U.S. Space Force

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aviation Week & Space Technology

By Jen DiMascio, Garrett Reim, Irene Klotz
Editors discuss the meaning of exponential smallsat growth, new technologies for flying satellites in formation and U.S. national security space needs.
Check 6

By Irene Klotz
The road to launch detoured back to the rocket factory for an upper-stage modification.
Space

By Brian Everstine
Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting is President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the four-year-old command.
Space

By Garrett Reim
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory space camera is inspired by a hunting dragonfly.
Space

By Irene Klotz
Two companies were previously expected to be selected in the Lane 2 designation of the upcoming NSSL Phase 3 competition.
Space

By Brian Everstine
There has been an ongoing debate between the services and commands on the Air Force’s plan, Brown said during his July 11 nomination hearing.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Garrett Reim
The FOO Fighter system is to demonstrate defense against advanced missiles.
Space

By Irene Klotz
The U.S. Space Force will require two missions prior to using the booster for national security space missions for the ULA Vulcan Centaur launcher.
Space

By Brian Everstine
This includes both rapid launch to reconstitute satellite architectures and on-orbit servicing.
Space

By Garrett Reim
For future surveillance satellites, the service seeks new thrusters and in-space refueling so it can “burn gas at will.”
Space

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Space Force has officially begun its search for a company to provide its future space range operations.
Space

By Irene Klotz
Ultimately, heritage hardware, not new technology, is the cause.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Space Force’s top planning division is starting to look at the next generation of precision navigation and timing capabilities from orbit.
Space

By Irene Klotz
United Launch Alliance and SpaceX will split the dozen launch contracts under the National Space Security Launch (NSS) Phase Two program.
Space

By Garrett Reim
The U.S. Space Force is working to sell a ground-based satellite communications jammer to multiple foreign nations.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Steve Trimble
The one-year design effort could, if successful, lead to a follow-on contract to build three sensors for the Space Systems Command's next tracking satelllites.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Space Force wants two additional deep-space tracking radars deployed.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Garrett Reim
The U.S. Space Force has granted Rhea Space Activity a contract to study resurrecting the NASA Spitzer space telescope 186 million mi. away from Earth.
Space

By Guy Norris
Hypersonic test developer Stratolaunch successfully completed a key separation test of its Talon vehicle from the Roc carrier aircraft May 13.
Space

By Steve Trimble
DARPA is looking for information from companies that already have radars in orbit or that will be operational by Dec. 31, 2024.
Space

By Garrett Reim
Small-satellite manufacturer has been teasing its capacity for more than a year.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Space Force wants industry feedback on its new approach to buying satellites for its space test experiments.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The Air Force’s future ground-moving target indication capability from space will be a scaled-up version of an existing NRO-designed constellation.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Jen DiMascio
Turkish trainer flies; a look at two U.S. Space Force programs; Rocket Lab’s hypersonic test and Biden picks new Army chief.
Budget, Policy & Operations