Breaking Defense — ULA Vulcan’s first National Security Space Launch (NSSL) carried an experimental satellite to demonstrate new technologies for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) into geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO).
Space Force to Absorb Air Guard Space Missions, Sidestepping Push for Space National Guard
SpaceNews — The Space Force will assume control of all space missions currently handled by Air National Guard units by Oct. 1, a consolidation move that bypasses years of lobbying for a separate Space National Guard.
Autonomy Improves Performance of Aerospace Cubesat Optical Links
SpaceNews — The Aerospace Corporation is refining technology to enable cubesats to share data through optical links, after demonstrating the capability early this year. Such a move would allow communication at greater distances and to work more autonomously.
First DiskSats to Take Flight in 2025
SpaceNews — The Aerospace Corporation is preparing to send the first DiskSats to orbit later this year, to demonstrate the performance and maneuverability of the small satellites.
From Space to Signal: Experts Outline the Stakes and Solutions for US PNT Resilience
Aerospace America — Aerospace’s Brian Weeden participated in a panel about the state of U.S. positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities and GPS. It brought together more than 80 Congressional staff, industry leaders, and stakeholders.
US Space Force Looks to Cloud for Command and Control of Counterspace Systems
Defense Daily — A new Space Electromagnetic Warfare Operating Location (SEWOL) effort aims to reduce the number of personnel required to jam adversary systems, according to U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s combat systems program office.
Navigating SmallSat Policy: Barbara Braun on Rideshares, Risk, and Regulations
On the SmallSat Revolution Podcast, Aerospace’s Barbara Braun discuss the complex policy landscape surrounding small satellite missions, as well as how Braun’s small satellite policy roadmap helps to guide today’s mission managers.
ULA’s Vulcan Centaur Launches First National Security Mission
SpaceNews — The launch of USSF-106 from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Aug. 12, marks Vulcan’s first flight for the National Security Space Launch program, and the Defense Department’s formal shift to flying national security payloads exclusively on rockets powered by U.S.-made engines.
Space Force Preps Infrastructure, Operators for Target-Tracking Mission
Defense News — Space Force is building out a command-and-control architecture and readying its operational units around the globe to support the new ground moving target indicator (GMTI) capability once it launches in 2028.
Space Force, IC Prep to Launch More Sats That Could Enable Future GMTI Missions
The Space Force and Intelligence Community are launching a batch of satellites within the next year that will help the service prepare for an operational ground moving target indication (GMTI) constellation.