Space Force missile-tracking “Foo Fighter” satellites clear design milestone

Illustration of missile-tracking sensor satellites. Credit: L3Harris Technologies By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 7 April 2025 COLORADO SPRINGS — Eight satellites designed by Millennium Space Systems with sensor payloads from L3Harris Technologies have cleared a key design review, paving the way for production and a planned late 2027

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Space-Based Laser Links Are Taking Center Stage

The Pentagon is basing its future space-based architecture on optical communications technology. Credit: Steven Puetzer/Getty Images By Vivienne Machi, Published by Aviation Week, 25 March 2025 Today’s satellites collect more data than can be efficiently transmitted via traditional radio-frequency methods. As governments and companies build constellations with hundreds or even

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Top Pentagon contractors poised for gains as Trump pushes missile shield expansion

Northrop Grumman's low-Earth orbit constellation of satellites detecting missile launches by an unidentified adversary. Northrop Grumman illustration By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 3 February 2025 The proposed “Iron Dome for America” system is heavily reliant on space-based sensors and potentially controversial space-based interceptors WASHINGTON — The nation’s top

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Image credit: Space Development Agency

Trump’s ‘Iron Dome for America’ plan directs space-based missile shield

Image credit: Space Development Agency By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 28 January, 2025 The order sets a bold agenda to address emerging threats, including hypersonic missiles, through advanced technological solutions, including space-based interceptors. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Jan. 27 that calls for the

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Kratos to develop ground system for U.S. missile defense satellites

Rendering of the SDA Foo Fighter constellation. Credit: Millennium Space Systems By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 13 November 2024 The Space Development Agency awarded Kratos a $116.7 million contract to build ground system for missile defense operations WASHINGTON — The technology company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has

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Space Force Prepares to Spend Billions More on Its Multibillion-Dollar Missile Defense System

Tranche 1 Transport Layer Cellular Network will begin launching in 2024/5. (Northrop Grumman) By Rich Smith, Published by The Motley Fool, 20 October 2024 Key Points Space Force initiated a new missile defense satellite project in 2021 called the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture program. More than half a dozen companies

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Military-commercial space divide persists despite policy push, experts say

Image: Jumpstudio By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 26 August 2024 Pentagon initiatives to integrate innovations from the commercial space sector remain a topic of heated debate WASHINGTON — Despite numerous policies and studies advocating for greater integration of private sector innovations, the gap between rhetoric and action remains

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Space Force Cancels 3 Satellites Planned for MEO

Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared missile warning/tracking constellation (Raytheon Intelligence & Space illustration) By Greg Hadley,Published by Air and Space Forces, 17 June 2024 The Space Force dropped RTX, the company formerly called Raytheon, from “Epoch 1” of its planned missile warning/missile tracking satellites in medium-Earth orbit June 17. Space

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