Air and Space Forces Magazine — The U.S. Space Force wants to emphasize small, low-cost systems and commercial capabilities in the next generation of Silent Barker surveillance satellites, drawing lessons from its work to replace the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness program.

Breaking Defense — The Space Force intends to go solo in developing a follow-on to the classified SILENTBARKER space surveillance constellation currently operated in tandem with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Space.com — Rocket Lab initially planned to launch the “Don’t Be Such a Square” mission in April 2026 but expedited it at the Space Force’s request, the company said. “With its ability to fly continuously with one face pointing at the Earth, the DiskSat can also have a very low drag, making them capable of very-low-altitude missions (less than 300 kilometers) such as those necessary for some Earth-observation missions,” said NASA.

Air and Space Forces Magazine — “Much like the Army has the Abrams tank and the Air Force has the Fighting Falcon, we needed a way to own the identity of our space systems as they enter the joint fight,” Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said. “These symbols conjure the character of the systems, the importance of their mission, and the identity of the Guardians who employ them.”

Aviation Week — The U.S. Air Force is moving quickly to award multiple competitive contracts for space-based moving target indication assets, first for ground moving target indication (GMTI) and then for air moving target indication (AMTI).

Space.com — An Electron rocket carrying four DiskSats lifted off from Rocket Lab’s pad on Wallops Island, Virginia on Thursday at 12:03 a.m. EST. The launch, which Rocket Lab called “Don’t Be Such a Square,” kicked off the Space Test Program (STP)-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command.

The WSJ — Deploying satellite constellations as data centers, proponents say, would allow the AI industry to avoid securing the immense amounts of power needed to train AI models on earth. There would be challenges, including managing temperatures for AI chips, protecting them from radiation, and keeping the satellites cost-effective.

SpaceNews — Speaking at the Spacepower conference, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink cautioned that China is “super innovative in how they’re operating, which puts even more pressure on us to innovate faster.” His comments align with repeated Pentagon assessments, which find that China is deploying reconnaissance constellations, maneuverable satellites and counterspace systems while expanding military-civilian industrial partnerships.

USSF — Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman outlined the Space Force’s progress and priorities during a keynote address at the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference. He cited the graduation of the first Officer Training Course class, expanded academic partnerships, space-specific enlisted development, and continued investment in civilian education.

Aviation Week — In a new report, the Consortium for Space Mobility and ISAM Capability (Cosmic) says the Pentagon needs more testbeds—along with immediate policy reforms and infrastructure investments—to fully exploit the capability.