Space

Laser weapons ‘finally’ seeing ‘real progress,’ Missile Defense Agency official says

Laser weapons ‘finally’ seeing ‘real progress,’ Missile Defense Agency official says
Laser weapons ‘finally’ seeing ‘real progress,’ Missile Defense Agency official says

“There have been some really impressive results,” said MDA Executive Director Laura DeSimone on recent directed energy tests.

EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms

EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms
EU embraces Biden administration’s limited ASAT test ban as UN meeting looms

The EU move, which comes in the run up to the final meeting of the UN working group to prevent space threats at the end of the month, brings the number of countries supporting the limited ASAT testing ban up to 35.

BAE Systems to acquire Ball Aerospace in $5.6 billion deal

BAE Systems to acquire Ball Aerospace in $5.6 billion deal
BAE Systems to acquire Ball Aerospace in $5.6 billion deal

If regulators approve the deal for the US-owned Ball, the deal could be closed in the first half of 2024.

IARPA hopes new sensors, AI analysis can track tiny but ‘mission-ending’ space debris

IARPA hopes new sensors, AI analysis can track tiny but ‘mission-ending’ space debris
IARPA hopes new sensors, AI analysis can track tiny but ‘mission-ending’ space debris

IARPA hopes to transition the results of its debris detection and tracking research to the Space Force, NASA and other Defense Department and intelligence agencies.

Italian team wins Space Force’s first on-orbit Hack-A-Sat contest

Italian team wins Space Force’s first on-orbit Hack-A-Sat contest
Italian team wins Space Force’s first on-orbit Hack-A-Sat contest

The five finalists in the Hack-A-Sat 4 contest competed in nine different challenges, seven of them involving hacking into the Moonlighter CubeSat built by The Aerospace Corporation and Space Systems Command as a on-orbit cybersecurity testbed.

Space on agenda for Biden’s trilateral summit with S. Korea, Japan

Space on agenda for Biden’s trilateral summit with S. Korea, Japan
Space on agenda for Biden’s trilateral summit with S. Korea, Japan

The Defense Department in particular has been keen to build up military space ties with its allies and partners in Asia in the face of China’s rapid buildup of its own space capabilities, including the development of technologies that could hold US and allied space assets at risk in a regional conflict.

Irregular warfare in space is an ongoing threat – and the US must adapt.

Irregular warfare in space is an ongoing threat – and the US must adapt.
Irregular warfare in space is an ongoing threat – and the US must adapt.

Among “gray zone” threats in space are cyberattacks against space services, attacking commercial space capabilities during conflict, and conducting proximity operations to potentially coerce others, writes Dr. John J. Klein in this analysis.

Missile Defense Agency’s first flight test for Aegis in Guam set for late ’24

Missile Defense Agency’s first flight test for Aegis in Guam set for late ’24
Missile Defense Agency’s first flight test for Aegis in Guam set for late ’24

MDA Acting Director Rear Adm. Doug Williams said that the agency’s plans include beginning tests of its Next-Generation Interceptor in 2027, “with the anticipation of operational testing of NGI at the end of 2029.”

Beyond ‘bullet on bullet’: NORTHCOM’s new defense plan looks to kill missiles before they launch

Beyond ‘bullet on bullet’: NORTHCOM’s new defense plan looks to kill missiles before they launch
Beyond ‘bullet on bullet’: NORTHCOM’s new defense plan looks to kill missiles before they launch

“The best missile strategy is to destroy the missiles prior to launch. A focus on missile defeat could enable distributed non-kinetic systems with larger magazines and the ability to engage missiles before they can deploy complex decoys, countermeasures, maneuvers or multiple reentry vehicles,” said Rear Adm. Sean Regan, NORTHCOM’s director of operations.

NOAA eases licensing restrictions on commercial remote sensing

NOAA eases licensing restrictions on commercial remote sensing
NOAA eases licensing restrictions on commercial remote sensing

The changes included, among other things, the removal some restrictions on non-Earth imaging and rapid revsits of ground targets, NOAA explained, “and most notably,” a removal of all of the restrictions imposed in 2020 on X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR).

China’s rapid space launch advantage, and how the US can try to counter it

China’s rapid space launch advantage, and how the US can try to counter it
China’s rapid space launch advantage, and how the US can try to counter it

China has now passed the United States in its tactically responsive space launch capabilities, according to a new report by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

Lockheed, Northrop say they’re on ‘accelerated’ schedules in race for Next-Gen Interceptor

Lockheed, Northrop say they’re on ‘accelerated’ schedules in race for Next-Gen Interceptor
Lockheed, Northrop say they’re on ‘accelerated’ schedules in race for Next-Gen Interceptor

MDA’s goal is to field the Next-Generation Interceptor to replace its current Ground-Based Interceptors by 2028.

Space Force intel focus: 50% on China; 25% on Russia

Space Force intel focus: 50% on China; 25% on Russia
Space Force intel focus: 50% on China; 25% on Russia

China’s “space weaponry” arsenal “includes missiles that launch from the Earth that go up and destroy satellites, it includes lasers, it includes jammers, it includes a whole magazine of diversity for that,” a top Space Force officer said.

Enhancing ‘lethality’: First Space Force ‘operations’ doctrine cements role within Joint Force

Enhancing ‘lethality’: First Space Force ‘operations’ doctrine cements role within Joint Force
Enhancing ‘lethality’: First Space Force ‘operations’ doctrine cements role within Joint Force

Space Doctrine Publication 3.0, crafted by STARCOM, provides baseline definitions for offensive, defensive, and “mobility and logistics” ops.