Signals & Space Monthly Briefing

June 2021

Prepared by the CyberWire At a glance. Space debris. Space-delivered Internet connectivity. Critical infrastructure in space. Space Force and cybersecurity. US will not renew Open Skies treaty. Highlights of the President's Budget. Notes on innovation and Federal RDT&E. Space debris and its long march back down. On May 8th an unusually large chunk of debris fell from orbit, apparently harmlessly into the ocean somewhere near the Maldives, Space.com reports. The expended Long March 5B had excited considerable comment and as much popular concern as public awareness of such matters typically permits. The concern reached levels the US Department of Defense felt necessary to address with a denial that it intended to shoot the booster down—the Washington Examiner quoted the DoD as answering a simple "No," when asked, and then offering observations on how the complexity of this kind of reentry made accurate predictions difficult to the point of impossibility. The Guardian writes that the incident lends urgency to the problem of orbital debris generally. Orbital debris includes a great deal of junk, from small parts to defunct satellites, and a great deal of the attention that's been paid to debris recently has focused on the risk of in-orbit collision. The fall of the Long March 5B, however, has aroused concern about the effects the larger pieces of junk can have when they return to earth. Space.com says that some 2033 expended rocket bodies are currently in orbit. The related challenge of planetary protection coincidentally received some attention at the end of April, when the International Academy of Astronautics' Planetary Defense Conference ran a tabletop exercise on what might be done if a large asteroid were found to be on a collision course with earth. They didn't come up with any good ideas either. Vice quotes NASA's Planetary Defense Officer, Lindley Johnson, who said, "The exercise played out that we basically had to take the hit." Satellites and satellite surrogates. Satellites appear to be the winners over balloons and other satellite surrogates in the competition to deliver widespread, affordable, and last-mile Internet connectivity. Alphabet is winding down Google's Loon project, which had successfully experimented with balloon-borne communications packages. Silicon Valley Business Journal reports that one-hundred-fifty-one employees who'd worked on the program will be laid off this summer. In the meantime, according to the Verge, Google Cloud has agreed to put StarLink terminals into its data centers, and, as Space.com reports, SpaceX has continued to add to its StarLink constellation. StarLink hasn't been without its problems, as early adopters report reliability issues side-by-side with good performance ("a technological marvel—when it works," as the Verge puts it). Still, it seems that the general direction of communications infrastructure is toward low-earth orbit, and StarLink has drawn competitors. Arianespace launched thirty-six OneWeb satellites aboard a Soyuz vehicle, adding to that provider's constellation. And Mynaric and Cloud Constellation signed an agreement to jointly deploy Optical Inter-Satellite Links, SpaceRef reports. That infrastructure's users won't be entirely civilian. The US Army expects to make considerable use of commercial satellite networks in its future tactical communications, C4ISRNet reports. CISA takes up space infrastructure protection. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has taken note of the importance of the infrastructure space systems provide. On May 13th CISA announced the formation of a working group to manage space system risk in furtherance of CISA's critical infrastructure protection mission:  "The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) today announced the formation of a Space Systems Critical Infrastructure Working Group, a mix of government and industry members that will identify and develop strategies to minimize risks to space systems that support the nation's critical infrastructure. The Working Group will operate under the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) framework, bringing together space system critical infrastructure stakeholders. "The critical infrastructure on which the United States depends relies on space systems. Increasing the security and resilience of space systems is essential to supporting the American people, economy, and homeland security. "'Secure and resilient space-based assets are critical to our economy, prosperity, and our national security,' said CISA Acting Director Brandon Wales. 'This cross sector working group will lay the foundation for our collective defense against the threats we face today and in the future.' "This working group will serve as an important mechanism to improve the security and resilience of commercial space systems. It will identify and offer solutions to areas that need improvement in both the government and private sectors and will develop recommendations to effectively manage risk to space based assets and critical functions.  "The working group is co-chaired by Jim Platt, Chief, Strategic Defense Initiatives, CISA and John Galer, Assistant Vice President, National Security Space, Aerospace Industries Association. Current members represent government and industry organizations from the communications, critical manufacturing, defense industrial base, information technology, and transportation sectors, including leading-edge satellite and space asset infrastructure firms with expertise in emerging technology areas." CISA will have partners in this effort. Breaking Defense reports that the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center will partner "on cyber information sharing, awareness, education, and outreach to improve the security of space operations." Space Force and cyber security. Space Systems Command intends to make the cybersecurity of the systems it procures a centerpiece of its emerging acquisition process, according to Air Force Magazine. Cordell DeLaPena, Jr., program executive officer for Space Production at the Space and Missile Systems Center, described the threats: "The types of threats we are looking for [are] things like insertion of rogue components—that's more on the supply side—malicious software, electronic warfare attack—that's jamming, spoofing—and then denying our sensor access. And those threats, the results of those threats, could result in our satellites being degraded, or an outage, or spillage [of sensitive data], or a temporary loss of command control of our satellites. So these are the things that we are worried about." ExecutiveGov.com reports that the young Service is also interested in building up its own cyber teams, and is working with its Air Force counterparts to do so. The Service's latest vision document outlines Space Force's determination to become the "world's first fully digital service." Open Skies set to close. President Biden does not plan to reverse President Trump's decision to exit the US-Russian Open Skies treaty, announcing on May 28th that the US will not return to the treaty. The lower house of Russia's Duma has also voted to leave the Cold War era accord. President's Budget highlights. The President's Budget, announced at the end of May, includes substantial cuts in some legacy military programs, but Breaking Defense reports that it offers the prospect of substantial increases in space-related budgets and RDT&E funding. UPI writes that NASA will receive a 6.3% increase, and Space.com sees scientific and commercial space programs as the big winners in that increase. Notes on innovation and US Federal RDT&E. The US Naval Institute has published an interview with the Chief of Naval Research who outlines the Office of Naval Research's plans for the basic research, applied research, and advanced technology development in its 6.1/6.2/6.3 portfolio. There's some interest there in lasers and their potential application to space communication. C4ISRNet reports that some members of the US House of Representatives have already found fault with Space Force's acquisition process, saying that it has fallen short of the promise of rapid technology development and insertion. Representative Betty McCollum, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense chair, commented during virtual hearings that, "while progress has been made on the operations side, progress in addressing long-standing acquisitions issues has been disappointing so far. Too often over the past two decades, the space acquisitions programs have been delivered late, over budget, and sometimes billions of dollars over budget." In fairness to Space Force, it's in the process of shaping its own acquisition system. Nothing it evolves is likely to be entirely from the sort of procurement oversights and checks that have historically encumbered US military acquisition. (For an example of how that encumbrance works in practice, the story of the Pentagon's JEDI cloud contract is instructive.) [1339]   Today's edition of the CyberWire reports events affecting . Selected Reading Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities Report: U.S. spy planes deployed near North Korea amid possible military activity (UPI) U.S. Navy and Air Force spy planes flew near North Korea several times in recent days. Falling Chinese rocket debris spotted in space as White House weighs in (photo) (Space.com) The debris is expected to crash to Earth this weekend. Rocket debris from China's space station launch is falling back to Earth — but where? (Space.com) The Long March 5B rocket's core stage could fall from space any day now. Pentagon tracking out-of-control Chinese rocket that could reenter Earth's atmosphere (CNN) The Pentagon has said it is tracking a large Chinese rocket that is out of control and set to reenter Earth's atmosphere this weekend, raising concerns about where its debris may make impact. A Giant Piece of Space Junk Is Hurtling Towards Earth Right Now. Should You Worry? (ScienceAlert) A large piece of space debris, possibly weighing several tonnes, is currently on an uncontrolled reentry phase (that's space speak for "out of control"), and parts of it are expected to crash down to Earth over the next few weeks. DOD says it won't shoot down falling Chinese space rocket (Washington Examiner) The Defense Department said Wednesday it has no plans to shoot down and break up a 46,000-pound Chinese rocket hurtling toward Earth and expected to reenter the atmosphere on Saturday. China's huge rocket booster falling from space highlights orbital debris problem (Space.com) There's a lot of stuff up there. Chinese rocket's chaotic fall to Earth highlights problem of space junk (the Guardian) China has played down fears that its Long March 5B rocket could hit a populated area or a plane in flight but there is no shortage of problem debris in orbit China's huge rocket that fell from space highlights debris risk of uncontrolled reentries (Space.com) After a huge Chinese rocket plummeted apparently into the ocean, NASA's new administrator condemned the country's use of launch technology that makes uncontrolled reentries from orbit. Space junk is a growing problem. What can we do about it? (Yahoo) Rocket parts, defunct satellites and small chunks of debris traveling at incredible speed could one day make it impossible for mankind to achieve its ambitions in space. Scientists Tried and Failed to Stop a Hypothetical Deadly Asteroid in an Exercise (Vice) Despite putting all options on the table, including nukes, "the exercise played out that we basically had to take the hit," said Lindley Johnson, NASA's Planetary Defense Officer. US Intel Chief: Chinese Space Station is a Threat to National Security (Futurism) Low-Orbit Security Threat The US Director of National Intelligence released a report last month claiming China's upcoming space station poses a threat to national security.   China intends to launch a space station into low-Earth orbit in order to gain a large foothold in space in order to "gain the military, economic, and prestige benefits that […] NASA Identified Over 6,000 Cyber Incidents in Past 4 Years (SecurityWeek) NASA says it has identified more than 6,000 cyber incidents in the past 4 years and the agency says attempts to steal critical information are increasing. Trends The Short Story From Arthur C. Clarke Every Officer in Space Force Should Read and Heed (CTOvision.com) Like so many others in the national security domain I am tracking what I can about the new US Space Force, the newest US military force. I believe their mission is important and establishing Space Force was the right move. Space is, by definition, a domain that will require deep technological expertise to enable mission Boosting the Space Force (TheHill) For some Americans, the U.S. Space Force is little more than a punchline on Twitter or a Netflix satire with middling reviews. Marketplace Tulipmania in Space (Foreign Policy) SPACs are creating a space bubble that will eventually come crashing back to Earth along with cosmic junk launched during the current frenzy. NGA releases MOJAVE follow-on RFI (Intelligence Community News) This RFI is an opportunity for industry to submit Capability Statements on how they can support NGA's mission for the MOJAVE follow-on contract requirement. Aerospace Industrial Base Can't Handle The Future: Mitchell Institute (Breaking Defense) The F-35 aside, the report recommends that the Air Force "resist future participation in any joint aircraft procurement or development programs." Teledyne-FLIR Merger Creates Tactical Drone Powerhouse (Breaking Defense) The combined company will offer a wide range of unmanned vehicles (mostly small ones) for air, land, sea, and underwater, said exec Roger Wells. Airbus and Mercury Systems Announce Strategic Teaming Agreement to Cooperate in Technology for Autonomous Flying (Stockhouse) Airbus Defence and Space and Mercury Systems, Inc., (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com ), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, have announced today that they will cooperate in the field of autonomous and flight control computer programs. Mercury Systems acquires Pentek (GlobeNewswire News Room) Expands scale and breadth of Company's RFSoC, data recorder and software-defined radio capabilitiesDeepens market penetration in core radar and electronic... SpaceTech cyber platform to create 2,000 jobs (BusinessCloud) Quantum technology start-up signs BT contract as it exits stealth mode with plan for SPAC merger which values it at £1bn Loon will start laying off 151 employees this summer as Alphabet winds down one of Google's X projects (Silicon Valley Business Journal) The Internet balloon project disclosed to state officials last week when and how it plans to cut its Mountain View staff. Elon Musk's SpaceX inks satellite connectivity deal with Google Cloud (The Verge) SpaceX will install Starlink terminals at Google Cloud data centers. Raytheon wins $228 million GPS ground system contract (C4ISRNET) The contract extends Raytheon's work on the Next Generation Operational Control System to Block 3F. Leidos wins position on US DIA SITE III contract vehicle (Army Technology) Leidos has secured a position on a multiple-award task order contract supporting intelligence missions from the US Defense Intelligence Agency. NASA and Axiom ink deal for 1st private astronaut mission to space station (Space.com) NASA and Texas-based company Axiom Space have agreed on terms for the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, which will launch as soon as January 2022. Protests, trolling and more: Drama swirls around NASA's next moon lander for astronauts (Space.com) And it's still very early in the game. Booz Allen Signs Up for Global Radio Network Access Consortium (ExecutiveBiz) Booz Allen Hamilton has become one of the industry members of the O-RAN Alliance, which promotes int Perspecta wins $474 million OTA for background check management (C4ISRNET) The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency will transition IT prototypes to production under an other transaction agreement. Proposed Defense Merger Puts National Security at Risk (KABC) Lockheed Martin has announced a plan to purchase Aerojet Rocketdyne. Products, Services, and Solutions Rocket Lab Electron booster launch fails to reach orbit, 2 satellites lost (Space.com) Something went wrong at stage two engine ignition. Arianespace will launch dozens of OneWeb satellites on a Soyuz rocket today. Here's how to watch. (Space.com) Liftoff is at 1:38 p.m. EDT (1738 GMT). Mynaric and Cloud Constellation Partner Up and Sign MoU on SpaceBelt (SpaceRef) Mynaric and Cloud Constellation Partner Up and Sign MoU on SpaceBelt - SpaceRef SpaceX rocket launches Starlink fleet and 2 small satellites, sticks landing at sea (Space.com) It's the 8th flight for this SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Starlink review: broadband dreams fall to Earth (The Verge) The reality is a lot more irritating. Rookie NASA astronaut Kayla Barron to fly on SpaceX's Crew-3 mission to space station (Space.com) NASA has selected rookie astronaut Kayla Barron as the fourth crewmember to fly on SpaceX's upcoming Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station. Bids to ride on Blue Origin's first crewed space launch rocket past $2 million (CNET) New Shepard is set to carry passengers for the first time July 20, including one wealthy auction winner. Hughes and OneWeb working to fill military's Arctic communication gap (C4ISRNET) The emergence of new proliferated constellations offering commercial broadband could be the answer U.S. Northern Command needs to establish reliable Arctic communications. SpaceX Successfully Lands Prototype of Mars and Moon Rocket After Test Flight (New York Times) After a series of high-altitude test flights that ended in explosions, the new vehicle set down in one piece on a Texas launchpad. SpaceX launches Starship SN15 rocket and sticks the landing in high-altitude test flight (Space.com) "Landing nominal," Elon Musk says. SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites in record 10th liftoff (and landing) of reused rocket (Space.com) SpaceX's reusable rockets have now hit double digits. SpaceX Starship Lands on Fifth Attempt (Wall Street Journal) An uncrewed 16-story rocket ship was launched from the company's facility in southern Texas and landed back on its pad after a six-minute flight. SpaceX's next flight for Crew Dragon Resilience is a private launch of 4 civilians (Space.com) The capsule just returned from space with four astronauts. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will launch its 1st astronaut flight on July 20 and you can bid for a seat (Space.com) The flight will launch on the anniversary of NASA's Apollo 11 moon landing. Northrop Grumman Solar Arrays to Power Airbus OneSat Spacecraft (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) was awarded a contract by Airbus Defence and Space for the design, development and production of 24 ship sets of solar arrays to support the OneSat satellite product line. The solar... Arianespace launches Airbus Pléiades Neo satellite (SatellitePro ME) Arianespace and its Vega rocket are on track to launch another Pléiades Neo satellite this year, and the company expects to use Vega to complete the four-satellite constellation in 2022. Raytheon Intelligence & Space to support USAF Distributed Common Ground System (Intelligent Aerospace) RI&S will support seven different intelligence applications the Air Force uses to collect and correlate data under the new program. Raytheon Selects CAES Technology for Low Earth Orbit Satellite Demonstration (BusinessWire) Raytheon selects CAES RF Technology for Low Earth Orbit Satellite demonstration Technologies, Techniques, and Standards China launches new cargo ship to Tianhe space station module (Space.com) Tianzhou-2 is carrying 6.64 tons of supplies. China Delays Mission While NASA Congratulates on Mars Images (US News & World Report) China has postponed a supply mission to its new space station for unspecified technical reasons, while photos sent back from Mars by its newly arrived rover earned plaudits from NASA. Russia Is Accelerating Its Own Link-Everything Network (Defense One) The U.S. sees networked warfare and AI as a game-changer. But what happens when your opponent copies your move? SOCOM Leaders Say 'Digital Spectrum' Key To Next Fight (Breaking Defense) "The future will be won by those who dominate the full digital spectrum,"  Lt. Gen. Francis Beaudette, commander of Army Special Operations Command, says. "It will be as important as seizing and holding terrain." Next rocket launched from NASA Wallops to carry classified payload in June launch (Delmarva Daily Times) Northrop Grumman's Minotaur I is set for lift off June 15, though a specific launch window has not yet been shared by NASA, for the U.S. Space Force. Israeli Multi Domain War Gets First Test In Gaza (Breaking Defense) For the first time, the Israeli Defense Force is using multi-domain operations in the strike against Hamas in Gaza. The air, infantry, armor, artillery and naval forces are finding, fixing and destroying targets in Gaza according to "who has the best shot," an Israeli defense source here says. Key to this is deployment of the "Ghost" unit, created about a year ago as part of the multi-year program known as Tnufa (Swing). New SBIRS Sat Creates Bridge To Next-Gen Missile Warning (Breaking Defense) The new SBIRS satellite, called SBIRS GEO 5, will be "the most advanced missile warning satellite" on orbit, said Lt. Col. Ryan Laughton, SMC's program manager. Raymond Unveils Classified Target Tracking Space Radar Effort (Breaking Defense) "The space-based GMTI system will replace a portion of the JSTARS sensing capability" and "will support all combatant commands," Space Force spokesperson Col. Catie Hague explains. Thanks to This New Spy Plane the U.S.'s Eyes in the Sky Just Got Sharper (The National Interest) While of course still useful for counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, this plane can prove even more impactful in a major conflict against a sophisticated adversary. USAF releases CENTAUR RFI (Intelligence Community News) The U.S. Air Force issued a request for information (RFI) for the Cross-Domain Enterprise All-Source User Repository (CENTAUR) requirement. Responses are due by 12:00 p.m. Eastern on June 15. Hyten: Joint Requirements For All Domain Out By June (Breaking Defense) "One of the requirements is going to be that all data developed and produced by every weapon system we have has to be made accessible, period," Gen. John Hyten said today. After more than a decade, agency to retire experimental missile warning satellites (C4ISRNET) The Missile Defense Agency plans to deorbit its Space Tracking and Surveillance System satellites as it prepares to launch an ambitious new constellation. How commercial satellite constellations fit into the Army's future tactical network designs (C4ISRNET) The service plans to use limited amounts of low- and medium-Earth orbit satellite links as part of its next iteration of tactical network tools. Maj. Gen. DeAnna Burt: Space Force Needs More Cyber Expertise (Executive Gov) Maj. Gen. DeAnna Burt, deputy commander of Space Operations Command, said the U.S. Space Force wants JUST IN: Space Force Wants More Cyber Teams (National Defense) The Space Force is in talks with Cyber Command and the Air Force to bring more specialized cyber personnel into the fold, said the deputy commander of Space Operations Command May 3. Air Force cyber school will add online training tool (C4ISRNET) U.S. Cyber Command has mandated that all the services must adopt the Persistent Cyber Training Environment at schoolhouses. Space Force Digital Vision Focuses On Speedy Decisions (Breaking Defense) Gen. Jay Raymond, Space Force chief, stressed that the new digital vision applies not just to service acquisition, but to everything the newest military service does, with a bottom-line goal of speeding decision-making. Mission resilience: Adapting defense aerospace to evolving cybersecurity challenges (Atlantic Council) While aerospace presents inherently distinct challenges from other spaces, defense organizations could look to the private sector and adapt commercial practices to implement the principles of resilience. Special Ops Undergoing Historic Transformation, AFSOC Says (Breaking Defense) "The SOF that we have is not the SOF we will need" for the future, head of Air Force Special Ops Command, Lt. Gen. James Slife, warned today. Old-Time Radio: Pentagon's Electronic-Warfare Gear Is Dated, Experts Say (Defense One) Lawmakers say more of the EW budget should go to R&D. Raymond Unveils Classified Target Tracking Space Radar Effort (Breaking Defense) "The space-based GMTI system will replace a portion of the JSTARS sensing capability" and "will support all combatant commands," Space Force spokesperson Col. Catie Hague explains. Pentagon tries to 'find the right balance' on JADC2 standards for services (C4ISRNET) Joint Chiefs of Staff leaders who are developing a joint war-fighting strategy want the military services to be able to execute their own missions while keeping their systems interoperable. A new constellation? Space Force wants to get into tactical satellite imagery business (C4ISRNET) While plans aren't set, the Department of Defense is considering building out a new constellation of imagery satellites for tactical use. U.S., Philippine Marines tackle cyber battlefield (United States Marine Corps Flagship) When addressing the subjects of technology and innovation in his 2020 statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding Marine Corps readiness, the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Design and Innovation A warning to DoD: Russia advances quicker than expected on AI, battlefield tech (C4ISRNET) A new report written for the Pentagon warns of more technologically advanced Russian force that's focused on winning information advantage over the United States. Russia's real-world experience is driving counter-drone innovations (Defense News) The Russian Ministry of Defence has invested heavily to defend its forces against the growing threat and proliferations of UAVs large and small. SOCOM CIO to industry: 'Rethink your business models' (C4ISRNET) SOCOM's top IT leader said industry needs to deliver more flexible tools to operators so they can be easily tailored to new mission needs. Boosted by international expertise, UAE edges closer to homemade counter-drone tech (Defense News) Electronic warfare specialist SIGN4L is preparing to mark two milestones this year, all related to destroying unmanned systems. Italian Air Force eyes microwaves and lasers to defeat drones (Defense News) Until lasers get the nod, the Air Force will continue using an anti-drone system of systems named ACUS, or Air Force Counter Unmanned System, which fights drone threats using radio frequency and GPS jamming. Europe unveils plans to bring 'GPS' and Skype to the moon with satellites (Space.com) Satellite navigation and teleconferencing could be available to lunar explorers by 2030. Exclusive: DARPA 'Likely' To Demo Only 2 Blackjack Payloads (Breaking Defense) "We really focused on payloads that had tactical utility, because they were an underserved market," said Blackjack program manager Stephen Forbes. A Starcruiser for Space Force: Thinking Through the Imminent Transformation of Spacepower (War on the Rocks) The U.S. military has launched and operated Earth-orbiting satellites since the Discoverer 1 mission in March 1959. Despite this long-term presence in SOFIC NEWS: Special Operators Deploying to U.S. Tech Hubs (National Defense) U.S. Special Operations Forces are used to deploying to warzones like Afghanistan and other austere and dangerous regions of the world. Now, some are being sent to innovation hubs in the United States. US Navy's Neptune project seeks new RF payloads (Janes) The US Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) is looking to develop a new class of subminiature radio frequency (RF) signal processor payload for the sea service's... SOFWERX Boosts Small Biz At SOCOM; Faster Turnaround (Breaking Defense) "If you can give me a white paper in three weeks, I'll pay for your white paper in three weeks, if you can give me a prototype in three months, I'll [pay for] your prototype in three months," said James Smith, SOCOM's acquisition chief. Bring Back the Air Force Battle Lab (War on the Rocks) The U.S. Air Force has established a new, innovative organization whose charter is to "create an environment where innovative ideas are rapidly harvested ESA partners with startup to launch first debris removal mission in 2025 (Space.com) The European Space Agency signed a contract with a Swiss start-up called ClearSpace to launch the first space debris removal mission in 2025. The mission will use an experimental four-armed robot to dispose of a piece of space junk called Vespa. What focus areas are key to America's future space capabilities? (Defense News) Increased concentration on space is welcome. However, Pentagon decisions about future priorities, activities and investments should continue to sharpen its focus on the technologies and capabilities required to exploit new architectures and approaches in space. Army approves rapid development of Tactical Space Layer (C4ISRNET) The Army continues to make progress in utilizing satellite imagery for beyond-line-of-sight targeting. Tough Conditions and Contested Communication Are Forcing the US Military To Reinvent AI (Defense One) Those miracle apps on your phone are powered by cloud computing and high-bandwidth data transfer. What does AI look like when those features are missing? Shadow Warriors Pursuing Next-Gen Surveillance Tech (National Defense) U.S. Special Operations Command and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity are pursuing new technologies to identify and track threats. Lockheed Martin's First Modernized SBIRS Missile Warning Satellite Now Under U.S. Space Force Control (PR Newswire) Following a successful launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida earlier today, the U.S. Space Force's Space Delta 4 operations... Air Force held first information warfare test exercises (Defense News) The Air Force is using a new information warfare range in New Mexico to test and integrate capabilities. Game of Drones: What's Next for the MQ-9 Reaper? (The National Interest) The MQ-9 Reaper has a long history of having successful upgrades to include the addition of extra new fuel tanks and a universal weapons interface designed to create the technical infrastructure and IP protocol standards sufficient to accommodate a growing range of weapons. To tackle problem of space junk, 'cyber-farmer' proposes building future satellites out of MUSHROOMS (RT International) A so-called 'cyber-farmer' who has worked with NASA is proposing the development of a new type of satellite built out of mycelium fibers to tackle the growing problem posed by space debris. Check Out This Backpack-Mounted Signals Intelligence System Worn By A Marine Special Operator (The Drive) "Body-worn" signal snooping gear gives American special operators an additional way to spot and track enemy forces, and monitor their surroundings. Research and Development Canada to launch moon rover by 2026 (Space.com) The project will be a partnership with NASA. Chief of Naval Research Talks about Quantum Tech, Lasers, Basic Research, and STEM Education (U.S. Naval Institute) Proceedings interviewed the Chief of Naval Research as part of a partnership with the Naval Postgraduate School and its Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture Program. GM, Lockheed Martin team up to develop lunar vehicles (Detroit News) The vehicles "will be designed to travel longer distances to get to the moon's south pole, which is colder, darker and has more rugged terrain." Air Force Research Laboratory opens new space war-fighting facility (C4ISRNET) The facility will be used to track objects on orbit, advance satellite cybersecurity and develop autonomous capabilities to help space vehicles avoid each other and space debris. How space weather could wreck NASA's return to the moon (MIT Technology Review) A new study suggests that extreme solar activity might make future Artemis missions too dangerous to launch later this decade. Behold! China unveils 1st Mars photos from Zhurong rover (Space.com) China is only the 2nd nation to successfully soft-land on Mars. Scientists ponder how to get samples from Saturn's weird moon Titan (Space.com) Saturn's moon Titan is a tantalizing world, how difficult would it be to bring a piece of it to Earth? DOD Not Prioritizing Development of GPS Alternatives, GAO Says (Nextgov.com) Despite known vulnerabilities with GPS tech, the department treats developing other position, navigation and timing technologies as an "afterthought," officials said. China has landed its Zhurong rover on Mars (MIT Technology Review) On March 14, China's space program took a huge leap forward when it landed a rover on Mars for the first time, according to state media. China Lands on Mars in Crowning Moment for Space Program (Wall Street Journal) The success of the Tianwen-1 mission makes China the third nation after the U.S. and Soviet Union to land on the red planet. FAST THINKING: Mars, with Chinese characteristics (Atlantic Council) What does China's arrival on Mars mean for the great-power space race? What are the military implications? A longstanding Venus mystery has been cracked by a NASA sun probe (Space.com) As the sun's activity waxes and wanes, so does the ionosphere of Venus, a key layer in the upper atmosphere, according to new observations that cinch a decades-old suspicion. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope unfolds its giant mirror for last time ahead of Oct. 31 launch (Space.com) NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has unfurled its big golden mirror for the final time on Earth ahead of its planned launch later this year. NASA's asteroid-sampling mission will bid farewell to asteroid Bennu today (Space.com) After more than two years circling a lumpy space rock called Bennu, it's finally time for NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to head back to Earth with a full load precious cargo: pieces of an asteroid. Eclypsium Awarded AFWERX SBIR Phase One Contract to Explore Air Force Use of Enterprise Device Security Platform (Eclypsium) Portland, OR ndash; May 7, 2021 ndash;Eclypsiumreg;, the enterprise device security company, today announced it has been awarded a U.S. Air Force, AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 contract. The contract will allow Eclypsium to conduct feasibility studies with the Department of Defense (DoD) to demonstrate how the company's enterprise… How did you spend your week? NASA pretended to crash an asteroid into Earth. (Space.com) More than a year into a very real crisis, experts gathered virtually to confront a second emergency, a potential asteroid impact — but this disaster, fortunately, was entirely hypothetical. Solar Power Sats Help Drive DoD Deep Space Push (Breaking Defense) "[W]e don't have a military reason to go to the Moon today, but we do have long term-objectives that include the expansion out to the Moon and beyond," Space Force Chief Scientist Joel Mozer says.  Academia Air Force Academy graduates over 1,000 seniors in return to Falcon Stadium (Air Force Times) More than 1,000 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets and their loved ones gathered in Falcon Stadium Wednesday for a graduation ceremony that marked the end of a trying year for the senior class. UMBC to receive over $63 million in NASA renewal of CRESST II space science consortium (UMBC NEWS) NASA has committed $178 million to extend support for the Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science & Technology II (CRESST II), a five-institution research consortium, through 2027. The consortium leverages resources at each institution to develop a diverse talent pipeline in space science and answer big questions about the universe. Legislation, Policy, and Regulation Biden follows Trump, shuts door on airspace treaty with Russia (Space War) Washington (AFP) May 28, 2021 - US President Joe Biden's administration announced Friday it will not return to the Open Skies Treaty, which Donald Trump withdrew from, signaling a toughening stance against Russia. Russian lawmakers vote to follow US out of overflight treaty (Military Times) Moscow has signaled its readiness to reverse the withdrawal procedure and stay in the treaty if the United States returns to the agreement. With Artemis Accords on the table, South Korea, U.S. to widen cooperation in space exploration, security (SpaceNews) The commitment to work toward South Korea becoming a formal signatory of the Artemis Accords was part of a broader agreement reached between the two leaders in the field of space during a U.S-South Korea summit May 21 at the White House. 'Our pacing threat is the Chinese,' US Space Command leader says in Tokyo (Stars and Stripes) China is the primary challenge not only on the surface but also for U.S. forces preparing to fight and win in any future conflict in space, according to the chief of the U.S. Space Command. Managing the Military Problem of Space: The Case of China, Part 1 (Diplomat) In some ways, China's space doctrine has grown similar to that of the United States. British Royal Air Force invests in space capabilities (C4ISRNET) The head of the Royal Air Force discusses the Ministry of Defence's goals in space. FAA, NASA collaborating to regulate suborbital space (Federal News Network) The Space Hour spoke to Wayne Monteith, the FAA's Associate Administrator for commercial space transportation, and Mike Gold, who at the time was NASA's Associate Administrator for space policy and… Bill Nelson pledges action on Artemis, Mars and China in 1st hearing as NASA chief (Space.com) He reminded lawmakers that NASA has competition at the final frontier. Why the U.S. Needs a Space Czar (Defense One) Bureaucracy must keep up with the new space age. House NDAA Vote Not Expected Until After August as Infrastructure Takes Priority (Air Force Magazine) The 2022 defense policy bill likely won't get out of committee until July, as Congress waits on the Biden administration to release its budget. Pentagon budget will shake up 'legacy' systems. Lawmakers are shaking back. (Defense News) Top Pentagon officials are asking Congress to let them use the upcoming budget to shed unneeded weapons in order to invest in forward-looking technologies now. It wasn't an easy conversation. Space Force's First Battle Is With the US Army (Defense One) The newest force is relying on Army and Navy transfers to grow. But giving up missions is not in the military's DNA. Space Force Looks to Boost Cyber Defenses of Satellites with Acquisition Reorganization (Air Force Magazine) The restructuring of Space Force acquisition authorities is designed in part to ensure proper cybersecurity testing and monitoring of new programs. U.S., Partner Space Launches on Track as Importance of International Collaboration Grows (Air Force Magazine) The Space and Missile Systems Center recently said it is closer to sending U.S. payloads on a Japanese space launch. Biden's Budget Cuts Ships, Planes, But Huge Boost in R&D (Breaking Defense) "Critically, we reallocate resources to fund research and development in advanced technologies such as micro-electronics. This will provide the foundation for fielding a full range of capabilities, such as hypersonic missiles, artificial intelligence, and 5G," Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said. Air Force Hopes To Retire 201 Planes; Space Force Ask Up $2.2B (Breaking Defense) The service plans to buy 48 F-35As and 12 F-15EXs for $4.5 billion and $1.3 billion, but the F-35 buy is almost certain to increase once it hits Capitol Hill. The Air Force also wants to buy 14 KC-46s for $2.4 billion. Biden's 2022 NASA budget proposal gives science and commercial space a boost (Space.com) President Joe Biden's federal budget proposal for 2022 gives NASA more science funding than ever before while continuing to pave the way for the next human moon landing in 2024. Biden proposes 6.3% boost for NASA in budget proposal (UPI) President Joe Biden is seeking $24.7 billion for NASA in his 2022 budget released Friday, boosting funding for the agency's Artemis program as well as weather and climate efforts. Defense Secretary Austin calls for 'new vision' for American defense (Military Times) "The way that we fight the next major war is going to look very different from the way that we fought the last ones," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a change-of-command ceremony for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Friday at Pearl Harbor. Richard Says Nuclear Deterrence Connected to All Other DOD Capabilities (Air Force Magazine) If strategic deterrence fails, nothing else will work as intended, Adm. Charles "Chas" A. Richard told a Brookings Institution audience May 7. CSO: Space is the 'Wild, Wild West,' Requiring New Norms for Operating in Orbit (Air Force Magazine) Space is "the wild, wild West" with more satellites going into orbit and a large increase in space junk threatening assets, said Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond. Space Force wants to be the world's first fully digital service (C4ISRNET) The vision outlines four focus areas: Digital engineering, digital workforce, digital headquarters and digital operations. Space Organizations Partner To Boost Cybersecurity (Breaking Defense) "We don't have a parochial view, thinking that because [a cyber incident] happened over there [in that industry], it can't happen here [in the space industry]," AIAA's Lee says. House Defense leader: Space Force hasn't met expectations for speedy tech (C4ISRNET) House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Chair Rep. Betty McCollum says she is disappointed by the lack of space acquisition reforms under the U.S. Space Force. HAC-D Wants Space Acquisition Exec Post Filled Now (Breaking Defense) HAC-D Chair Rep. Betty McCollum and the Ranking Member Rep. Ken Calvert used today's hearing to decry DoD's failure to fundamentally overall space acquisition. Space Force, SPACECOM Working on New Communication Strategy to Fight Overclassification (Air Force Magazine) The U.S. wants to be able to openly discuss space capabilities while ensuring the military can deter adversaries who are improving their own capabilities in orbit. Army Sat Ops Brigade Transfers To Space Force: Karbler (Breaking Defense) "Now we're just really working out the details for the timing that that will happen, and how frankly how it will happen," Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, Army SMDC commander, says. Plan for Space Force reserve component is 'fairly close,' National Guard boss says (Air Force Times) Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson is meeting with acting Air Force Secretary John Roth and Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond to hash out the final details of pitching a two-part military service. Leaders Provide Insight Into the Newly Re-Established US Space Command (Air Force Magazine) U.S. Space Command's military and civilian leaders provide insights from inside the 19-month-old command whose geographic AOR starts 100 km above the Earth. Review of Space Command basing decision sought by Senate Intel members (Air Force Times) Some lawmakers are still trying to convince the executive branch to reverse a preliminary decision to move U.S. Space Command headquarters to Alabama. SOCOM Likely To Boost Cyber, EW (Breaking Defense) "Everything we're doing now is going to be hard," SOCOM commander  Gen. Richard Clarke said. "It's going to be multi-domain, it's going to be partnered and it's going to be contested in every step...and there are countries that are close on our heels." The Army is nearly tripling electronic warfare personnel (Defense News) To prepare for organizational changes, the Army plans large growth with its electronic warfare force. Rosen Questions General on U.S. Military Space Operations (Senator Jacky Rosen) Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) questioned General David Thompson, Vice Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force, about military space operations, policy, and programs during a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. During her questioning, Senator Rosen asked General Thompson about Space Force's efforts to protect our nation's space program from cyber attacks and their efforts to strengthen the STEM education and workforce pipeline. A transcript of the Senator's full exchange can be found below, and a video of the Senator's full exchange can be found here. Senate Intelligence chairman wants Biden to review US Space Command move (TheHill) The head of the Senate's Intelligence Committee has joined a group of lawmakers calling on the Biden administration to review a Trump-era decision that moves U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama. Congress can't 'take foot off the gas' on DoD electronic warfare (C4ISRNET) Some members of Congress are frustrated with what they describe as a lack of focus on electronic warfare at the DoD. U.S. Military Needs an EMS Warfare Czar (Air Force Magazine) DOD needs someone to oversee the joint electromagnetic warfare fight to coordinate responses to China and Russia. VP Kamala Harris to Lead National Space Council (Via Satellite) Vice President Kamala Harris will chair the National Space Council, the White House has announced.   "As I've said before: In America, when we shoot for the moon, we plant our flag on it. I am honored to lead our National Space Council," the vice president tweeted on May 1, commenting on her role.  The National Space Space Force's first senior spouse works to build a 'family-like culture' (Military Times) Mollie Raymond encourages Space Force families to reach out to her directly on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn; a virtual spouse welcome is set for May 12. White House's slate of nominees would put familiar faces back in the Pentagon (Defense News) A group on Pentagon nominees have experience dealing with the Pentagon's acquisition system and extensive knowledge from industry, but they also have the scars from programs gone wrong and occasionally tense relationships with lawmakers. Vandenberg Air Force Base will get new name in ceremony Friday (Lompoc Record) Vandenberg Air Force Base will formally rename the installation to Vandenberg Space Force Base during a command ceremony on Friday. SOFIC NEWS: Spending on Special Ops Radios, Computers Takes Big Dip (National Defense) Special Operations Command has made large budget reductions to its program executive office for command, control, communications and computers, said the head of the office May 18. Industry urges DCSA to accelerate security clearance transformation efforts (Federal News Network) Industry and Congress say the executive branch has made real progress on the security clearance backlog in recent years, but they want to see the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency and… Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement If the Pentagon Drops JEDI, Then What? (Defense One) DOD says the contract's enterprise capabilities are still needed. But there are new cloud technologies that could fill the bill. Pentagon Weighs Ending JEDI Cloud Project Amid Amazon Court Fight (Wall Street Journal) Defense officials are considering pulling the plug on the star-crossed JEDI cloud-computing project, which has been mired in litigation from Amazon.com and faces continuing criticism from lawmakers. Pentagon Reconsidering Huge JEDI Cloud-computing Contract (SecurityWeek) The Pentagon is reconsidering how to make a massive shift to cloud computing and could scrap the JEDI contract potentially worth $10 billion that was awarded to Microsoft Corp. Pentagon to continue court fight over JEDI Cloud contract (Federal News Network) DoD and Amazon Web Services intend to keep fighting in court over JEDI, but have very different ideas about how the case should proceed. WSJ News Exclusive | GOP Lawmakers Urge Probe of Amazon's Pursuit of Pentagon Contract (Wall Street Journal) Republican Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Ken Buck are pressing the attorney general to investigate potential anticompetitive behavior by Amazon in its pursuit of the JEDI cloud-computing deal ultimately won by Microsoft. An agency learns an old procurement lesson: Judge bids how you say you will (Federal News Network) An IT contractor successfully protested an award made by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, even though the protester had higher prices. Military response to UFOs subject of latest Pentagon inspector general investigation (Washington Examiner) The Pentagon is set to begin the most expansive look yet at the military's response to "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" in an inspector general investigation announced this week. What is the military doing about UFOs? The Pentagon's internal watchdog wants to know (Navy Times) The IG evaluation comes as the deadline nears for a report to Congress about such phenomena. Pentagon watchdog launches UFO probe into Defense Department's actions amid string of sightings (Fox News) A Pentagon watchdog is launching a probe into how the Department of Defense has addressed a string of UFO sightings in recent years that have been spotted by military aircraft.  Ex-Navy Lieutenant Says U.S. Pilots Have Seen UFOs Every Single Day for Years (The Daily Beast) Ryan Graves was one of several current and ex-military officials to speak about their UFO experiences in Sunday's "60 Minutes" show. For some Navy pilots, UFO sightings were an ordinary event: 'Every day for at least a couple years' (Washington Post) Pilots detailed their experiences in a "60 Minutes" episode devoted to unidentified flying objects, signaling a new development: UFOs have gone mainstream. What we know about UFOs: How the Pentagon has handled reported sightings, mysterious videos and more (CNN) For years, the US government largely ignored reports of mysterious flying objects seen moving through restricted military airspace but it is now slowly beginning to acknowledge that UFOs, which the Pentagon refers to as unidentified aerial phenomena, are real. I've seen the saucers: Obama weighs in as US interest in UFOs rises (the Guardian) CBS 60 Minutes report on government's 'grudging acknowledgment' of UFOs stirs interest across the country UFOs Are 'Real,' and the US Needs Answers, Former Military Officials Say (Military.com) Former service members and DoD officials are becoming increasingly vocal about what they've seen in the skies that can't be explained. Aliens Are (Probably) Not Harassing the U.S. Navy (Bloomberg) Unidentified flying objects have been interacting with military ships with alarming frequency. Congress is right to take the issue seriously. UFOs are about to make their way to the U.S. Senate. Here's what to know. (NBC News) U.S. intelligence agencies are expected to deliver a report on "unidentified aerial phenomena" to Congress next month, sparking renewed interest in UFOs. SpaceX Starlink satellites, not UFOs, spotted in night sky over Washington state: report (Fox News) It turns out the lights in the night sky over western Washington state on Tuesday weren't UFOs. Instead, they were SpaceX Starlink satellites, according to a report. Ex-official who revealed UFO project accuses Pentagon of 'disinformation' campaign (POLITICO) Lue Elizondo's inspector general complaint asserts that officials have tried to discredit him since he went public. 'From hearsay to hard evidence': are UFOs about to go mainstream? (the Guardian) Unidentified aerial phenomena are getting serious attention on TV and from Barack Obama and Marco Rubio and next month the Pentagon is set to release a major declassified analysis Opinion: We're asking the wrong questions about UFOs (Washington Post) With a government report due in June on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and a recent "60 Minutes" story on U.S. Navy pilots' sightings and videos of mysterious images, prominent people in politics, the military and national intelligence are finally asking: What are we looking at?

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