Defense Systems

Hypersonic Missile-Tracking Satellites Greenlit For Development

The Space Development Agency awarded L3Harris and Northrop Grumman $1.3 billion in contracts to deliver prototypes that track quick-maneuvering hypersonic missiles in flight.

Science & Tech

Space Runs on Open Source Software. The US Air Force Is Fine With That

Commercial space players don’t have the same security concerns as the Pentagon, but that doesn’t mean they can’t share code.

Science & Tech

Five Space Lessons Russia’s Invasion Taught Ukraine

Kyiv now wants its own imagery and comms satellites—and a stealthy way to launch them, a former space agency head says.

Business

Air Force to Test 3D-Printed Rocket Motors

The maker, startup X-Bow Systems, recently accepted investment from Lockheed Martin.

Business

New Air Force Space Buyer Eyes Fixed-Price Contracts

Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary for Space Acquisition and Integration, said it's "not a bad approach for space things" and could help keep acquisitions on time.

Policy

Lack of Space National Guard Could Hurt Training, Recruiting

Guardsmen in space-related jobs have trouble getting into Space Force schools, leaders say.

Ideas

GEOINT 2022 Conference Wire: AI Grows Up

Tracking the growth of small artificial-intelligence programs, and more from Day 2.

Ideas

GEOINT 2022 Conference Wire: NGA's Takeover

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency will take control of a seminal AI effort, and more from Day 1.

Ideas

GEOINT 2022 Conference Wire: In the Spotlight

The Ukraine war has put space imagery and mapping at the center of discussion.

Threats

Space Force Trying to Prep Old Satellites for New Threats by 2026

Russia and China are developing new space weapons faster than the U.S. can field new constellations. That’s forcing a big rethink on how to keep the lights on in space.

Threats

DIA Warns China’s Space Tech Seeks to Block U.S. Radars, Jam Munitions

Beijing’s rapid acquisition of counter-space capabilities is most worrisome, says a new 80-page Defense Intelligence Agency report.

Ideas

Space Symposium 2022 Conference Wire: Tracking Hypersonics

Satellites that can spot maneuvering missiles were among the hot topics at the conference's Day 3.

Science & Tech

The Ukraine War Is Giving Commercial Space an ‘Internet Moment’

Improvements spurred by Russia’s invasion will help the industry long after the fighting ends.

Business

Space Symposium 2022 Conference Wire: Sky Eyes

The intelligence community is relying on commercial satellite imagery to keep tabs on Russia, and more from Day 2.