Space News about Department of Defense

463 headlines. We show the headline and the publisher's own teaser; the full story is at the source.

L3Harris’ missile-tracking satellites will use a newly designed Maxar bus SpaceNews · 21 Sep 2022 Under a $700 million contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency, L3Harris will build 14 satellites using a new Maxar bus.
New tri-agency office to coordinate U.S. missile-defense space programs SpaceNews · 16 Sep 2022 The Space Systems Command, the Space Development Agency and the Missile Defense Agency have formed a new program office to coordinate disparate procurements of satellites to detect ballistic and hypersonic missiles.
Space Development Agency’s first launch slips due to supply chain setbacks SpaceNews · 14 Sep 2022 The first launch of the Space Development Agency’s low Earth orbit satellites that had been scheduled for late September is slipping to no earlier than mid-December.
Blue Canyon delivers first satellite bus for DARPA’s Blackjack constellation SpaceNews · 8 Sep 2022 Blue Canyon Technologies delivered the first of 10 satellite buses DARPA ordered in 2020 for its Blackjack experiment in low Earth orbit.
SpaceLink partners with Parsons for DARPA’s inter-satellite communications project SpaceNews · 22 Aug 2022 SpaceLink will work with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop protocols for how commercial communications constellations will connect with defense and military systems.
As DoD shifts to smaller satellites, rideshare questions emerge SpaceNews · 18 Aug 2022 Lawmakers in the 2023 NDAA recommended that the Space Force and Space Development Agency use a "common launch integrator" to manage rideshares
DARPA selects companies for inter-satellite laser communications project SpaceNews · 10 Aug 2022 Eleven organizations were selected by DARPA to help develop laser terminals and technical standards to connect satellites in space.
Maxar to supply 14 satellites for U.S. military missile-tracking constellation SpaceNews · 9 Aug 2022 Maxar Technologies announced Aug. 9 it was selected by L3Harris to manufacture 14 missile-detection satellites for the U.S. Space Development Agency.
Terran Orbital prioritizes work on SDA smallsats over PredaSAR SpaceNews · 9 Aug 2022 Small satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital reported increased revenues Aug. 9 as it ramps up work on satellites for the Space Development Agency, but is planning to sell stock as its cash reserves decline.
Space Development Agency to take another stab at space-to-aircraft laser communications SpaceNews · 5 Aug 2022 SDA is seeking proposals for a demonstration of laser communications between orbiting satellites and aircraft in flight
DoD signaling demand for satellite support services in geostationary orbit SpaceNews · 25 Jul 2022 The Defense Innovation Unit is funding space projects that the agency hopes will spur commercial investments in satellite refueling technologies and support services for geostationary satellites.
Millennium Space reveals results of DARPA’s ‘Red-Eye’ smallsat experiment SpaceNews · 20 Jul 2022 The DARPA-funded Red-Eye experiment demonstrated capabilities such as on-board data processing, inter-satellite communications and software-defined radios.
L3Harris, Northrop Grumman to build 28 missile-tracking satellites for U.S. Space Development Agency SpaceNews · 18 Jul 2022 The Space Development Agency awarded contracts to L3Harris Technologies and Northrop Grumman to each build 14 missile-tracking satellites.
Defense Innovation Unit selects contractors to build hybrid space network SpaceNews · 7 Jul 2022 Anduril, Aalyria, Atlas Space and Enveil won contracts for the Defense Innovation Unit's hybrid space architecture program
Northrop Grumman selects Airbus to supply satellite buses for U.S. military constellation SpaceNews · 5 Jul 2022 Airbus U.S. Space and Defense will produce 42 satellite buses for the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer Tranche 1
Northrop Grumman demonstrates Mynaric laser terminals for military constellation SpaceNews · 14 Jun 2022 Using Mynaric terminals,, Northrop Grumman conducted a ground demonstration of optical communications for the U.S. Space Development Agency's low Earth orbit constellation
Atlas wins Defense Innovation Unit Award for hybrid network SpaceNews · 13 Jun 2022 Atlas Space Operations announced a Defense Innovation Unit contract June 8 to demonstrate a hybrid network to link Defense Department, civil government and commercial satellites.
DoD space agency to acquire 10 satellites for experiments in low Earth orbit SpaceNews · 12 Jun 2022 The Space Development Agency is looking to acquire as many as 10 satellites to host military payloads for experiments in low Earth orbit.
General Dynamics wins ground systems contract for Space Development Agency’s megaconstellation SpaceNews · 26 May 2022 General Dynamics Mission Systems won a $324.5 million contract to operate the ground systems and manage network operations of the Space Development Agency’s low Earth orbit constellation.
Space Development Agency’s satellite contractors team up to deal with supply shortages SpaceNews · 17 May 2022 The Space Development Agency and its contractors have had to scramble to deal with parts shortages and other supply chain problems that have affected the entire space industry.
Military experiment demonstrates intersatellite laser communications in low Earth orbit SpaceNews · 17 May 2022 Two small satellites launched last summer by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency successfully established an optical link during a nearly 40-minute test.
DIU selects nuclear-powered spacecraft designs for 2027 demonstrations SpaceNews · 17 May 2022 The Defense Innovation Unit announced May 17 it selected Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. and Avalanche to develop small nuclear-powered spacecraft for in-space demonstrations planned for 2027.
DARPA moving forward with development of nuclear powered spacecraft SpaceNews · 4 May 2022 The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on May 4 issued a solicitation for proposals for the next phase of a demonstration of a nuclear powered spacecraft.
Iridium and General Dynamics submit joint bid for Space Development Agency contract SpaceNews · 23 Apr 2022 Communications satellite operator Iridum and General Dynamics Mission Systems submitted a joint bid to operate and manage the Space Development Agency’s low Earth orbit constellation.
US, India agree to cooperate on space situational awareness SpaceNews · 12 Apr 2022 The United States and India have agreed to cooperate on space situational awareness, a deal that the U.S. Department of Defense said would “lay the groundwork for more advanced cooperation in space.”
Space Development Agency to accelerate deployment of missile-tracking satellites SpaceNews · 10 Apr 2022 The U.S. Space Force is requesting an additional $200 million in fiscal year 2023 to launch satellites for the Space Development Agency’s missile-tracking constellation.
War in Ukraine underscores need for missile defense upgrade SpaceNews · 6 Apr 2022 The war in Ukraine is demonstrating the rapid pace of change in modern warfare and underscoring the need for the enhanced missile defense capabilities, said Derek Tournear, director of the Pentagon's Space Development Ag...
Satellite supplier with in-house production bid the lowest price for DoD constellation SpaceNews · 23 Mar 2022 Frank Turner, technical director of the Space Development Agency, said companies that manufacture their own satellites buses are bidding much lower prices than those that don't
Congress gives DoD more money for space, with caveats SpaceNews · 13 Mar 2022 Defense appropriators in the 2022 spending bill added nearly $1.3 billion for U.S. Space Force and Space Development Agency programs above what the Biden administration requested.
DoD space agency funds development of laser terminal that connects to multiple satellites at once SpaceNews · 10 Mar 2022 The Space Development Agency awarded BridgeComm and Space Micro a $1.7 million contract to demonstrate point-to-multipoint communications
With all-composite cryogenic tank, Boeing eyes mass-reducing space, aviation applications NASASpaceflight · 5 Mar 2022 After a series of DARPA-supported tests of an all-composite cryogenic propulsion tank, Boeing has succeeded in advancing the new reduced-mass tank technology to Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6).
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, York Space selected to build DoD’s internet-in-space constellation SpaceNews · 28 Feb 2022 The Space Development Agency announced Feb. 28 it awarded Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and York Space Systems contracts worth nearly $1.8 billion to produce 126 satellites for a global communications network in low...
Phase Four wins DARPA contract to test novel propellant SpaceNews · 16 Feb 2022 Phase Four won a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency contract to demonstrate the California startup’s radio frequency thruster technology with a new propellant.
SDA seeks commercial Earth-observation data SpaceNews · 10 Feb 2022 The Defense Department’s Space Development Agency is looking for ways to rapidly acquire Earth observation data.
Space Development Agency experiment demonstrates on-orbit data processing SpaceNews · 8 Feb 2022 A data processor launched to orbit by the Space Development Agency has performed an early demonstration of autonomous data fusion in space.
Space Development Agency, General Atomics eye options after setback in laser comms experiment SpaceNews · 6 Feb 2022 After a setback in a laser communications experiment launched last June, the Space Development Agency and satellite manufacturer General Atomics are considering next steps.
CACI ramping up production of optical terminals for low Earth orbit satellites SpaceNews · 30 Jan 2022 CACI will deliver 40 optical communications terminals for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Blackjack satellites in low Earth orbit.
Space and national security: What to expect in 2022 SpaceNews · 19 Jan 2022 The Space Force stands on firmer political ground but is coming under pressure to deliver new technologies to counter threats from Russia and China. The Space Development Agency is counting down to the launch of its firs...
Report: Nuclear propulsion would help military satellites maneuver out of harm’s way SpaceNews · 14 Jan 2022 Michael Leahy, director of DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office, said nuclear propulsion could give the U.S. military an advantage over enemies by making satellites more maneuverable and less vulnerable to attack.
Space Force on track to absorb Space Development Agency this fall SpaceNews · 12 Jan 2022 The Space Development Agency, created in 2019 as a separate entity under the Office of the Secretary of Defense, will be transferred to the U.S. Space Force in October, the agency’s director confirmed Jan. 12.

Launch and satellite data: Jonathan McDowell's GCAT (CC BY 4.0) and CelesTrak. Rockets, spacecraft and agencies: Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs and Wikidata. News headlines link to their publishers via the Spaceflight News API and RSS feeds. Records come from several sources and are matched automatically, so treat the directory as a research aid, not an authority. How the data is built and checked.

News: Department of Defense