space tracking

The state of play in military space

The military space sector is evolving fast. Get the latest from Space Force and industry officials on what’s next for acquisition, policy and training in a new Breaking Defense eBook.

Space Force will not partner with NRO for next-generation surveillance satellites

Interested firms have until Jan. 9 to respond to a Space Force request for information about new wide-field-of-view cameras for a SILENTBARKER replacement constellation.

China, Russia experiment with stealthy satellites, Space Force official says

"Not only are [some Chinese satellites] difficult to visually acquire, that shape, they believe, would be incredibly beneficial in terms of masses of the radar cross section," Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch said.

Space Force cell explores reorg to push commercial data to military

The reorganization of the JCO will involve two elements: setting up processes for JCO to provide commercial space monitoring data directly to operators and establishing an acquisition pathway for that data.

Northrop Grumman says first DARC test validates radar tracking capability

DARC has been plagued with delays almost since its inception, according to a series of annual studies by the Government Accountability Office.

Russia’s new Cosmos satellite orbiting near US sat, piques ASAT fears

Based on its orbital pattern, independent astronomer Marco Langbroek said he suspected the new satellite is joining other Russian "sleeping interceptors."

Commerce initiates civil space tracking operations with ‘beta’ users

"Transitioning the spaceflight safety SSA responsibilities to DoC, a civil agency, will improve support to these users and allow DoD to focus its resources on core defense missions,” John Hill, DoD's senior space policy officer, said.

Commerce ‘on track’ for version 1.0 of space tracking system, using DoD data

In discussing the preliminary version of TraCSS, Richard DalBello, director of the Office of Space Commerce, revealed to Breaking Defense that he's stepping down at the end of the year.

Commerce extends commercial data contracts for space tracking system pilot

All five contractors — COMSPOC, Kayhan Space, LeoLabs, Slingshot Aerospace, and SpaceNav — received new orders, bringing total "spending over the course of the Consolidated Pathfinder to $15.5 million," according to an announcement by the Office of Space Commerce.

Commerce’s ‘Global Vision’ for tracking on orbit systems emphasizes international coordination

A global ecosystem that shares space situational awareness data can secure a safe future for space, but much greater international coordination is needed, according to a new document from the Office of Space Commerce.

‘Slow transition:’ Commerce may need 5+ years to take over DoD non-military space tracking

"It's not going to be like a 'boom' milestone delivery where one day there's nothing and the next day, there's a finished system," Richard DalBello, director of the Office of Space Commerce, said of the swap from DoD to Commerce.

To kill the kill chains: How Space Force could use AI to avoid ‘operational surprise’ on orbit

A new "white paper" from Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, obtained by Breaking Defense, stresses the foundational role of timely space domain awareness in ensuring that Space Force commanders are not caught flat-footed by adversaries.

Space Force sees potential value from DoC commercial sat tracking data

"I would imagine that as Department of Commerce continues to mature this concept, we will definitely want to take advantage of what they're doing," said Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein.

Second Russian Luch/Olymp satellite now trailing Western systems in orbit

While the new Russian satellite didn't get super close to any others, its behavior "could be considered unfriendly," said Slingshot's Audrey Schaffer, who until recently served as the director of space policy at the National Security Council.