The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency started the Blackjack program in 2018 to demonstrate the utility of small satellites in low Earth orbit for military operations. Credit: DARPA

Parsons to develop ground operations center for DARPA’s Blackjack satellites

By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 11 December 2021 Parsons won a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 award for a 'Blackjack Prototype Ground Operations Center' WASHINGTON — The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Parsons a $10.8 million contract to prototype a ground operations center for the agency’s

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Kepler Communications Inc

Welcome to the space jam: Canadian startup Kepler stirs debate with huge planned fleet of internet satellites

By Sean Silcoff, Published by The Globa and Mail, 10 December 2021 The Canadian company is jockeying with SpaceX, Amazon and Telesat for room in orbit for tens of thousands of new machines. Critics say the space race could come at a cost on Earth A Canadian space startup has

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ULA’s Atlas V 511 prior to launching the Space Test Program-3 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (ULA)

Space Force launches experimental sats to detect nukes, test laser communications

By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 8 December 2021 WASHINGTON: Space Force today launched two experimental satellites carrying payloads designed to detect nuclear explosions, keep tabs on space objects, monitor the weather and experiment with laser communications, in addition to some other classified capabilities. The mission, dubbed Space Test

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ESA head says Europe needs to stop facilitating Elon Musk’s ambitions in space

By E&T editorial staff, Published by E&T Engineering and Technology, 6 December 2021 The new head of the European Space Agency (ESA) has urged European leaders to intervene and co-ordinate to prevent SpaceX CEO Elon Musk making the space economy his personal playground. ESA director-general Josef Aschbacher expressed his views

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Russia ASAT Test: UK Space Agency response and analysis of the debris

By Athene Gadsby, Published by UK Space Agency, 24 November 2021 On 15 November 2021, the UK’s Space Operations Centre (UKSpOC) based at High Wycombe started monitoring the fragmentation of COSMOS1408 – an inactive, two tonne Russian satellite which had been struck by a Russian anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test. Fragmentation events are the break-up or explosion of objects in

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