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Rocket Lab Joins U.S. Space Force's $981M NITE-STAR Program to Enhance Space Test and Training Infrastructure

Rocket Lab Joins U.S. Space Force's $981M NITE-STAR Program to Enhance Space Test and Training Infrastructure

Rocket Lab has been onboarded to the U.S. Space Force's NITE-STAR (NSTTC Innovative Technology & Engineering – Space Test and Range) IDIQ contract, which has a ceiling of $981 million. This program, managed by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command, aims to develop a distributed test and training architecture. The primary goal is to prepare space operators for contested scenarios and improve space warfighter readiness. Rocket Lab's inclusion in the NITE-STAR program allows it to compete for task orders, leveraging its expertise in satellite development, space software, space systems engineering, and mission operations. The program will focus on several key areas, including the development and integration of space-based systems, deployment of ground systems, creation of digital environments, and sustainment of operational systems. Rocket Lab's selection is based on its history of supporting U.S. government and defense initiatives, including missions for the Department of War, the National Reconnaissan...
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EU Awards Belgian Startup Aerospacelab Major Contract for Iris2 Satellite Constellation

EU Awards Belgian Startup Aerospacelab Major Contract for Iris2 Satellite Constellation

The European Union (EU) is advancing its Iris2 satellite constellation project, a competitor to U.S. systems like Starlink. In a surprising move, the EU Commission awarded a significant contract to Belgian startup Aerospacelab to build the majority of the satellites for the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) segment. Aerospacelab is set to contribute 264 of the total 368 LEO satellites, with the contract valued at a minimum of 1.8 billion Euros. This decision signals the EU's commitment to fostering new players in the space industry and enhancing its digital sovereignty. Aerospacelab is currently constructing a large satellite factory in Charleroi, aiming to produce up to 500 satellites annually starting in 2027. While established players like Airbus Defence and Space, which builds satellites for the OneWeb constellation, were not chosen for the main LEO contract, Airbus will still build 66 satellites for military communication within Iris2. Unlike Starlink, Iris2 will also include 18 satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (...
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Space Force Contracts Five Companies for Space Data Network Integration

Space Force Contracts Five Companies for Space Data Network Integration

The U.S. Space Force has awarded contracts to five companies to integrate their commercial satellite networks with its emerging Space Data Network (SDN). The companies, Amazon LEO for Government, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab, and York Space Systems, will participate in a two-step process. The initial phase involves fixed-price contracts, each valued at $10 million, over six to nine months, focusing on demonstrating ground-to-space and space-to-space data transport and interconnectivity with the SDN backbone. The second step, utilizing Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements worth $2 million each, aims to operationalize these connections in orbit by developing Space Exchange Point (SEP) satellites. These SEP birds are designed as orbital routers to enable seamless connectivity between disparate networks and government satellite systems, contributing to the Pentagon's Golden Dome missile defense initiative. The Space Systems Command (SSC) emphasized that the primary objective is to vali...
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SEOPS Expands Rideshare Missions on Falcon 9 Amid SpaceX Program Wind-Down Concerns

SEOPS Expands Rideshare Missions on Falcon 9 Amid SpaceX Program Wind-Down Concerns

SEOPS Expands Rideshare Missions on Falcon 9 Amid SpaceX Program Wind-Down Concerns
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Astroscale U.S. Executive Janna Lewis to Address On-Orbit Servicing and Space Infrastructure at Silicon Valley Space Week

Astroscale U.S. Executive Janna Lewis to Address On-Orbit Servicing and Space Infrastructure at Silicon Valley Space Week

Astroscale U.S. Executive Janna Lewis to Address On-Orbit Servicing and Space Infrastructure at Silicon Valley Space Week
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European Commission Monitors Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Amidst Calls for Standardized Reporting

European Commission Monitors Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Amidst Calls for Standardized Reporting

The European Commission has been discreetly monitoring Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) since at least 2023, according to a document from its defense department. This monitoring effort, revealed by Euronews, indicates a growing interest within the EU executive to investigate these phenomena, despite officially stating that UAPs spotted over Malaysia fall outside its jurisdiction. The Commission plans to propose to its 27 member states an initiative to enhance their ability to detect objects in Earth's space environment. This move is partly aimed at better identifying UAPs and space debris that pose risks to space utilization. The term UAP was introduced by the United States Department of Defense in August 2020 to replace 'UFO' and reduce associated stigma, broadening the scope of phenomena under investigation. Unlike the U.S., where UAP discussions are more open, the EU has largely maintained a limited and stigmatized approach to the topic, with France being the only EU country with a dedicated state-f...
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Mark Peller Appointed President and CEO of United Launch Alliance

Mark Peller Appointed President and CEO of United Launch Alliance

Mark Peller Appointed President and CEO of United Launch Alliance
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United Launch Alliance Appoints Mark Peller as New CEO Amidst Vulcan Rocket Challenges

United Launch Alliance Appoints Mark Peller as New CEO Amidst Vulcan Rocket Challenges

United Launch Alliance Appoints Mark Peller as New CEO Amidst Vulcan Rocket Challenges
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TTM Technologies to Acquire Epiq Solutions for $1.1 Billion, Expanding Defense and Commercial Offerings

TTM Technologies to Acquire Epiq Solutions for $1.1 Billion, Expanding Defense and Commercial Offerings

TTM Technologies to Acquire Epiq Solutions for $1.1 Billion, Expanding Defense and Commercial Offerings
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TTM Technologies to Acquire Epiq Solutions for $1.1 Billion, Expanding Defense and AI Capabilities

TTM Technologies to Acquire Epiq Solutions for $1.1 Billion, Expanding Defense and AI Capabilities

TTM Technologies to Acquire Epiq Solutions for $1.1 Billion, Expanding Defense and AI Capabilities
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United Launch Alliance Appoints Mark Peller as New President and CEO Amidst High Demand for Space Access

United Launch Alliance Appoints Mark Peller as New President and CEO Amidst High Demand for Space Access

United Launch Alliance Appoints Mark Peller as New President and CEO Amidst High Demand for Space Access
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SpaceX Launches Classified USSF-366 Military Mission from California

SpaceX Launches Classified USSF-366 Military Mission from California

SpaceX is conducting a classified military mission, designated USSF-366, launching a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Lompoc, California. The launch is scheduled for Saturday night, with a backup opportunity on Sunday. Details regarding the payload of the two-stage rocket are scarce due to its classified nature, though spaceflight outlets speculate it involves deploying military satellites into low-Earth orbit. Despite the secrecy surrounding the payload, SpaceX plans to livestream the launch approximately 10 minutes before liftoff. Following the deployment of the mysterious cargo into space, the 230-foot Falcon 9 booster will attempt a controlled landing on SpaceX's drone ship, 'Of Course I Still Love You,' stationed in the Pacific Ocean, enabling its recovery and reuse for future missions.