Explore

NASA Launches Small Spacecraft to Advance Propulsion, Galactic Dust Study, and Satellite Inspection

NASA Launches Small Spacecraft to Advance Propulsion, Galactic Dust Study, and Satellite Inspection

Three NASA-supported small spacecraft were launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California as part of the Transporter-18 commercial rideshare mission. These missions aim to demonstrate new propulsion technologies, study galactic dust and high-energy radiation, and enhance capabilities for inspecting inactive satellites. The ASCENT Propulsion Dual Mode CubeSat will test two forms of propulsion using a low-toxicity propellant, Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic (ASCENT), which offers improved safety and efficiency. The Supernova Remnants and Proxies for ReIonization Testbed Experiment (SPRITE) CubeSat, developed by the University of Colorado Boulder, will detect a specific range of ultraviolet light to understand how gas, dust, and high-energy radiation move through galaxies. The Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability (SSPICY) mission, operated by Starfish Space, will inspect up to four inoperable U.S. satellites in low Earth orbit, utilizing new pr...

3 rocket launches, 13 hours. SpaceX eyes busy day across US

3 rocket launches, 13 hours. SpaceX eyes busy day across US

SpaceX, Elon Musk's rocket company, is planning three rocket launches in under 13 hours in Florida and California. Here's everything to know.

Pentagon Halts F-35 Deliveries Over Chinese-Sourced Samarium-Cobalt Alloy in Turbomachines

Pentagon Halts F-35 Deliveries Over Chinese-Sourced Samarium-Cobalt Alloy in Turbomachines

The Pentagon temporarily stopped accepting deliveries of F-35 fighter jets in September 2022 after discovering that a magnet within a Honeywell-built turbomachine used a cobalt-samarium alloy manufactured in China. This finding represented a potential violation of defense sourcing regulations. Although officials determined there was no threat to the aircraft's safety or security, deliveries remained suspended until Under Secretary of Defense William LaPlante issued a national security waiver in October. Subsequently, contractors were required to switch suppliers for the alloy. Lockheed Martin indicated that the alloy originated from a fifth-tier supplier, highlighting the complexities of tracing material origins deep within the supply chain. This incident underscores the vulnerability of the U.S. defense industrial base to foreign-sourced critical materials, particularly rare earth elements like samarium, which are essential for high-performance magnets used in advanced military technology.

Ventura County Star, Camarillo

SpaceX plans Falcon 9 rocket launch in California. Track today's liftoff

SpaceX plans Falcon 9 rocket launch in California. Track today's liftoff

SpaceX plans to launch its Falcon 9 rocket today from the Vandenberg Space Force Base on a rideshare mission. Here's how you can track liftoff.

4 astronauts due to head to space station. What to know about Crew-13

4 astronauts due to head to space station. What to know about Crew-13

A joint NASA and SpaceX mission will send four more astronauts to the International Space Station this week. Everything to know about Crew-13.

Smart Shooter Secures $150 Million Counter-UAS Contract from JIATF-401 for Force Protection

Smart Shooter Secures $150 Million Counter-UAS Contract from JIATF-401 for Force Protection

Smart Shooter, a fire control systems company, has been awarded a single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401). The contract has a maximum ordering ceiling of up to $150 million and is for Smart Shooter's SMASH counter-drone technology. This 36-month firm-fixed-price agreement, with an estimated completion date of September 27, 2029, designates Smart Shooter as the exclusive provider of SMASH fire control systems, training, and associated services. The contract covers hardware, software, updates, training, and support, with specific deliveries to be determined by individual orders. The award supports JIATF-401’s Domestic Shield Program and related global operational missions, addressing force protection, base defense, and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) needs both within the U.S. and overseas. JIATF-401 is responsible for coordinating C-UAS activities across U.S. armed forces and federal agencies.

Northrop Grumman Delivers 21 Satellites to Vandenberg Space Force Base for Advanced Military Communications

Northrop Grumman Delivers 21 Satellites to Vandenberg Space Force Base for Advanced Military Communications

Northrop Grumman has delivered 21 satellites to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a significant advancement for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). These satellites are part of the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) and are designed to provide secure and resilient communications for military personnel, as well as data transport for the PWSA Tracking Layer. Over the next six months, additional Northrop Grumman-built satellites for the PWSA are scheduled for launch into low Earth orbit (LEO). The PWSA aims to create a constellation of satellites capable of detecting and tracking missiles and transmitting data globally with minimal delay. Northrop Grumman emphasizes its role as a systems engineering center of excellence, integrating these satellites into the warfighter architecture to defend and protect the nation and its allies. The company is leveraging its experience in building highly capable systems to produce resilient, proliferated arch...

How to watch as Crew-13 launches today on fastest US trip to ISS ever

How to watch as Crew-13 launches today on fastest US trip to ISS ever

Here's how you can watch live as four astronauts selected for the Crew-13 mission launch atop a SpaceX rocket for the International Space Station.

Arizona Republic

SpaceX plans large West Coast rideshare mission with 130 payloads

SpaceX plans large West Coast rideshare mission with 130 payloads

The first day of October could also see the first rocket launch of the month from Vandenberg. Here's what Arizonans need to know about liftoff.

Ventura County Star, Camarillo

SpaceX to transport 130 payloads to orbit in next Vandenberg launch

SpaceX to transport 130 payloads to orbit in next Vandenberg launch

The first day of October could also see the first rocket launch of the month in California. Here's where you can watch liftoff from Vandenberg.

Space Force Seeks Commercial Antennas for Satellite Control and Receives New Satellites for Warfighter Architecture

Space Force Seeks Commercial Antennas for Satellite Control and Receives New Satellites for Warfighter Architecture

The U.S. Space Force is actively pursuing commercial antenna solutions to enhance its satellite control capabilities. This initiative is part of a broader effort to restructure its Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource (SCAR) ground antenna network. The Space Force has issued solicitations for commercial proposals, indicating a strategic shift towards leveraging private sector technology and infrastructure. Concurrently, Northrop Grumman has delivered 21 satellites to Vandenberg Space Force Base. These satellites are designated for the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a critical program aimed at establishing resilient, low-latency communication networks essential for military operations. This delivery signifies a tangible step in the ongoing development of advanced space-based communication systems for national security.

Ventura County Star, Camarillo

SpaceX eyes 1 rocket launch this week in California. Here's when

SpaceX eyes 1 rocket launch this week in California. Here's when

The first California rocket launch of October is coming up. Here's when SpaceX is eyeing liftoff, and what the mission is.