China’s new satellite-hunting radar aims to blind US

China’s SLC-18 satellite tracking radar. Photo: China Daily By Gabriel Honrada, Published by Asia Times, 14 November 2022 Newly-unveiled SLC-18 radar seeks to blunt US space-based intel advantage and could soon be exported to America’s adversaries China’s new electronically scanned array radar aims to blunt the military advantages long provided

Read More

SpaceLink to wind down operations, barring last-minute investment

Rendering of SpaceLink's data relay network in space. Credit: SpaceLink By Debra Werner, Published by SpaceNews, 31 October 2022 SAN FRANCISCO – Barring last-minute offers from potential buyers or investors, SpaceLink, a startup developing a space-relay constellation, will wind down its operations. Australia’s Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd., SpaceLink’s parent

Read More

Orbit of Babel: SDA developing ‘translators’ to get data from ISR sats to warfighters

The Space Development Agency will begin launching its Tranche 1 Transport Layer communications mesh network in 2024. (Image: Northrop Grumman) By Theresa Hitchen, Published by Breaking Defense, 26 October 2022 "Translator" payloads are necessary because many of today's commercial remote sensing providers do not, and will not, have the ability

Read More

National Space Council to ask industry for input on new space rules

Active debris removal is among the novel missions for which the National Space Council intends to set rules. (European Space Agency) By Theresa Hitchens,Published by Breaking Defense, 30 September 2022 The new rules framework is due to Vice President Kamala Harris by March 7, said National Space Council Director of

Read More

The West is testing out a lot of shiny new military tech in Ukraine

A drone operator launches a quadcopter to monitor the operation of an evacuation robot during its field testing on September 9, 2022, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images By Jonathan Guyer, Published by Vox, 21 September 2022 How satellites, drones, and AI helped Ukraine’s counter-offensive. As Ukraine

Read More

GAO: Defense, intelligence agencies need a better plan to buy commercial satellite imagery

By Sandra Erwin, Published by SpaceNews, 7 September 2022 GAO director Brian Mazanec: 'Commercial satellite capabilities are increasingly going to be indispensable to the national security enterprise' WASHINGTON — Despite a growing demand for satellite imagery, U.S. defense and intelligence agencies are not taking advantage of available commercial technology due

Read More

Report: Industry has to face reality that commercial satellites will be targets in war

By Sandra Erwin, Published by SpaceNews, 23 August 2022 Aerospace study: 'In crises and conflicts, commercial space actors risk getting caught in the middle of a tense and escalatory environment' WASHINGTON — Experts have labeled the Ukraine conflict the first commercial space war due to the extensive use of private-sector

Read More

Space Force should heed Ukraine lessons as it revamps structure: CSO nominee Saltzman

By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 13 September 2022 U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, provides an update on force generation to senior leaders at Headquarters, Space Operations Command on April 26, 2022. (U.S. Space Force photo

Read More