SpaceNews – The U.S. Space Force’s Commercial Satellite Communications Office announced major initiatives for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, with the centerpiece being a nearly $900 million program focused on maneuverable satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO).
Aviation Week – In a paper published by Aerospace, Thomas Roberts writes that operations where spacecraft are constantly transferring between orbits would require “massive amounts of propellant.”
Robert Wall for Aviation Week – The U.K. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is funding a group of in-orbit servicing ventures, to help develop ground rules for planned British rendezvous and proximity operations.
Robert Wall for Aviation Week – Poland’s defense procurement agency is buying four microsatellites, as the country looks to build out its space-based reconnaissance capabilities.
Jason Rainbow for SpaceNews – Finland plans to draft a defense space strategy and a cross-government Finnish Space Situational Awareness Center, adding the Nordic country to the rapidly growing list of those focusing more on military needs.
Courtney Albon for DefenseNews – Space Operations Command approved Remote Modular Terminals for initial fielding. The RMT program is led by the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, a fast-moving acquisition team based at Kirtland Air Force Base.
Vivienne Machi for Aviation Week – The SDA plans to start launching 154 operational satellites in March, to build out the agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) for warfighters stationed around the globe.
Sandra Erwin for SpaceNews – The Pentagon wants to leverage commercial space technology to enhance military capabilities, even as officials work to address longstanding challenges in government-industry collaboration.
Theresa Hitchens for Breaking Defense – According to Dec. 2024’s National Cislunar Science and Technology Action Plan, DoD are tasked to “identify and prioritize research and development needed to support extension of U.S. space situational awareness capabilities into cislunar space.”
Featuring Aerospace’s Sam Wilson in the Washington Examiner – “The most important development in national security space is how the Department of Defense is transitioning from a small number of expensive, big satellites in high orbit to proliferating systems across the diversity of orbits.”
