Northrop Grumman to conceptualize Moon trains for DARPA

Northrop Grumman to conceptualize Moon trains for DARPA
Northrop Grumman to conceptualize Moon trains for DARPA

“The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface,” according to Northrop Grumman’s announcement.

Space Force needs more money, people to secure cislunar space: Mitchell Institute

Space Force needs more money, people to secure cislunar space: Mitchell Institute
Space Force needs more money, people to secure cislunar space: Mitchell Institute

The Mitchell Institute is advocating that from now on Congress bolster the Space Force’s budget by “about $250M a year” and “increase end strength by approximately 200 personnel for the new responsibilities associated with emerging national interests on the moon and the cislunar region.”

Turning 4, the Space Force’s favorite word is ‘more’: 2024 Preview

Turning 4, the Space Force’s favorite word is ‘more’: 2024 Preview
Turning 4, the Space Force’s favorite word is ‘more’: 2024 Preview

“And so I think, as you see new missions come on, you can presume that that means more Guardians to perform those missions, and we’ll have to adjust the strength going up,” said CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman.

DARPA picks 14 vendors for lunar economy-building study

DARPA picks 14 vendors for lunar economy-building study
DARPA picks 14 vendors for lunar economy-building study

Technologies being explored include “lunar power; mining and commercial in-situ resource utilization; communications, navigation, and timing; transit, mobility, and logistics; and construction and robotics,” according to DARPA.

EXCLUSIVE: New Joint Force space doctrine clarifies Space Command’s ‘offensive’, ‘defensive’ ops

EXCLUSIVE: New Joint Force space doctrine clarifies Space Command’s ‘offensive’, ‘defensive’ ops
EXCLUSIVE: New Joint Force space doctrine clarifies Space Command’s ‘offensive’, ‘defensive’ ops

The new version of Joint Publication 3-14 explains that “offensive and defensive space operations” are supported primarily by “direct capabilities” — that is, “fires that impact an adversary.”

AFRL picks 3 contractors for JETSON effort to develop fission powered spacecraft

AFRL picks 3 contractors for JETSON effort to develop fission powered spacecraft
AFRL picks 3 contractors for JETSON effort to develop fission powered spacecraft

The Space Force sees nuclear fission reactors as a solution to replace solar panels for operations in the darkness of deep space.

AUKUS security pact should expand to include space monitoring: MITRE

AUKUS security pact should expand to include space monitoring: MITRE
AUKUS security pact should expand to include space monitoring: MITRE

“Each nation possesses unique advantages, technological capacities, and strategic geographic positions that, when combined, have the potential to significantly advance humanity’s understanding of what’s going on in space,” the paper says.

With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails

With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails
With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails

“More than 100 lunar missions are planned for this decade alone, including many that are commercial,” said Jessica West, of Canada’s Project Ploughshares.

From Polaris to pulsars: Navy eyes celestial navigation as GPS alternative

From Polaris to pulsars: Navy eyes celestial navigation as GPS alternative
From Polaris to pulsars: Navy eyes celestial navigation as GPS alternative

Pulsar-based PNT could be used in cislunar space — where the Space Force already is eyeing future operations — or farther out into the solar system where GPS signals do not reach, explained Paul Ray, NRL’s head of high energy astrophysics and applications.

NGA emphasizing space GEOINT mission, developing lunar model for operators: Director

NGA emphasizing space GEOINT mission, developing lunar model for operators: Director
NGA emphasizing space GEOINT mission, developing lunar model for operators: Director

“And make no mistake, distinguishing friendly from unfriendly behavior and space has become particularly important to us,” NGA Director Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth told the GEOINT 2023 conference today.

At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview

At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview
At home and internationally, ‘governance’ is the space watchword: 2023 Preview

There are a host of open questions bedeviling national and international policy- and law-makers as they struggle to get a better grip on both the explosion of commercial players with innovative ideas for space utilization and the growing military interest in space as a tool of, and venue for, war.

US, allies mull paths for engaging China to ward off conflict over space exploration

US, allies mull paths for engaging China to ward off conflict over space exploration
US, allies mull paths for engaging China to ward off conflict over space exploration

“I’m a Star Trek fan, so I’m optimistic,” said former NASA official Mike Gold about the Artemis Accords facilitating space cooperation for terrestrial rivals.

Oracle’s vision: Understanding cislunar satellite images poses AFRL’s ‘biggest’ challenge

Oracle’s vision: Understanding cislunar satellite images poses AFRL’s ‘biggest’ challenge
Oracle’s vision: Understanding cislunar satellite images poses AFRL’s ‘biggest’ challenge

Oracle has to be able not just to detect space objects, but also discriminate targets of interest from what is currently an unfamiliar background for space imagery analysts filled with myriad stars and a growing number of spacecraft, AFRL’s Lt. Col. David Johnson explained.

‘Critically important’: New White House strategy for cislunar research echoes Space Force

‘Critically important’: New White House strategy for cislunar research echoes Space Force
‘Critically important’: New White House strategy for cislunar research echoes Space Force

The new strategy represents a first US effort to build a whole-of-government strategy for “advancing scientific, exploration, and economic development activities” in cislunar space.