Signals & Space Monthly Briefing

January 2022

Prepared by the CyberWire (Monday, January 3, 2022) At a glance. Planetary protection and the near approach of 4660 Nereus. Orbital situational awareness: debris. Orbital situational awareness: satellite constellations. Space conflict and the laws of armed conflict. Space industry notes. Space acquisition. Space Force notes. Some of this month's more interesting stories represent continuations of news that emerged last month (and a lot of them have to do with space situational awareness). Planetary protection: hail and farewell, 4660 Nereus. We heard last month that, on October 24th, Asteroid 2021 UA1 made a close pass to earth, coming within 3000 kilometers of the planet. There was no danger, but the way the asteroid escaped detection until after its closest approach (it approached from sunward, and the glare prevented optical tracking) excited comment and promptedspeculation that there must be a better way of finding and following potential planet killers. Early in December there was another near approach by a sizable asteroid, Space.comreports.4660 Nereus, a 330 meter-long body cruising at 23,700 kilometers per hour, crossed the Earth's orbit on December 11th. The approach wasn't close, by any lay standard, but it fell well within NASA's standards of potential hazard: "NASA flags any space object that comes within 120 million miles (193 million kilometers) of Earth as a 'near-Earth object' and any fast-moving object within 4.65 million miles (7.5 million km) as 'potentially hazardous.' Once flagged, astronomers closely monitor the objects, looking for any deviation from their predicted trajectory that could put them on a collision course with Earth."  The approach of 4660 Nereus lends more interest to NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon on November 23rd. DART will in October intercept the binary near-Earth asteroid 65803 Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos. The effect, if any, DART has on Dimorphos's orbit will be observed by a follow-on European Space Agency mission ("Hera") that will fly aboard an Ariane 6 in 2024. Orbital situational awareness: debris as an ordinary byproduct of space activity. In November the International Space Station's (ISS) orbit took it close to the debris cloud produced during a Russian test of a ground-based anti-satellite system. On November 15th a ground-based A-235/PL-19 Nudol interceptor launched from Plesetsk destroyed the defunct intelligence satellite Kosmos-1408. About 1500 pieces of debris, many of them large enough to cause concern, were produced in the test. The debris field was close enough to the ISS's orbit to cause the crew to shelter in their Soyuz and Crew Dragon capsules until the danger passed. Air Force Magazine ran anaccount of the communications between a US astronaut and mission controllers at NASA. The Russian test of a kinetic anti-satellite system drew widespread odium from other spacefaring powers as the irresponsible creation of an unnecessary hazard to vehicles in low-Earth orbit (as well as representing an unwelcome and potentially destabilizing escalation of military conflict in space). Early last month, on December 3rd, the ISS dodged other debris, this one having nothing to do with an ASAT test. A three-minute burn moved the ISS away from the orbit of the remains of a Pegasus upper stage that broke up in 1996, two years after launch, Space.comreports. Orbital situational awareness: satellite constellations. In any case, low-Earth orbit is growing increasingly crowded with commercial constellations, and these two can present a risk of collision. The APreports that China has complained to the US about SpaceX's Starlink satellites, which, Beijing reports, approached the orbit of its Tiangong space station closely enough on July 1st and October 21st to require evasive maneuvers. China called upon the US to “take immediate measures to prevent such incidents from happening again,” a Chinese government spokesman said. Space conflict, deterrence, denial, and the laws of war in near-Earth orbit. One of the reasons Russia conducted its ASAT test in November may have been a desire to steal a march on the competition, conducting effective tests of an operational system in advance of any effective international agreements that might limit test and development of kinetic anti-satellite systems. Anessay in Foreign Policy argues that Moscow sees a dual advantage in the test: direct RDT&E on the one hand, diplomatic leverage on the other. US Vice President Harris, who holds the traditional leading space-policy position US vice presidents occupy, called the Russian test "irresponsible," Insurance Journalreports, and called for the development of international norms that would limit such tests. The Washington Postnotes that rising tension between Russia and the US are now beginning to affect areas in which the two countries had formerly cooperated, notably in the operation of the International Space Station. The Russian test also arguably served a deterrent purpose, showing that Russia, in principle at least, can hold other nations' spacecraft at risk. Space Newssays that the test represents a challenge to the US Space Force, which will have to develop more robust satellite architectures to counter such threats. Space Flag, a Space Force exercise, isrunning simulations of kinetic and other threats to satellites that will enable it to test an array of responses that will, it's hoped, lead to more resilient US capabilities. Since not all threats to satellites are kinetic, Space Force has announced plans to put a dedicated cybersecurity testing satellite into orbit in 2023, Via Satellitereports. Project Moonlighter, as the test system is called, is an outgrowth of the Air Force's Hack-a-Sat program, and is expected to lead to the design of more cybersecure space systems. Such resilience is intended to become a cornerstone of US space policy as expressed in theSpace Priorities Framework, along with enhanced ability to "detect and attribute hostile acts" on orbit. Air Force Magazinedescribes the ways in which Space Force intends to organize both exercises and personnel rotations to serve not only individual and collective training, but also the development of doctrine, systems, technologies, techniques, and procedures that will help ensure that US space systems achieve as much resilience as possible. Addressing the National Space Council, US National Security Advisor Sullivan said,according to Breaking Defense, “Over the past few years, the international community — through work at the United Nations and elsewhere — has made progress in developing norms to strengthen the safety and sustainability of space activities. But frankly, we’ve fallen short in addressing the risks of inadvertent conflict arising from growing national security activities in space." Vice President Harris, in her address to the Council, didn't confine her objections to activities that create debris fields, but called for restrictions on anti-satellite testing generally. Whether an attack on a satellite should be considered a casus belli remains, Defense Oneobserves, an open and unresolved question. Breaking Defensesees an opportunity for the US to use the adverse reaction to the Russian test as a means of leading international opinion in the direction of an arms limitation agreement that might inhibit the development of space weapons. The inherently indiscriminate nature of debris fields, making as they do no distinction between friend and foe, civilian infrastructure and military system, may, the Breaking Defense essay suggests, offer an opportunity to organize world opinion in favor of the limitation of kinetic ASAT systems. Space industry notes. We've entered a period in which human spaceflight is sufficiently advanced (and sufficiently privatized) to accommodate non-professional crew members. Mr. Michael Strahan (former New York Giants football great) has joined Mr. William Shatner (the original Captain Kirk himself) as a celebrity astronaut who's ridden along in a Blue Origin suborbital flight (see the Washington Post'saccount of the December trip). On December 11th Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa used his seat on a Soyuz run to the International Space Station to deliver UberEats to the crew. The APsays that Mr. Maezawa is a self-described "delivery superfan," and that he ubered the ISS astronauts and cosmonauts "boiled mackerel in miso, beef bowl cooked in sweet sauce, simmered chicken with bamboo shoots, and braised pork." That indeed is superfandom above and beyond the call of enthusiasm. “One small handoff for Yusaku Maezawa, one giant delivery for UberEats!” the AP quoted Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi as saying. “We’re over the moon to have helped make our first successful delivery to space. Our goal is to help people go anywhere and get anything, so we’re proud to serve the astronauts at the International Space Station. Yusaku Maezawa gets a thumbs up on this delivery, even though it took a bit longer than the usual 30 minutes to arrive.” There's also a long-standing rivalry between SpaceX founder Elon Musk and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos: Insiderrecounts their history, and Mr. Musk's record of trolling Mr. Bezos. Acommentary in Now sees this kind of rivalry as something we haven't seen since July of 1969, when US-Soviet space competition effectively ended its easily understood race-to-the-moon phase when Apollo XI returned from the Sea of Tranquility: a head-to-head space race with clear finish lines and an obvious set of competitors. This time around, however, the competitors are commercial enterprises. Such rivalry is, Via Satelliteargues, only one feature of the New Space Economy: "The original space industry was centralized, national, and bureaucratic. It was essentially limited to state-run programs with limited numbers of public-private partnerships. The New Space economy is global, entrepreneurial, and accessible. It is increasingly diversified and expanding with private players across a variety of sub-sectors. The global space economy was valued at about $447 billion in 2020, 55% higher than a decade ago, according to The Space Report 2021 Q2. This is truly astronomical growth and made possible because the new space economy is finally connecting to the larger economy." And that New Space Economy is one the Department of Defense is eager to take advantage of. Space Newsdescribes some of the ways in which the US Department of Defense is seeking to form enduring relationships with commercial space companies. Space acquisition notes. US President Biden has nominated Frank Calvelli as assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition. In that post, Space Newsreports, he'll oversee Space Force acquisition. Calvelli is a thirty-year veteran of the National Reconnaissance Office. After leaving Government service, he worked at Booz Allen Hamilton. The principal challenge he'll face is a perennial one: transitioning the results of research, development, test, and acquisition to fielded systems while they're fresh enough to retain their claim to innovation. As is common in the US Services, innovation isprized as a national advantage, and the value they place on it is hagridden by thefear that adversaries will catch up and surpass the US in the ability to innovate. A recent Space Force contract with a small business represents the kind of fast, innovative aspirations the acquisition system prizes. The U.S. Space Force has awarded GEOST a $32 million contract modification for prototype space domain awareness payloads which will be hosted on a number of different satellites. "The U.S. Space Force has awarded GEOST," a small Arizona sensor shop, "a $32 million contract modification for prototype space domain awareness payloads which will be hosted on a number of different satellites," C4ISRNetreports. Defense Onethinks the award looks a great deal like the kind of acquisition the Pentagon would like to see more of. The publication quotes an October contracting notice: “The government has identified a need for evolutionary or revolutionary space-based [space domain awareness] sensors to augment current and planned systems by providing frequent, timely, assured volume revisit of significant portions of the GEO belt with real-time or near-real-time downlink and processing of collected data.... The objective of the production program will be to develop and demonstrate concepts for low-cost, hosted [space domain awareness] payloads to provide timely, assured volume revisit of the GEO belt.” There are international opportunities as well--Space Force envisions the possibility of flying sensors developed under the contract on allied partners' spacecraft. The contract may be representative in another respect. Small businesses (and start-ups in particular) have long been regarded as crucibles of innovation, with "Silicon Valley" as the classic metonym for a community of innovative small businesses. Silicon Valley has warned the Pentagon that its acquisition system may be running out of time to tap start-up creativity. Breaking Defensereports that Pentagon acquisition officials attending the Reagan National Defense Forum heard from tech venture capitalists that there's a limited window within which they can expect to draw upon the innovative companies they so prize: “Time is running out with Silicon Valley,” said Katherine Boyle, a partner with venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, in a series of tweets published the day before the event. “We have, at most, two years before founders walk away and private capital dries up. And many, many startups will go out of business waiting for DOD to award real production contracts.” Space Force notes. Space Force celebrated its second birthday on December 20th. Military.comreports that General Raymond is happy with the Service's second year. Among the Service's distinctive initiatives will be a personnel system that seeks to establish a job marketplace intended to match the Guardians' abilities and potential with the jobs in which they're placed. War on the Rocks gives the planned system an enthusiasticreview, and characterizes it as focused on personnel development as opposed to personnel management: "To achieve the desired personnel performance, the focus needs to shift from solely developing future senior leaders to developing the total force, and the technology exists to accomplish this lofty goal today. The reality is that there are no late bloomers, only risk-averse gardeners. The effective application of technology can help incentivize members to meet the requirements that the services actually value and need. This will help right the wrongs of poor personnel management that has resulted in retention issues and enabled peer competitors to close the performance gap with the U.S. military over the last few decades." It will be interesting to see how far the system succeeds, and whether it will escape what seem, historically, to have been the inevitable tendencies of American military personnel systems. For all the easy wisecracks about the choice of "Guardians" as the name of the Space Force's service members, for all the cheap shots about diagonal rows of buttons on the uniforms (taken most recently in a South Park episode), Space Force has achieved a permanent place in the US Department of Defense. With that place comes the sort ofscrutiny the other Services routinely face, as Congress, defense intellectuals, and the media tell Space Force that, for a military Service, two years old is grown-up enough. So happy birthday, Space Force, and may you have a solid and successful 2022. [2429]   This month's issue includes events affecting China, the European Union, Russia, South Africa, and the United States. Selected Reading Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities 'Potentially hazardous' asteroid worth nearly $5 billion will pass by Earth this week, NASA says (Space.com) The asteroid is expected to pass by Earth without harm. Space station dodges space debris from decades-old Pegasus rocket (Space.com) The International Space Station dodged a fragment of a decades-old rocket body early Friday morning, continuing a stretch of space debris threats to the orbiting laboratory. China calls on US to protect space station from satellites (AP NEWS) China is calling on the United States to protect a Chinese space station and its three-member crew after Beijing complained that satellites launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX nearly struck the station. Should Killing a Satellite Provoke War on Earth? (Defense One) A Space Force official says the service is considering how to respond to attacks in orbit. Tensions with Russia are now spilling into space, complicating International Space Station partnership (Washington Post) From the possible invasion of Ukraine to the destruction of a dead satellite, Russia’s actions are concerning U.S. leaders On National Security | Russia showed it can attack. Is U.S. Space Force ready to defend? (SpaceNews) Russia’s anti-satellite missile test has raised calls for the United States and its allies to push for international norms to ban such tests. But reaching an agreement on space arms control could take years or even decades. Russian military movements near Ukraine: What satellite images show (Washington Post) Satellite images show how Russian forces and materiel have moved toward Ukraine from as far away as Siberia. Trends US Needs ‘Resilient, Robust’ Space Highway, Space Force General Says (Air Force Magazine) Space Force Brig. Gen. John M. Olson sees a vibrant space economy in the coming years, backed by space architecture that extends to the Moon. The Satellite Industry’s 10 Most Impactful Events of 2021 (Via Satellite) Via Satellite rounds up 10 of the most impactful events for the satellite industry in 2021. New ‘South Park’ special nails the widely-ridiculed Space Force uniform (Task & Purpose) The prototype Space Force uniform unveiled in September made an unexpected cameo in "South Park: Post Covid: The Return of Covid." Marketplace What Are We Really Witnessing in the New Space Economy? (Via Satellite) We hear so much about the New Space economy in the news lately, especially with eye-catching headlines that include celebrities taking day trips to space. The Next Age of the Space Race Is Already Here (Now) In July 2021, the world experienced something it had not seen since July 1969: a direct, head-to-head space race. Silicon Valley warns the Pentagon: 'Time is running out' (Breaking Defense) After years of research and development efforts, tech startups want to see the Pentagon commit to real production work. U.S. military looking to build lasting relationships with commercial space industry (SpaceNews) Government buyers are still trying to figure out how to work with private firms and attract suppliers that have not traditionally sought government contracts, officials said Dec. 14 at a TechCrunch conference. Small Firm Tapped to Make Threat Detectors for Satellites (Defense One) The Space Force’s $32M contract seems to be the kind of award the Pentagon has recently extolled. Space Force issues $32 million contract for prototype space-based sensor (C4ISRNet) The prototypes would be hosted on satellites operated by U.S. government and international partners. Boeing Awarded $329M Space Force Contract to Engineer GPS Block IIF Satellites (GovCon Wire) Looking for the latest GovCon News? Check out our story: Boeing Awarded $329M Space Force Contract to Support GPS Block IIF Constellation. Click to read more! NASA will give SpaceX more crewed flights to cover for Boeing's delays (Yahoo) NASA plans to give SpaceX up to three more crewed flights to make sure Boeing's Starliner delays don't affect missions. NASA Picks 3 Companies to Design Private Space Stations (Digital Trends) NASA continues its push to commercialize low-Earth orbit, with the announcement of three companies which have been chosen to design private space stations. Blue Origin, Nanoracks, and Northrop Grumman to Develop New Space Stations for NASA (Via Satellite) NASA has awarded a combined total of about $415.6 million to Blue Origin, Nanoracks, and Northrop Grumman to develop commercial space stations in Here's How 3 Space Companies Aim to Replace the ISS (Wired) NASA is investing in Blue Origin, Nanoracks, and Northrop Grumman as they develop competing designs for a next-generation space station. Northrop Grumman Signs Agreement with NASA to Design Space Station for Low Earth Orbit (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA under the Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development program for $125.6 million to design a safe, reliable and cost-effective commercial free-flying... Two Consortiums to Explore Future European Satellite Constellation (Via Satellite) The European Commission has selected two consortiums of European space companies for initial study on a future European satellite constellation. A Raytheon wins $67 million U.S. Space Force contract to build weather satellite prototype (SpaceNews) Raytheon Technologies was awarded a $67 million contract to build a weather satellite prototype for the U.S. Space Force. Maxar Signs Second Commitment for WorldView Legion Capacity (Via Satellite) Maxar Technologies has signed contract extensions with three long-standing international defense and intelligence customers, including its second Space Force moves closer to replacing aging DMSP weather sats (Breaking Defense) DoD's effort to replace the DMSP polar orbiting constellation, first launched in the 1960s, is a historic tale tale of acquisition woe. U.S. Navy Extends Viasat’s NEXCOM Contract in Guam and Poland (Via Satellite) The U.S. Navy’s Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has awarded Viasat two new contracts to support personal communications at Navy bases in Guam and ST Engineering Invests into Satellite IoT Company hiSky (Via Satellite) Israeli satellite IoT company hiSky has completed a $30 million Series A financing round, led by ST Engineering’s venture capital arm. hiSky announced the Shareholders Approve Virgin Orbit SPAC Merger (Via Satellite) Virgin Orbit is set to go public after shareholders of NextGen Acquisition Corp. II approved the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger on Dec. Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit stock price falls in second post-SPAC session (NASDAQ:VORB) (SeekingAlpha) Billionaire Richard Branson’s satellite-launch firm Virgin Orbit (Nasdaq:VORB) lost more altitude in its second post-SPAC session, dropping as much as 14% intraday. Former Blue Origin President Rob Meyerson: Will Private Capital Fund Off-World Infrastructure? (Via Satellite) On this episode of On Orbit, C5 Capital’s Rob Meyerson explains how private investors define “space infrastructure” both as physical constructs and Tomorrow.io to Go Public Via SPAC to Fund Satellite Constellation (Via Satellite) Weather forecasting company Tomorrow.io is going public through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger that will fund its plans for a Newly public Planet aims for NRO contract, software investments (Breaking Defense) Planet is hopeful that NRO not only will be interested in its current 50cm resolution SkySat constellation, but also its newest constellation, called Pelican, which will be operational in 2023, said co-founder Robbie Shingler. General Dynamics wins $4.5B NGA IT contract (Washington Technology) General Dynamics wins a $4.5 billion contract for user-facing and data center services to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Northrop Grumman Awarded NASA Booster Production and Operations Contract to Support Artemis Program (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) NASA awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a booster production and operations contract valued up to $3.19 billion to support the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket through 2031. The award includes... Raytheon Intelligence & Space acquires SEAKR Engineering (Intelligent Aerospace) SEAKR Engineering LLC is a leading supplier of advanced space electronics. Elon Musk said he's intentionally trying to provoke Jeff Bezos so Blue Origin makes more progress. It's the latest in a 15-year feud between the world's 2 richest men. (Business Insider) The two execs have sparred over their respective space ambitions — Musk runs SpaceX, while Bezos owns Blue Origin — but it hasn't stopped there. Satellite service firm Sidus Space prices 3M-share IPO at $5 (SeekingAlpha) Sidus Space (SIDU) has priced its IPO of 3M of Class A common stock at $5.00/share for total gross proceeds of $15M Rocket Lab to Acquire Space Solar Power Provider SolAero (Via Satellite) As California-based Rocket Lab looks to provide its Neutron rocket for future U.S. Space Force launches, the company on Dec. 13 took a step toward Planet Reports Record $31.7M Revenue for First Quarterly Financial Report (Via Satellite) Planet Labs released its first-ever financial results after going public last week, reporting record revenue of $31.7 million for the third fiscal quarter Airbus Agrees to Sell OneWeb LEO Services to Government and Military Users in Europe (Via Satellite) Space systems manufacturer Airbus has signed on to be OneWeb’s Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service distribution partner for European government and Palantir Secures Additional $43 Million Contract from Space Systems Command (SpaceRef) Palantir Secures Additional $43 Million Contract from Space Systems Command - SpaceRef Fleet Space to Build Factory in Australian Space Hub (Via Satellite) Australian satellite IoT company Fleet Space Technologies is ramping up plans after a recent capital raise, and has reached an agreement with the South Ovzon Receives Renewal for DoD Satcom-as-a-Service (Via Satellite) Intelsat General Communications has renewed a contract with satellite hardware provider Ovzon for Satcom-as-a-Service for the U.S. Department of Defense, Northrop Grumman Recognizes Diverse Small Business Suppliers (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has recognized 24 small business suppliers with World Class Team awards for their outstanding performance in support of the company’s cost, performance and supplier diversity... SkySafe Raises $30 Million Series B to Scale Drone Defense and Airspace Security System for Commercial Drone Adoption (Business Wire) SkySafe, an airspace security and management technology company, today announced a $30 million Series B investment led by Kingfisher Investment Adviso US Space Force awards $67M deal to Raytheon to test prototype weather satellite (C4ISRNet) The new prototype is part of a program designed to replace the aging Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites on orbit. Raytheon Subsidiary Awarded $67M Space Force OTA for Weather Satellite Prototyping, Demo Efforts (ExecutiveBiz) A Raytheon Technologies subsidiary will prototype an electro-optical infrared weather system and demonstrate its operational data delivery ability under a $67 million contract from the U.S. Space Force.Raytheon Intelligence & Space will build a satellite prototype in an effort to help Space Systems Command deliver cloud characterization and weather imagery observations to warfighters, the company Army awards Northrop Grumman $1.4 billion contract for IBCS (Breaking Defense) Northrop Grumman will deliver 160 Integrated Battlefield Command Systems. CACI Wins $81M Navy Counter-UAS R&D Task Order; John Mengucci Quoted (GovCon Wire) Looking for the latest GovCon News? Check out our story: CACI to help Navy develop counter-UAS tech. Click to read more! How this government-focused IT firm is expanding in St. Louis (St. Louis Business Journal) The government technology integrator, which works with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, has opened a new office in the region. Virgin Orbit Invests in Customers Hypersat, SatRevolution to Expand Markets (Via Satellite) Virgin Orbit has invested in customers Hypersat and SatRevolution, investments that expand its space solutions business.  Virgin Orbit is acquiring a Bankruptcy Court Approves Intelsat Reorganization Plan (Via Satellite) Intelsat’s bankruptcy court has approved the satellite operator’s plan or reorganization, which will bring the company out of bankruptcy with less than Northrop Grumman Elects Matthew Bromberg Corporate Vice President, Global Operations (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announces that its board of directors has elected Matthew Bromberg corporate vice president, Global Operations, effective February 16, 2022. He will report to Kathy Warden,... Robert Lightfoot to Succeed Rick Ambrose at Lockheed Martin Space (Via Satellite) Lockheed Martin on Tuesday named Robert Lightfoot as the next head of its $11 billion Space segment, succeeding Rick Ambrose, who will retire March 1, Samer Halawi Resigns from Intelsat (Via Satellite) Intelsat announced in filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday that COO Samer Halawi is leaving the company at the end of the Isotropic Systems Taps Former Avanti Exec Nigel Fox for CFO Position (Via Satellite) Isotropic Systems has appointed Nigel Fox, formerly of Avanti Communications, as new CFO, effective immediately. Isotropic announced Dec. 13 that Fox will Comtech and Shareholder Outerbridge Agree on Board of Directors (Via Satellite) Comtech Telecommunications and shareholder Outerbridge Capital Management have come to an agreement on the company’s board of directors.  Outerbridge has Products, Services, and Solutions OneWeb's Final Launch of 2021 Brings Constellation to 394 Satellites - Via Satellite - (Via Satellite) OneWeb closed out 2021 with its 12th satellite launch on Monday, Dec. 27. Arianespace and its Starsem affiliate launched 36 satellites for OneWeb on a MHI Launches Inmarsat’s First I-6 Satellite (Via Satellite) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) launched the first of two satellites in Inmarsat’s Inmarsat-6 fleet (I-6 F1) on Wednesday. This satellite marks the Starlink Expands but Q3 2021 Performance Flattens in Some Areas (Speedtest Stories & Analysis: Data-driven articles on internet speeds) Satellite internet is making headlines across the globe as Starlink continues to launch service in new countries and Viasat plans to acquire Inmarsat. We’re here to check in on our ongoing series on satellite internet performance around the globe with fresh data from Q3 2021 to see if Starlink’ SpaceX aces 100th rocket landing after Dragon cargo ship launch to space station (Space.com) The Dragon launch will deliver NASA supplies and Christmas gifts to the station this week. SpaceX launches 52 Starlink satellites from California base (Defense News) The U.S. military has become increasingly interested in using satellite imagery to extend its situational awareness and beyond line-of-sight targeting. SpaceX lofts Turkish communications satellite to orbit in 2nd Falcon 9 rocket launch of the day (Space.com) SpaceX launched its second rocket in less than 24 hours on Saturday night (Dec. 18), delivering a Turkish communications satellite into orbit before capping off the successful mission with a landing at sea. Verizon shows off C-band speeds amid battle with airlines (Light Reading) Early, limited tests of Verizon's C-band network in Los Angeles showed speeds up to 1 Gbit/s, but airline officials warn of a 'catastrophic failure' in regulations from 5G technology in the C-band. MDA Plans for SAR Constellation CHORUS, Partners with Iceye (Via Satellite) MDA has announced plans for its next Earth Observation (EO) mission, a constellation called CHORUS. The commercial constellation will include C-band and Astrocast Taps Isar Aerospace for Upcoming Launch (Via Satellite) Astrocast will use Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle to launch a satellite as part of its global nanosatellite IoT network, the companies announced Dec. 15. ExxonMobile to Work With Scepter on Methane-Monitoring Satellite Constellation (Via Satellite) ExxonMobil is working with Scepter to deploy satellite technology to detect methane emissions. The companies announced a plan on Dec. 13 to design a Isar Aerospace Selects Seven Payloads for its Debut Spectrum Launch (Via Satellite) The German Space Agency at DLR and Isar Aerospace selected seven payloads from five institutions in Germany, Norway, and Slovenia to ride on the late 2022 Kepler Communications to Test Network on Spire Satellite (Via Satellite) Spire Global will host a Kepler Communications test of its in-space communication network on a Spire satellite, the companies announced Dec. 16. Kepler is Hughes Signs Satellite Backhaul Contract with Oman's Largest Telco (Via Satellite) Oman's largest integrated telecom service provider, Omantel, purchased satellite backhaul services, a gateway hub, and hundreds of terminals from Hughes Speedcast to Support Connectivity for Oliveira Energia Power Plants in Brazil (Via Satellite) Brazilian power company Oliveira Energia has selected Speedcast to provide connectivity service to 42 power plants in Brazil’s Amazonas state. Speedcast’s Microsoft Increases Azure Space Capabilities With Industry Partners (Via Satellite) Microsoft is expanding its ecosystem and tools for the space community, Azure Space, with new industry partners and capabilities. On Dec. 9, Microsoft NanoAvionics to Build Forest Biodiversity Satellite for Chilean Startup Lemu (Via Satellite) NanoAvionics will build Chile’s first private satellite after a recent deal signed with Chilean startup Lemu. The company is building an atlas of Earth’s Virgin Orbit Integrates Spire Satellite in 36 Hours as Late-Load Launch Addition - (Via Satellite) Virgin Orbit has added Spire Global as a late-load customer addition to its upcoming launch, and completed satellite integration within 36 hours. CEO Dan Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin sends TV’s Michael Strahan and five others to space (Washington Post) The mission was the company’s third human spaceflight mission, and comes as it looks to more space tourism flights next year Blue Origin launches Michael Strahan and crew of 5 on record-setting suborbital spaceflight (Space.com) NS-19 crew included "Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan and Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of the first U.S. astronaut in space SpaceX Launches NASA’s Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (Via Satellite) SpaceX launched a NASA mission early Thursday that will measure supernova remnants and supermassive black holes in the universe.  A Falcon 9 rocket Rocket Lab Closes Out 2021 With BlackSky Mission ‘Data With Destiny’ (Via Satellite) Rocket Lab completed its final mission of 2021 early on Thursday, launching two satellites for BlackSky from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Orbex Reveals Launchpad Construction in Scotland is Underway (Via Satellite) The United Kingdom space arena reached a significant moment on Thursday as it moves toward sovereign launch capability. Orbex, a private small satellite Redwire to Supply Terran Orbital With Components for Satellite Manufacturing (Via Satellite) Redwire Corporation will supply Terran Orbital with spacecraft components and solutions for satellite manufacturing, under a three-year supplier agreement Northrop Grumman Makes Critical Contributions to STP-3 Mission for US Space Force (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) technologies played a vital role in the U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Program (STP)-3 mission. Today, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket successfully launched the Northrop... Arianespace Launch Brings Galileo Constellation to 38 Satellites (Via Satellite) Arianespace’s latest launch brings Europe’s Galileo constellation to 38 satellites. On Saturday, December 4, a Soyuz launcher successfully orbited two AST SpaceMobile Pushes Back BlueWalker 3 Satellite Launch (Via Satellite) AST SpaceMobile has decided to push back the launch of its demonstration satellite BlueWalker 3, the company announced Monday. AST SpaceMobile had raised How SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket might unlock the solar system—and beyond (MIT Technology Review) With the first orbital test launch of Starship on the horizon, scientists are dreaming about what it might make possible— from trips to Neptune to planetary defense. SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket on record 11th flight carrying 52 Starlink satellites (Space.com) SpaceX has a new most-flown rocket. SpaceX engineers used to manually log data about rocket part tests into spreadsheets they didn't trust, former employee says (Business Insider) Upon joining SpaceX in 2013, Karan Talati said he encountered manual procedures for testing rocket parts that could be "very slow." SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 50 satellites to orbit for Starlink megaconstellation, BlackSky (Space.com) There were 48 Starlink satellites on board, plus two Earth observation satellites for BlackSky Global. Kymeta to Develop u8-Based Antenna for OneWeb Network (Via Satellite) OneWeb is working with Kymeta through a joint development agreement to develop a flat panel antenna for land fixed applications, the companies announced Satixfy to Supply Telesat With Baseband Modems for Lightspeed Ground Network (Via Satellite) Telesat has chosen Satixfy for baseband modem equipment for its Lightspeed satellite constellation. The Canadian operator on Wednesday announced a OneWeb is Developing Airline Mobility Terminal With GDC Advanced Technology (Via Satellite) OneWeb has signed a joint development agreement with GDC Advanced Technology to develop an In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) terminal to connect aircraft to Andesat CEO Says Astranis MicroGEO Satellite is a ‘Perfect Match’ for Peru (Via Satellite) South American satellite service provider Grupo Andesat will use an Astranis MicroGEO satellite to provide broadband connectivity in rural Peru. The deal, Japanese fashion tycoon to blast off for ISS as Russia revives space tourism (the Guardian) Yusaku Maezawa to become first space tourist sent to space station by Russia in more than a decade Inmarsat Test Project Looks to Deliver First UK-Generated Satnav Signal (Via Satellite) Inmarsat is participating in a test project to deliver the first U.K.-generated satellite navigation signal. Inmarsat announced Dec. 7 that it is working UK RAF and NATO members assess SeaVue (Shephard Media) Raytheon Intelligence & Space’s SeaVue surveillance system has been demonstrated during joint military exercises with the RAF and other NATO members. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa delivers first Uber Eats in space (Space.com) "It took a bit longer than the usual 30 minutes to arrive." Northrop Grumman Completes Environmental Testing for Next Gen OPIR GEO Missile Warning Mission Payload Engineering Development Unit (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) AZUSA, Calif. – Dec. 15, 2021 – The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Ball Aerospace team successfully achieved three critical milestones on production of its Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth... Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Technologies Team Complete Next Generation Interceptor System Requirements Review (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and Raytheon Technologies Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) team has completed its System Requirements Review (SRR) and is proceeding with initial system design, further risk... NASA greenlights Axiom Space's 2nd private mission to International Space Station (Space.com) Ax-2 is scheduled to launch between fall 2022 and spring 2023. MARSS and Thales collaborate to protect infrastructure against UAVs (Intelligent Aerospace) This collaboration will focus on the integration of the MARSS’ NiDAR C2 security platform and Thales’ drone neutralization systems. Technologies, Techniques, and Standards NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission slips to spring 2022 after engine issue (Space.com) The uncrewed moon shot on the 1st SLS megarocket won't fly until at least March, a month later than planned. New hypersonic missile-tracking satellites pass critical design review (C4ISRNet) The prototype satellites will plug into the Space Development Agency's on-orbit mesh network to track hypersonic and ballistic threats. Meet the Baltimore team readying the James Webb Space Telescope for discovery after it’s launched (Baltimore Sun) From a mission operations center on Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus, they’ll carefully guide the spacecraft to a point a million miles from Earth, deploy the telescope’s equipment and align its 18 hexagonal mirrors, which must all function in unison to capture the heretofore unseen. Don't Buy China's Hypersonic Head-Fake. Its Spaceplanes Are Racing Ahead. (Defense One) In the past five years, China’s spaceplane development has accelerated, adding breakthroughs, tests, and new industry players. U.S. Space Force holds war game to test satellite network under attack (Reuters) The United States is testing satellite resiliency to threats from China and Russia miles above the earth's surface, just weeks after Russia shot down an aging communications satellite. Satellite images, expert suggest Iranian space launch coming (AP NEWS) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran appears to be preparing for a space launch as negotiations continue in Vienna over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers, according to an expert and satellite images. Calls Grow Urgent for Improving Guam’s Missile Defenses (Defense One) “The threat to Guam will only increase over the next five years,” says INDOPACOM’s No 2 Congress wants Hawaiian missile defense radar up and running by end of 2028 (Defense News) The FY22 National Defense Authorization Act support a homeland missile defense radar in Hawaii and the establishment of a robust missile defense architecture in Guam. Key radar for identifying ICBM threats begins initial fielding: MDA (Breaking Defense) The milestone follows a series of 2020 setbacks due largely to the coronavirus pandemic. Royal Artillery's new Sky Sabre missiles 'can strike tennis ball travelling at speed of sound' (The Telegraph) Advanced 'detect and destroy' air-defence system needed to counter threat from modern Russian stealth fighters How NASA's new laser communications mission will work in space (Space.com) The goal is to speed up solar system communications. Massive Technical Leaps Push Satellite to the Fronthaul of 5G IoT (Via Satellite) Former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s “big day for American leadership” was Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021 — The start of a public auction of 120 megahertz of 3.7 gigahertz C-band spectrum to be repurposed for 5G. Pai’s 5G FAST plan, which he spent years promoting as the creator of, “millions of jobs, billions of dollars in investment, innovation on our shores, and stronger economic growth,” grossed $80.9 billion in government revenue. Space Force Plans for Simulators, Adds Advanced Training to Rotations (Air Force Magazine) The Space Force has started to plan for advanced training on tactics, including personnel rotations and space simulators. Space Force Focuses on Culture in 'Intimate' New Orientation Course (Air Force Magazine) Space Force held the first Guardian Orientation Course the week of Nov. 15-19 for transferees from other services or government agencies. milCloud 2.0 to die a quiet death in spring 2022 (Breaking Defense) Sunset deadline could be tight, according to a former DISA official, as "May 2022 is tomorrow in terms of DoD IT." Why can't we put a space station on the moon? (Space.com) A space station on the moon could be very useful to provide future space missions with a stopping point between Earth and deeper space. Why haven't we built one yet? NASA clears Axiom crew for 1st private mission to International Space Station (Space.com) The astronauts launching with the first private crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year have cleared all their medical evaluations, according to NASA. The four-person crew includes Michael López-Alegría, Larry Connor, Mark Pathy and Eytan Stibbe. NASA assigns 2 astronauts to SpaceX Crew-6 mission, launching in 2023 (Space.com) One veteran and one rookie will fly along with two people yet to be identified. Design and Innovation SpaceX fires up Starship SN20 prototype again ahead of landmark test flight (Space.com) SN20 continues to prep for a landmark orbital test flight. AFRL's Arachne achieves power conversion, chasing sci-fi-esque space-based solar power (Breaking Defense) Arachne's initially envisioned launch date of 2024 now has been pushed back to early 2025 — not because of any internal problems, but because of the difficulty of getting a ride to Low Earth Orbit.   Hack-a-Sat Organizers Pledge to Improve Scoring Transparency (Air Force Magazine) Space Force's Hack-a-Sat 2 ended in frustration for participants, who complained of changing rules on the fly and poor communication by organizers. US Space Force to Launch Project Moonlighter Cybersecurity Satellite (Via Satellite) A U.S. Space Force effort to launch a dedicated cybersecurity testing satellite in 2023 will include a design modeled after the common 3U cubesats, which China’s power grid is world’s biggest – and now protected by quantum satellite (South China Morning Post) Operation commands able to be sent using particles of light relayed by Mozi, the world’s first quantum satellite, for reliable protection against blackouts. Orbital Insight to build AI for intelligence community based on artificial data (C4ISRNet) The National Geospatial-Intelligence AGency sees human-machine pairing as critical for its success, with machine learning algorithms taking over the rote task of processing the torrent of satellite data to find potential intelligence and freeing up human operators to do more high level analysis and tasks. 'Elevating' hidden ideas: Inside the Army's Dragon's Lair invention contest (Breaking Defense) “Ideas are out there,” Col. Joe Buccino said, referring to the 2 million-plus people who serve in the military. “It's just a matter of finding them.” Climate Change Data Deluge Has Scientists Scrambling for Solutions (Wall Street Journal) As earth-observing satellites, aircraft and ocean buoys churn out ever-rising amounts of information about our planet, data managers turn to cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Space Force Rideshare Launch Will Help Create ‘Freight Train to Space’ (Air Force Magazine) Launch of the Space Force rideshare mission STP-3 on Dec. 5 will prototype new warfighter capabilities and enhance resiliency efforts. How effective and ethical artificial intelligence will enable JADC2 (Breaking Defense) How can warfighters know when the AI is telling the truth? The answer to that and the roles of AI/ML in all-domain operations are inextricably linked. This Army Reservist’s Formula Predicts the Inside Layout of Buildings from Satellite Photos (Defense One) The ability to predict the placement of stairs, rooms, etc., could be a big help to tactical teams. Research and Development James Webb Space Telescope Launches on Journey to See the Dawn of Starlight (New York Times) Astronomers were jubilant as the spacecraft made it off the launchpad following decades of delays and cost overruns. The Webb is set to offer a new keyhole into the earliest moments of our universe. James Webb Space Telescope Begins Million-Mile Journey (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, built in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), successfully launched today from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana aboard an... James Webb Space Telescope sails beyond the orbit of the moon after 2nd course correction (Space.com) Just one more burn — and a few major deployments — to go. James Webb Space Telescope uncovers massive sunshield in next step of risky deployment (Space.com) The James Webb Space Telescope has unwrapped its sunshield, crossing another important item off of its lengthy and risky deployment to-do list. James Webb Space Telescope successfully deploys antenna (Space.com) The antenna will eventually beam Webb's cosmic images to Earth. Where is NASA's James Webb Space Telescope? Here's how to follow its progress. (Space.com) What's the massive observatory doing now? Here's how to find out. Bringin' home the Space-BACN: DARPA kicks off laser link project (Breaking Defense) Fourteen vendors have been chosen to complete designs for two different pieces of an optical terminal that can connect incompatible LEO sats. Astronomers find record-breaking haul of starless 'rogue' planets (Space.com) The known population of nomadic rogues just went up by nearly a factor of two. AFRL jumpstarts early research on cislunar monitoring, satellite servicing (Breaking Defense) The SURI program is is aimed at transitioning "high risk, high reward ideas in science" to "applied technology and advanced technology development," said Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, AFRL director. Orbital Insight to Work on Computer Vision Model for Detecting Novel Objects Under NGA's Phase II SBIR Contract (Executive Gov) Orbital Insight and its partners will work on a computer vision model to make it capable of detecting novel objects in support of the National Scientists spot water ice under the 'Grand Canyon' of Mars (Space.com) "We found a central part of Valles Marineris to be packed full of water — far more water than we expected." New DARPA project explores microbes for bio-manufacturing in space (Breaking Defense) The B-SURE bio-bugs program is a first baby step in using biology to create a space-based supply chain, reducing reliance on materials launched from Earth. US Army Uses SES MEO Technology in Multi-Orbit Tests (Via Satellite) SES Government Solutions has been involved in a series of trials with the U.S. Army that have tested commercial satellite constellations in multiple Space Force launches experimental sats to detect nukes, test laser communications (Breaking Defense) Included among the STP-3 mission's payloads is NASA’s Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD) aimed at enabling higher speed communications across the vast region of space between the Earth and Mars. US Space Force Launches STP-3 Mission With NASA Laser Demonstration (Via Satellite) The U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission got spaceborne in the early morning hours of Dec. 7 after a 5:19 a.m. launch aboard a United Pentagon kicks off spectrum sharing experiments in Utah (Breaking Defense) The experiments will include airborne radar systems and 5G technologies operating on mid-band spectrum. Northrop to flight test software-defined SATCOM radio for AFRL (Breaking Defense) The test will see how well "Freedom Radio" works with third-party communications, as integration is seen as critical for JADC2. Academia North Carolina A&T State University launches partnership with US Space Force focusing on research, scholarships (Stars and Stripes) According to a news release from A&T, research will be the biggest part of the partnership programs, with AT&T and the other 10 partnering universities each taking on their own research component. There will also be internships and scholarships offered, both through the schools’ ROTC program and to civilian students. US Space Force top leaders visit Fairfax County Public School inspiring students (WJLA) The United States Space Force is celebrating its second birthday with a month-long STEMtoSpace Campaign and Wednesday, they made a stop at Fairfax County High School. Hundreds of students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology heard from the top leader General John Raymond, the Chief of Space Operations with the Space Force. Astronaut Colonel Nick Hague was also in attendance allowing students to hear about his experience on board the International Space Station. Elementary students speak to Space Force guardian (Air Force Times) Lt. Col. Christopher Evey spent 18 years in the Air Force before joining the Space Force. Legislation, Policy, and Regulation Why Russia Tested Its Anti-Satellite Weapon (Foreign Policy) If regulation of space weapons is coming, Putin wants to be ahead of the pack. Will strong actions follow words in Biden’s space policy? (Breaking Defense) The new Space Priorities Framework put forward by the Biden administration makes promises on global leadership, space traffic coordination, and deterrence. NRO director: Innovation is the key to America’s advantage in space (Defense News) Our collective success advancing technology and delivering capabilities faster will be vital to maintaining America’s intelligence advantage in space, not just today, but for the next 60 years and beyond. Space Command's Goal of Uniting All US Military Space Functions (Air Force Magazine) U.S. Space Command will turn its service-affiliated commands from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy into functional components. 'Happy Birthday, Guardians': Space Force Celebrates Its Second Birthday (Military.com) The Space Force officially came into being on Dec. 20, 2019, when then-President Trump signed that year's annual defense policy bill. Space Force at two: 'Still a toddler,' with all that brings (Breaking Defense) "We made it clear when we stood this up that it is going to be an evolutionary process, and that we just stood up the bare bones in the first year — because it's hard enough to do that," Rep. Mike Rogers said. "And we're putting the flesh on the bones each year trying to mature it in a slow and pragmatic fashion, and do it right." White House Unveils Its Priorities for Space Activities | Cooley | Global Law Firm (Cooley) The White House recently released the United States Space Priorities Framework, which highlights the Biden administration’s commitment to ensuring that the US maintains its leadership role in space. The framework identifies two primary priorities: (1) maintaining a robust and responsible US space enterprise; and (2) preserving space for current and future generations. In addition, the framework articulates how it will accomplish those priorities, including... United States Space Priorities Framework (The White House) Space activities are essential to our way of life. They advance our understanding of the Earth, the universe, and humanity; enable U.S. national security; create good jobs and economic opportunity; enhance our health and well-being; and inspire us to pursue our dreams. Space capabilities provide critical data, products, and services that drive innovation in the United States and around the world. Access to and use of space is a vital national interest. South Africa Signs Satellite Navigation Agreement with China (Via Satellite) South Africa and China are developing closer ties in the space industry, and this now extends to satellite navigation. The nations announced Dec. 3 that U.S. Space Force general warns of China's growing military space potential (POLITICO) “I don't think it's a foregone conclusion they will be the leader in space at the end of the decade, but they are on an incredible pace,” he said. Seizing the space debris moment from Russia (Breaking Defense) In the destruction of a satellite, perhaps a political opportunity for the US. Biden administration to propose new global norms for military space (Breaking Defense) Chiding Russia for its recent ASAT test, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said that "from the Defense Department's perspective, we would like to see all nations agree to refrain from anti-satellite weapons testing that creates debris." U.S. Calls for Outer Space Norms After 'Irresponsible' Russia Test (Insurance Journal) U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday criticized an "irresponsible" Russian test that endangered the International Space Station with debris, and The First National Space Council Focuses on Space Security in the Wake of ASAT Test (Via Satellite) Vice President Kamala Harris led the Biden Administration’s first meeting of the National Space Council on Wednesday, calling attention to how space Harris calls for new international rules for space after Russia blows up satellite (POLITICO) "By blasting debris across space, this irresponsible act endangered the satellites of other nations," the vice president said. New White House space framework highlights military resilience amid 'serious threat' (Breaking Defense) Despite increasing threats to and from space, the new priorities document stresses that "confrontation or conflict" is not inevitable. The US National Space Council Is Back and Focused on Security (Wired) Led by vice president Kamala Harris, the first council meeting of the Biden administration drew attention to keeping space safe for NASA and industry players. Space Force General: China, Russia 'catching up quickly to US' (Fox News) China and Russia have regularly attacked U.S. space-based assets, so far causing "reversible" damage, a Space Force official has said.  Biden taps former NRO official Frank Calvelli to run Space Force acquisitions (SpaceNews) President Biden nominated Frank Calvelli to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition, the White House announced Dec. 15. NDAA passes Senate at $740 billion; heads to Biden's desk (Breaking Defense) The legislation includes funding increases for deterrence initiatives in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, and approves Air Force efforts to divest of some legacy aircraft. Navy defends $80M industrial expansion to fill hypersonic missile gap (Breaking Defense) Lawmakers say the money is "early to need," but Navy argues cuts could imperil the Pentagon's efforts to ensure its hypersonic weapon programs stay on track. Echoing Hyten, Grady says Pentagon should stop over-classifying info (Breaking Defense) Adm. Christopher Grady appears poised to become the military's second highest ranking officer. Vice chief nominee pledges to drive acquisition reforms (Defense News) President Joe Biden’s nominee for vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs pledged to continue his predecessor’s efforts to reform the beleaguered joint requirements process during his confirmation hearing. Exclusive: Space acquisition shop set for another re-org, following Congress-backed SWAC model (Breaking Defense) The Space Warfighting Analysis Center has started laying out force designs for critical operations, but will SSC be able to transition those blueprints into real-world acquisition programs, Lockheed Martin's Eric Brown asked. Pentagon tester to restrict info on weapons programs, raising transparency concerns (Breaking Defense) "I worry that this will end up [resulting] in a watered down version of the report that makes it more difficult for the press and the public to make sure that we are buying weapon systems that are effective and safe,” said Mandy Smithberger of the Project On Government Oversight. The Space Force's Critical Lesson for the Rest of the Military (War on the Rocks) Do you think telling NASA astronauts that they are in the top third, middle third, or bottom third of their peers in respect to their leadership ability Space Force Launches Website Aimed at Potential Recruits, Public Education (Air Force Magazine) The Space Force revealed its new website, SpaceForce.com, on its second birthday. The new site is aimed at recruiting potential Guardians. Vandenberg SFB Envisioned as a 'National Spaceport' (Air Force Magazine) The Space Launch Delta 30 commander sees Vandenberg Space Force Base becoming a national spaceport and said the unit is pursuing the dream. Air Force, Space Force pick 515 new chief master sergeants (Air Force Times) About 18% of eligible airmen were chosen to become E-9s. Pentagon UFO Rapid Response Teams Ordered Up by Congress (Military.com) The expansive measures come two weeks after the Pentagon announced a new group aimed at analyzing UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) incidents. The National Defense Authorization Act for 2022 will create a UFO reverse engineering program (hotair.com) And no, I'm not even kidding Biden Nominates NRO Veteran/Booz Allen Official As Space Acquisition Executive (Defense Daily) President Biden on Dec. 15 nominated Booz Allen Hamilton executive Frank Calvelli, who served as principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Senate Confirms John Sherman as Pentagon’s Tech Chief (Nextgov.com) He’s poised to steer the Pentagon through a maze of cybersecurity, AI and data challenges. Air Force Names New Chief Information Security Officer to Lead Cyber Innovation (Air Force Magazine) James “Aaron” Bishop is the Department of the Air Force's new chief information security officer and will drive and highlight cybersecurity innovation. SOUTHCOM Plans a Space Component to Help Fight Crime, Grow Ties in the Americas (Air Force Magazine) SOUTHCOM plans to share space data to help nations in its AOR fight crime and to give the US an edge over Russia and China in the region. Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement NSA cloud contract in trouble after Microsoft’s successful bid protest (Federal News Network) The case shows how carefully agencies need to tread, especially when price is not the main criterion. GAO: NSA Erred in Technical Evaluations of $10 Billion Cloud Contract (Nextgov.com) The Government Accountability Office recommended the NSA reevaluate bids from Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. Comtech Hits Back at Claims from Shareholder Outerbridge (Via Satellite) Comtech Telecommunications is in a public dispute with shareholder Outerbridge Capital Management ahead of its upcoming fiscal 2021 annual meeting of Aerospace Firms Probed Over Alleged No-Poach Deals, First Charges Announced (Wall Street Journal) Case against former Pratt & Whitney manager comes amid Justice Department push to crack down on agreements limiting wages, mobility. Pentagon watchdog: US should insist TransDigm refund $20 million in ‘excess profit’ (Defense News) The Defense Department's inspector general recommends the Pentagon seek a refund of at least $20.8 million from TransDigm, a company long under fire for what department officials say is a pattern of collecting “excess profit.” Former SpaceX Engineer Alleges Sexual Harassment in Essay (Via Satellite) A former SpaceX engineer has alleged that she was sexually harassed at the company, and human resources did little to remedy the situation.  Ashley Kosak,

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