data

By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 15 February 2023 "Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the importance of a persistent space surveillance capability," said the United Kingdom, as European nations (and Canada) band together. WASHINGTON — A group of 17 European nations, plus the US and Canada, today

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