Air and Space Forces — At AFA’s Air, Space, and Cyber Conference, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman highlighted several ongoing initiatives, including deepening connections between operational units and acquisition teams, scouring procurement plans to find ways to integrate commercial capabilities, and investing in its military and civilian workforce.
The Hill — The U.S. Space Force announced that SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have been given contracts for high-priority national security missions budgeted in fiscal year 2026.
Air and Space Forces — Muon Space, a California-based manufacturer of small satellites, was awarded a $44.6 million contract for in-orbit demonstrations of the company’s environmental monitoring technology in support of military applications.
Air and Space Forces — In an Oct. 8 notice to industry, the service said it plans to start a competition in January for the effort, dubbed Maneuverable GEO. The intent is to create a pool of contractors the service can tap, when needed, to supplement military capabilities.
Aviation Week — NASA is aiming to land two astronauts near the lunar south pole in late 2027. That mission—the third in the Artemis program—would follow the Artemis II crewed flight test around the Moon, which is slated to launch by April.
Aviation Week — Initially dismissed by the space industry, Cubesats have made space engineering and science accessible to a wide range of players through partnerships among commercial space companies, universities, and NASA.
KTLA — The Oct. 3 Starlink mission broke Vandenberg’s previous record of 51 launches in 2024. The base is scheduled to host more than 70 launches for all of 2025.
Breaking Defense — The seven NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches carry high-value, must-go payloads or those headed to orbits that are more difficult to achieve.
Ars Technica — A new listing of the 50 most concerning pieces of space debris in low-Earth orbit is dominated by relics more than a quarter-century old — primarily dead rockets left to hurtle through space at the end of their missions.
Breaking Defense — SpaceX was assigned seven NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches under a contract worth $714 million; ULA two launches worth $428 million.
