‘Sparring in space’ – BBC gains rare access to US base tracking global missile strikes

Space Force operators monitor missile-warning satellite data at the Overhead Persistent Infrared Battlespace Awareness Center at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. Credit: Space Systems Command By Jonathan Beale, Published by the BBC, 16 July 2025 There's a short sharp shout: "Launch Yemen!" The men and women in uniform sitting in

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Space Force Boosting an Ecosystem of GPS Alternatives in Low-Earth Orbit

Rendering of an Iridium satellite in low Earth orbit. Courtesy Iridium. By Shaun Waterman, Published by Air and Space Forces, 1 July 2025 The Space Force is playing midwife to a new ecosystem of commercial satellite constellations providing alternatives to the service’s own Global Positioning Service from much closer to

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First Missile Warning Satellite Launch to MEO Slips, But More to Come

The Pentagon is basing its future space-based architecture on optical communications technology. By Greg Hadley, Published by Air and Space Forces, 1 July 2025 The Space Force’s first planned satellite launch to begin a new missile warning constellation in medium-Earth orbit has slipped from late 2026 to spring 2027 as

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Space Force is contracting with SpaceX for new, secretive MILNET SATCOM network

SpaceX's Starlink system By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 18 June 2025 The MILNET contract with SpaceX is being paid for by the Space Force but managed by the National Reconnaissance Office, sources said. WASHINGTON — The Space Force in contracting with SpaceX for a new government-owned, contractor-operated satellite

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Satellites are polluting Earth’s atmosphere with heavy metals. Could refueling them in orbit help?

An illustration of the Arkisys in-orbit servicing Port module, which could help increase the lifespan of satellites, thus reducing the amount of new orbital debris. (Image credit: Arkisys inc.) By Tereza Pultarova, Published by Space.com, 3 June 2025 "Everything we have ever designed to go into space has been one mission, one

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U.S. Space Force awards BAE Systems $1.2 billion contract for missile-tracking satellites

Rendering of the Resilient Missile Warning Tracking (MWT) architecture in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). Credit: BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 2 June 2025 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded BAE Systems a $1.2 billion contract for 10 missile-tracking satellites for a

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US loosens some rules for offensive counterspace ops, wargaming

[Image source: eurasiantimes.com] By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 12 May 2025 Some decision-making authorities, previously closely held by the president or secretary of defense, have been delegated to US SPACECOM, according to sources, but military space leaders want more freedom to act. WASHINGTON — When the Space Force

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