Signals & Space Monthly Briefing

October 2020

Prepared by the CyberWire (Thursday, October 1, 2020) Kinetic threats to space systems. While hacking drew a great deal of attention this month as a threat to space systems, kinetic threats to satellites didn't go unnoticed, either. On September 1st the Department of Defense rendered its annual report to Congress on China's military capabilities, "Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2020." Among the capabilities given prominence were Beijing's anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, the development and deployment of which have remained a Chinese priority. China already has ground-based interceptors available, and “probably intends to pursue additional ASAT weapons capable of destroying satellites up to geosynchronous Earth orbit.” Nor has Beijing neglected the possibility of neutralizing satellites by cyber, electronic, or directed energy attack. This forms part of what C4ISRNet quotes the Pentagon report as calling an "intelligentized" approach to warfare. US President Trump issues Space Policy Directive 5 on cybersecurity for space systems. On September 4th President Trump signed Space Policy Directive 5, Cybersecurity Principles for Space Systems, which outlines an approach to securing space systems from cyberattack. SPD-5 establishes five principles for securing space systems: "Space systems and their supporting infrastructure including software, should be developed and operated using risk-based, cybersecurity-informed engineering; "Space systems operators should develop or integrate cybersecurity plans for space systems that include capabilities to: protect against unauthorized access; reduce vulnerabilities of command, control and telemetry systems; protect against communications jamming and spoofing; protect ground systems from cyber threats; promote adoption of appropriate cybersecurity hygiene practices; and, manage supply chain risks; "Space system cybersecurity requirements and regulations should leverage widely-adopted best practices and norms of behavior; "Space system owners and operators should collaborate to promote the development of best practices and mitigations; and "Space systems operators should make appropriate risk trades when implementing cybersecurity requirements specific to their system." SIGNAL has some background on the decision, drawn from an AFCEA-sponsored industry workshop that discussed what participants saw as a growing threat of cyberattack to satellites. The supporting infrastructure on the ground has of course long grown increasingly networked, with a correspondingly expanded attack surface. The spacecraft themselves have long enjoyed the sort of protection that retro, legacy systems in other sectors have: much of their hardware and software were purpose-built and thus had at the very least a certain security-by-obscurity and the reduced exposure to attack that more limited networking capabilities tend to bring. But the growing use of commodity hardware and software and the development of in-orbit networks are quickly changing that. As SIGNAL puts it: "The traditional boutique, one-off, made-to-order for the military or government, satellites in high, geostationary orbits, are increasingly outnumbered by the huge constellations of small, mass-produced spacecraft, launched by the dozen by private sector companies looking to provide ubiquitous 5G phone service or Internet of Things connectivity." The interdependence of operations in the space and cyberspace domains. There's also a growing operational interdependence between the space and cyberspace domains. Gordon Davis, NATO deputy assistant secretary-general for defense investment, told AFCEA's September 3rd workshop Cybersecurity in and for Space Operations. “NATO recognizes that the effective employment of space-based capabilities depends on the secure access, protection and use of cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum,” he said. And much the same can be said for cyberspace capabilities, which are growing increasingly dependent upon the delivery of Internet access through satellite constellations. The wildfires along the US Pacific Coast are providing a practical demonstration of how rapidly satellite-delivered Internet communications have come online. Emergency responders in Washington State are using seven Starlink terminals to provide them with communications during swiftly developing operations in remote areas. They've been pleased, Ars Technica reports, with Starlink's performance, finding it fast and easy to set up. CNBCquotes Washington's emergency comms leader, Richard Hall, as saying, “I have spent the better part of four or five hours with some satellite equipment trying to get a good [connection]. So, to me, it’s amazing.” From orbit down to the mud. The US Army's Project Convergence, a series of exercises devoted to the integration of hitherto disparate systems, notably space systems and conventional ground-based systems, is helping the Service iron out the difficulties in making multi-domain capabilities a reality. Breaking Defense has a summary of some of the challenges the Army is rising to in exercising a "kill chain in the sky." Project Convergence brings together an array of novel systems (experimental unmanned aircraft, advanced artillery, ground robots, and various satellite capabilities) to test its network warfare concepts and emerging doctrine. Such exercises represent, among other things, a final stage of rapid prototyping, where innovative systems, many developed outside the extensive requirements imposed on ACAT 1 programs of record and funded with nontraditional contracting mechanisms, are tested under a reasonably realistic set of operational circumstances. Defense One describes the exercises at Yuma Proving Ground as being organized into three phases: Phase one, “Penetrate,” opened with simulated satellite-developed combat information being passed to the Army's new ground processing station TITAN ("Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node") which developed it into a call-for-fire on the Yuma range, answered by an Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) battery. Both TITAN and ERCA are new systems. (C4ISRNet describes TITAN, a Northrop Grumman development) as a prototype system the Army hopes can dramatically reduce sensor-to-shooter latency.) Local aerial reconnaissance developed more targets, and these were serviced by an autonomous Grey Eagle drone. Phase two, "Disintegrate," developed the scenario into a comprehensive SEAD (suppression of enemy air defense) exercise in which the objective was the elimination of remaining enemy air defenses. Artificially intelligent fire direction was employed in this phase, integrating both cannon fire missions and kinetic drone strikes. Phase three, “Exploit,” concluded the exercise as both manned and unmanned ground combat vehicles moved onto the objective. Aided Target Recognition Software (AiDTR) assisted ground units in finding and attacking targets. Project Convergence isn't the only Army exercise to test emerging capabilities against emerging threats. Exercise Jack Voltaic 3.0, run by the Army Cyber Institute, engaged the Army in responding to a range of grey zone threats and natural disasters in conjunction with civil authorities. CyberScoop reports that the exercise scenario played out a multidomain threat to the ports of Charleston and Savannah. Some of the novel systems, particularly some of the autonomous ones, were played by surrogates, as the systems themselves are not yet ready even in prototype form. But the point of such exercises is to develop an understanding of how new technologies can be used. Attempts to push through new technologies by establishing detailed requirements, with doctrine to match, have not always developed happily. What seems to work is to give operators the experimental articles themselves, and let them reveal their often unexpected potential in use. That potential is often unexpected by the systems' developers themselves, just as the operators would have been unlikely to predict what novel technologies might prove invaluable. People tend to imagine the future as either a better version of today or as a wildly impractical science fiction dream. Consider a civilian example. Had you asked some forward-thinking executives circa 1965 what they wanted in the way of new information technology, they would probably have asked for, on the one hand, better switchboards, a bigger version of that IBM 360 they'd read about, cheaper photocopiers, and maybe a picture phone like the one at the Bell Telephone pavilion at the New York World's Fair. On the other hand they would have probably also asked for a robot assistant like the one in the Jetsons. What they wouldn't have imagined was small endpoint devices operating in a cloud. The PC, the smartphone, the Internet, and the cloud were all disruptive innovations that only disclosed their uses when people actually began using them. Rapid prototyping in the context of exercises seems a way of institutionalizing such innovation. Such efforts hold lessons for Space Force. Space Force's maturation. Of course, rapid innovation that's able to cross the proverbial valley of death between budget categories 6.3 and 6.4 needs the support of the acquisition system. Space Force seems to be getting some good early reviews on its ability to adapt its acquisition system to faster research, development, and fielding tempo. Space News samples some industry reaction to the young Service's early forays into procurement. In general, they're expressing pleased surprise at how fast Space Force has been. Lieutenant General Nina Armagno, staff director at the office of Space Force chief of space operations, described the goal as cutting acquisition timelines and keeping designs simpler. That involves what she characterizes as moving from “Taj Mahal satellites to simpler satellites, not exquisite one-of-a-kind that take 20 years from conception to delivery and launch.” Breaking Defense reports that Space Force chief General Raymond told the Air Force Association that he intends to go to war against bureaucracy and speed up the acquisition process. Such resolutions are nothing new, of course, but as a new Service Space Force has a rare opportunity to make good on them. Uniforms and rank structure remain a work in progress, Air Force Times says (although even here, with the Service less than a year old, Military.com sees progress), Space Force is preparing to mark its December 20th first birthday with a number of announcements that will include personnel accessions and promotion plans. Other progress is underway. The first Space Force personnel have deployed to the Middle East, Space Force and NASA have concluded a memorandum of understanding that places emphasis on cislunar space, a new office for international cooperation has been organized, threat-based training is under development, and the Service is working on a strategy to improve satellite communications. [1598]   Today's edition of the CyberWire reports events affecting China, the European Union, NATO/OTAN, and the United States. Selected Reading Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities (5) Trends (1) Marketplace (19) Products, Services, and Solutions (19) Technologies, Techniques, and Standards (18) Design and Innovation (17) Research and Development (26) Legislation, Policy, and Regulation (42) Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement (5) Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities Pentagon report: China amassing arsenal of anti-satellite weapons (SpaceNews) DoD report: China intends to pursue ASAT weapons capable of destroying satellites up to geosynchronous Earth orbit. China moves toward new ‘intelligentized’ approach to warfare, says Pentagon (C4ISRNET) A newly released report from the DoD articulates how China is adopting new technologies as part of a shift in its military strategy. Cyber Attack Most Likely Space Threat: Maj. Gen. Whiting (Breaking Defense) "We know that cyber attack is where we are most likely to face the enemy in space," said Space Force deputy commander Maj. Gen. Stephen Whiting. Amateur astronomer discovers large asteroid that flew by Earth this week (Space.com) An amateur astronomer from Brazil discovered the large, "potentially hazardous" asteroid that safely passed by Earth this week on Thursday (Sept. 10). 2 asteroids safely buzzed close by Earth this week (Space.com) They were about one-third the distance to the moon. Trends World Space Week 2020: Join the UN satellite celebration next week (Space.com) World Space Week leaders think virtual events could mean good news for turnout. Marketplace Pentagon’s central AI office wants to standardize its acquisition process (C4ISRNET) The Joint Artificial Intelligence Center is “considering” starting a competition for a 501(c) nonprofit manager or managers of its prototype “Artificial Intelligence Acquisition Business Model” that looks to use other transaction authorities to more quickly purchase AI products. Defense Experts Throw Warning Flags As Congress Mulls Tighter Buy-American Rules (Defense One) The House NDAA would require major defense programs to be all-American by 2026. AFSOC posts ISR PED RFI (Intelligence Community News) On September 24, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) issued a request for information (RFI) for ISR/Processing Exploitation... Microsoft Positions Itself To Win Space Data Market With Azure Orbital (Breaking Defense) Offering Ground-Stations-as-a-Service means customers are only obliged to pay for the amount of time they actually need to use on the station. Amentum to acquire DynCorp (Intelligence Community News) The acquisition will create one of the largest providers of mission critical services, with $6+ billion of combined revenue over 12 months. Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions to Expand Position in Tactical and Enterprise Network Communications Systems Markets with Acquisition of Pacific Star Communications (Thomasnet) Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions to Expand Position in Tactical and Enterprise Network Communications Systems Markets with Acquisition of Pacific Star Communications - Curtiss-Wright Controls Defense Solutions Companies Vie to Design New Weather Satellite (National Defense) Multiple defense contractors have been chosen to develop a prototype design for the Space Force’s next-generation electro-optical infrared weather satellite. Northrop Grumman to Build Data System for Defense Intelligence Agency (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a task order contract by the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) and the Defense Intelligence... U.S. military selects Denver-area space companies for lucrative work on the ground (Denver Business Journal) Two Denver-area aerospace companies have won lucrative new work developing technologies on the ground for the U.S. military. Lockheed Martin to build mesh network of 10 small satellites in two years (SatellitePro ME) The $187.5m contract for Transport Layer’s Tranche 0 is an initial test and demonstration phase, with two prime contractors building a total of 20 satellites. AMERGINT buys space-based optics business following UTC-Raytheon merger (C4ISRNET) The sale is one of the major divestitures required for the UTC-Raytheon merger to take place. Raytheon sells off Danbury-based space optics business (Hartford Business Journal) Raytheon Technologies Corp. has sold a Danbury-based space-based optics business to Colorado tech firm AMERGINT Technologies Holdings, as part of company’s $180-billion merger deal with the now-defunct United Technologies Corp. Raytheon doubles job cuts to 15,000, citing airline downturn (Federal News Network) Raytheon Technologies plans to eliminate more than 15,000 jobs this year at its corporate offices, jet engine-maker Pratt & Whitney and aviation and military equipment manufacturer Collins Aerospace… Raytheon Wins $13M Contract to Connect Military Aircraft to LEO Internet (Via Satellite) Raytheon Intelligence & Space has been awarded a $13.1 million contract for a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory program aimed at connecting military jets to emerging commercial satellite internet constellations in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced the contract Sept. 10.  Under Space Force issues $298M contract for new anti-jamming satellite design (C4ISRNET) The Evolved Strategic SATCOM program will eventually replace the Advanced Extremely High Frequency constellation in providing survivable, jam-resistant communications. Northrop wins the Air Force’s contest for next-gen ICBMs (Defense News) No word yet on whether Boeing will protest the competition, which it has decried as favoring its rival. $13B contract awarded to Northrop Grumman reignites triad debate (Washington Examiner) As Pentagon contracts go, this is a big one. The Air Force has picked Northrop Grumman to be the lead contractor to develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile to replace the aging Minuteman III by 2029, part of an ambitious plan to upgrade and modernize all… SpaceX handed loss in challenge over Air Force contract (Reuters) A federal judge plans to deny SpaceX's challenge to U.S. Air Force contracts awarded to its rivals, writing in a Thursday court filing that the Pentagon properly assessed the development of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's Starship rocket system as "too risky and expensive." Leidos names defense group logistics VP (Virginia Business) Reston-based Fortune 500 federal contractor Leidos Holdings Inc. announced Thursday it has hired retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams  as vice president of defense group logistics, effective immediately. Williams most recently served as the director of the Fort Belvoir-based Defense Logistics Agency, where he oversaw the Department of Defense’s combat support agency for… Products, Services, and Solutions Watch Firefly Aerospace test-fire its Alpha rocket in this stunning drone video (Space.com) An epic set of new videos shows the fiery power of Firefly Aerospace's forthcoming Alpha rocket. SpaceX improved Crew Dragon capsule for planned Oct. 31 launch (UPI) SpaceX and NASA plant to launch the historic first-ever flight of four people in a space capsule, the Crew Dragon Resilience, on Oct. 31. Starting in 2021, SpaceX may reuse boosters for US Space Force launches (C4ISRNET) The Space Force has issued SpaceX a contract modification that will allow the company to reuse boosters on upcoming GPS launches, resulting in savings of $53 million. Space Force OKs used SpaceX rockets for upcoming GPS satellite launches (Space.com) It's a first for national-security missions. SpaceX fires up in-space version of Starship's Raptor engine for 1st time (video) (Space.com) SpaceX keeps notching Starship milestones. When It Comes To Military Launches, SpaceX May No Longer Be The Low-Cost Provider (Forbes) SpaceX is charging much more than originally claimed for using its heaviest lifter. Northrop Grumman cancels Omega rocket; would have launched from Kennedy Space Center (Florida Today) Northrop Grumman will not continue development of its Omega rocket after the Space Force didn't select it for future national security missions. Northrop Grumman Delivers New Capabilities to Deployed Global Hawk Autonomous Aircraft (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has delivered a pair of sensors to enhance the capability of its Global Hawk high-altitude long-endurance autonomous aircraft system. Enhancements include the deployment of the MS-177... Virgin Galactic to launch its 1st suborbital spaceflight from Spaceport America in October: report (Space.com) The launch window opens on Oct. 22. Rocket limbo complicating NASA's Europa Clipper mission (Space.com) Clipper team members say they need a decision soon. Astra may make 2nd orbital launch attempt this year after test flight failure (Space.com) A software fix may be all that's needed to get the next Astra rocket ready to fly. Rocket Lab has launched its 1st homegrown Photon satellite (Space.com) The 'First Light' satellite is a technology demonstrator. Customizable RF SiP solution redefines edge processing for Radar, Electronic Warfare and 5G communications (GlobeNewswire) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, today announced the RFS1080, the first commercially available offering in their trusted system-in-package (SiP) product family. Mercury's Latest Microwave Tuner Delivers Unparalleled Flexibility and Speed (GlobeNewswire) Compact solution brings broadband quality RF signal processing to edge applications Mercury Systems Wins Six Product Excellence Awards in Military & Aerospace Electronics 2020 Innovators Awards Program (GlobeNewswire) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, announced today that six of its products were recognized among the most innovative solutions in aerospace and defense products and systems by the judges of the 2020 Military & Aerospace Electronics Innovators Awards program. New Storage and Processing Blades Accelerate Decision-Making for Big Data, 5G Communications and Artificial Intelligence (GlobeNewswire) Mercury’s latest blade offerings reduce data storage bottlenecks and boost compute-intensive applications Rohde & Schwarz upgrades R&S FSW signal and spectrum analyzer to 8.3 GHz internal analysis bandwidth (Rohde & Schwarz) With the new R&S FSW-B8001 option, the well-established R&S FSW high-end signal and spectrum analyzer now supports an industry-leading 8.3 GHz internal analysis bandwidth, offering unequaled dynamic range and sensitivity. Design engineers developing latest radar and wireless communications technologies as well as future satellite systems will benefit significantly from the extended bandwidth available in a one-box solution. Spirent Federal Announces M-code Updates (Odessa American) Spirent Federal Systems, the nation’s leading provider of GPS and GNSS simulators, announced today the release of SimMNSA 2.0. This release adds advanced scenario controls that enable full recreation of government test vectors while retaining the simple key and fly option of the initial release. Kratos offers cloud-based satellite ground services for Azure Orbital (Intelligence Community News) Kratos will enable the launch of Microsoft Azure Orbital, a groundbreaking platform that provides Ground Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS). Technologies, Techniques, and Standards Inside the Army’s Fearless, Messy, Networked Warfare Experiment (Defense One) Big steps reveal plenty about the bigger ones to come — including the need for battlefield coders. US Army combines fake hacks, natural disaster simulation to test responses in Charleston, Savannah (CyberScoop) What happens when Charleston and Savannah are faced with cyberattacks and physical disruptions in their ports? The Army investigates. Army to get two new ground station prototypes in 2022 (C4ISRNET) The two prototypes will help the U.S. Army draw down satellite imagery from on orbit to use for deep targeting. How the Marines want to provide information on demand (C4ISRNET) A 2019 blueprint is providing the path toward IT and information modernization. Protecting Satellite Communications (SpaceNews) The U.S. Space Force acquires, operates and maintains a constellation of Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites that are reserved for strategic, high-priority military missions, providing secure, jam-resistant communications. Military Services Look at New Approaches to Intelligence Operations (SIGNAL Magazine) Intelligence is metamorphosing as recent changes feed into operational evolution. The Air Force is working on better intelligence integration for defensive cyber (C4ISRNET) Air Force defensive cyber teams are working to utilize intelligence from the very beginning planning stages of operations. Space Force set to receive sixth anti-jamming satellite by end of year (C4ISRNET) The successful On-Orbit Testing of the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite moves it one step closer to operational use by the U.S. Space Force. US Space Force confirms Space Based Infrared System detected missile attack in January (C4ISRNET) Chief of Space Operations Gen. John UK to launch supercomputing 'nanosatellites' into orbit (Computing) The nanosatellites are true supercomputers and part of a joint project between the UKSA and ESA NASA Flies Down the Road to Zero-Trust Security (Technology Solutions That Drive Government) The space agency is taking multiple paths toward enhancing its cybersecurity. China’s mystery spacecraft ‘could be part of Shenlong space plane project’ (South China Morning Post) Military source says craft that has just completed its first test flight could be linked to the project. Details of the mission have not been released, but another source suggested it was similar to the US X-37B. China's reusable experimental spacecraft returns to Earth after two-day mystery mission (Space.com) The craft apparently deployed something during its brief orbital trip. China celebrates safe landing of secretive spacecraft as ‘important breakthrough’ (The Verge) China’s space ambitions continue to gather pace The US Space Force is using a repurposed civilian satellite for weather data (C4ISRNET) The satellite will now provide cloud characterization and theater weather imagery of the Indian Ocean region to the Department of Defense. This Is Our First Look At The Secretive X-37B Spaceplane With Its Cargo Bay Doors Open (The Drive) The mysterious craft is currently on its sixth orbital mission. The last one lasted 780 days. US Space Force deploys to vast new frontier: Arabian Desert (Military Times) Space Force now has a squadron of 20 airmen stationed at Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base in its first foreign deployment. AFRL Satellite To Track Up To The Moon; Space Force-NASA Tout Cooperation (Breaking Defense) "If you look at the orbits of the stuff that's going around the Moon, It looks like a drunken sailor wandering around as compared to the orbits that we're used to describing closer to the Earth," AFRL's Col. Eric Felt says. Design and Innovation US Army launching new PNT Modernization Office and Open Innovation Lab (C4ISRNET) The U.S. Army is standing up the PNT Modernization Office and the Open Innovation Lab to develop plug-and-play technologies that will allow soldiers to continue operating in GPS-denied or degraded environments. Northrop Grumman Developing Ground Station Prototypes for US Army’s TITAN Program (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected by the Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Army Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (TENCAP) office to develop two prototype ground stations for the... Defense Innovation Is Falling Short (War on the Rocks) After six years of dedicated effort, the Pentagon’s innovation initiatives are still far from meeting their goal. Despite some notable successes, the AFWERX Announces RunSafe Security Among Top Teams Selected to Exhibit at EngageSpace (September 29-30) The Premier Event for the Space Industry (PR Newswire) AFWERX, the catalyst for fostering innovation within the U.S. Air Force, today announced that RunSafe Security is one of the 178 top... AFWERX Seeks Next Breakthrough Tech Market For Investment (Breaking Defense) "I think we need something like a PEO that is wholly focused on commercial enterprise," says Air Force acquisition czar Will Roper. Pushing Data ‘From Space To Mud’: Project Convergence (Breaking Defense) “I have never in my life seen the cooperation between the agencies…the services…[and] across the Army” that’s happening in this fall’s wargames, Army space expert Willie Nelson told me. Britain’s armed forces get ready for a revolution (The Economist) The emphasis is on threats short of open warfare and the technological prowess to combat them JROC Struggles To Build ‘Information Advantage’ Requirement (Breaking Defense) "I'm not sure exactly how we're going to document what information advantage really is," says Vice JCS Chief Gen. John Hyten, who chairs the Joint Requirements Oversight Council. Northrop Grumman Receives Award for Evolved Strategic SATCOM Program (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Space Force for the rapid prototyping phase of the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) program to develop a modernized strategic... Northrop Grumman receives contract for ESS rapid prototyping phase (Airforce Technology) Northrop Grumman has received a contract for the US Space Force’s (USSF) Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) programme. US Army’s tactical network team looks to satellites for next iteration of tools (C4ISRNET) The leader of Program Manager Tactical Network outlined his team's focus areas for Capability Set '23. Kill Chain In The Sky With Data: Army’s Project Convergence (Breaking Defense) Over the southwest desert, drones large and small are autonomously avoiding anti-aircraft threats while feeding real-time targeting data over an AI network to troops on the ground. How does the Pentagon’s AI center plan to give the military a battlefield advantage? (C4ISRNET) The Pentagon’s artificial intelligence hub is working on tools to help in joint, all-domain operations as department leaders seek to use data to gain an advantage on the battlefield. China Is Not Ahead Of US On AI: JAIC Chief & Gen. Hyten (Breaking Defense) While China has invested heavily in “brute force” big data, Nand Mulchandani and aides said, US companies are far more innovative --- but will they work with the Pentagon? Chinese Startup Wants to Replace Chemical Rocket with Electromagnetic Power to Launch Satellites (Pressat) Guangzhou-based company Guoyao Tech announced a roadmap to complete a prototype launch of 10 kg by 2022 and short-range tonnage launch by electromagnetic by 2023. The company is developing a novel launch system - based on electromagnetic technology that would essentially bring satellite and human into space. JAIC Wants AI ‘Victory Gardens’ Across DoD (Breaking Defense) Instead of the Joint AI Center building everything in-house, the JAIC is creating technical and contracting tools to help any Defense Department organization launch its own AI projects. The Eyes Of Argus (Breaking Defense) Raytheon Intelligence & Space discusses what Greek mythology can tell us about missile defense. Research and Development US military eyes nuclear thermal rocket for missions in Earth-moon space (Space.com) DARPA awarded a $14 million task order to help make it happen. The Space Force doesn’t want to send a human to do a robot’s job (C4ISRNET) While the Space Force will probably send humans on orbital missions somewhere down the line, says Maj. Gen. John Shaw, the focus right now is on robotic, artificial intelligence and autonomous capabilities. Air Force Wants Help Teaching its Weapon Swarm How to ‘Think’ (Air Force Magazine) The Air Force Research Laboratory wants to make its budding swarm of semi-autonomous weapons smarter. AFRL’s Big Ambitions For Lunar Patrol Satellites (Breaking Defense) "We are interested in technologies to support wide area search, narrow field tracking, and autonomous space domain awareness," says CHPS program manager Capt. David Buehler. Five Ways GAO Fails To Understand Defense Industry Independent R&D (Forbes) Industry-initiated R&D gets a less-than-complete treatment from the government's watchdog agency. Air Force looking at how to defend JADC2 systems (C4ISRNET) As DoD is looking to build out the JADC2 architecture, Air Force officials acknowledge it must be defended from digital threats. NASA megarocket blasts past cost estimates, forces Congress notification (Space.com) NASA's new Space Launch System megarocket and its associated ground infrastructure have soared past original cost estimates to a degree that requires the agency to notify Congress. The Air Force’s ‘Connect Everything’ Project Just Had a Big Success (Defense One) The simulated cruise missile intercept harnessed widely dispersed systems — all supervised by tablets in a flight-line hangar. SpaceX launches Starship SN6 prototype test flight on heels of Starlink mission (Space.com) SN6 follows SN5 into the Texas sky. SpaceX makes Starship progress, despite test flight delays, Elon Musk says: Report (Space.com) SpaceX is "really making progress" with Starship production despite test flight delays, the company's CEO Elon Musk said Monday (Aug. 31), according to Space News. Meet 'Lunar Cruiser': Japan's big moon rover for astronauts gets a nickname (Space.com) The pressurized rover is expected to launch in the late 2020s. Northrop Grumman Successfully Tests NASA’s Space Launch System Booster for Artemis Missions (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) NASA and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) have successfully conducted a full-scale static fire test of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket motor, known as Flight Support Booster (FSB-1), in... USAF Seeks Better Ways to Process Electronic Intelligence (Defense One) The Air Force Research Lab is looking for white papers outlining new technologies and methodologies for signal processing. Breakthrough narrows intelligent life search in Milky Way (Phys.org) An analytical breakthrough that could significantly improve our chances of finding extra-terrestrial life in our galaxy has been discovered by a team at The University of Manchester. Want to Talk to Aliens? Try Changing the Technological Channel beyond Radio (Scientific American) Finding cosmic civilizations might require a more innovative approach than listening for radio transmissions Strange chemical in clouds of Venus defies explanation. Could it be a sign of life? (Space.com) Is there life on Venus? A new discovery suggests we should look harder. Venus, once billed as Earth's twin, is a hothouse (and a tantalizing target in the search for life) (Space.com) Our view of Venus has evolved from a dinosaur-rich swamp world to a planet where life may hide in the clouds. The clouds of Venus join the shortlist for potential signs of life in our solar system (Space.com) Scientists have spotted possible signs of life on multiple worlds beyond Earth. Scientists Found Phosphine on Venus—A Possible Hint of Life (Wired) A simple molecule floating in Venus's atmosphere is now humans' best bet for finding companionship in the galaxy. After a tantalizing discovery at Venus, what could an astrobiology mission look like? (Space.com) After an intriguing detection of phosphine in the clouds of Venus, it may take one or more spacecraft visiting our neighboring planet for scientists to truly understand what's happening. Rocket Lab Could Beat NASA Back to Venus in the Search for ET (Wired) After years of neglect, Earth’s other neighbor is back in the spotlight following a major discovery. A private rocket company may be the first to visit. Meet Calypso, a daredevil mission concept to explore the surface of Venus (Space.com) Just because it's hard doesn't mean we shouldn't do it. Earth life may have traveled to Venus aboard sky-skimming asteroid (Space.com) If there is indeed life on Venus, it may have come from Earth — aboard an asteroid that scooped up microbes high in our skies. The four most promising worlds for alien life in the solar system (Phys.org) The Earth's biosphere contains all the known ingredients necessary for life as we know it. Broadly speaking these are: liquid water, at least one source of energy, and an inventory of biologically useful elements and molecules. Saturn's ocean moon Enceladus has fresh ice in unexpected place (Space.com) Enceladus may be even more interesting than we thought. RIP, Laika: 'Space Dogs' Will Break Your Heart (Wired) The new documentary about Russia's doomed canine cosmonaut hurts the soul—and turns the stomach. Legislation, Policy, and Regulation Standardization of insurance policies could improve defense contractors’ cybersecurity (C4ISRNET) A new report recommends DoD create standards for cyber insurance for the defense industrial base. New study looks at space power competition through China’s lens (SpaceNews) A concern for the United States will be China’s diplomatic push to win over allies and challenge American leadership in space. Cyber, but in space (FCW) A White House memo proposes that space-based technology must have cybersecurity built in at the design stage while also allowing flexibility for operators to adapt on the fly. Everyone wants a Space Force — but why? (Space.com) "Nobody wants a war in space." Brussels Workshop Weighs Risks of Satellite Hacking (SIGNAL Magazine) Experts map the dangerous new territory of cyber attacks on spacecraft. US, Allies Agree On Threats In Space But Struggle With Messaging (Breaking Defense) "I would say that it's not the fact, in itself, that we have Space Forces or Space Commands which is concerning. It is what you do with this," says Maj. Gen. Michel Friedling, first commander of France's new Space Command. Space Force Creation Warrants Revisiting Defense Unification (War on the Rocks) American defense is dancing with its old nemesis. No, it is not an adversary per se, but the reemergence of questions on organization, enabled by the Space dominance requires taking technology and policy risks (Defense News) To counter its adversaries, the U.S. Space Force is working to craft a lean organization that will respond rapidly to new threats. Trump’s White House pushes measure to harden satellites against cyber threats (Washington Post) Satellites are vulnerable to all sorts of attacks, officials say, including hacks Keeping US space interests secure from cyber threats (Federal News Network) A presidential executive order has handed the Department of Homeland Security responsibility for cybersecurity of space assets. Trump signs Space Policy Directive-5 on space cybersecurity (Space.com) SPD-5 aims to protect the nation's valuable space assets. Space Security and Geopolitical Competition in the Asia-Pacific (Diplomat) Between the proliferation of counterspace capabilities and intensifying geopolitical competition, space is a critical domain for Asian powers. Space Force Focuses on Threat as It Builds Training (Air Force Magazine) USSF is leveraging what it's learned at Nellis and using USAF's model as it works to determine how best to train space professionals going forward. Navy Decouples Research Chief and N94 Positions (USNI News) The chief of naval research will cease serving in a dual role as the Navy’s director of innovation, technology requirements, and test and evaluation (OPNAV N94), according to a recent service memo obtained by USNI News. The document, dated Aug. 18 and signed by both Navy acquisition executive James Geurts and Vice Chief of Naval … Space Force and NASA focused on cislunar space in new agreement (C4ISRNET) Under a new memorandum of understanding, the U.S. Space Force and NASA will share existing technologies for detecting objects beyond geosynchronous orbit, as well as collaborate on developing new ones. Space Force to Celebrate 1st Birthday with Personnel Picks, Promotion Plans (Air Force Magazine) With its first birthday a few months away, the Space Force is preparing to unveil a slew of personnel, policy, and culture decisions that will set it apart. The First Members of Space Force Just Deployed to the Middle East (Military.com) The first official deployment of Space Force troops is not to the moon. Space Force developing a strategy to improve satellite communications (C4ISRNET) Currently, the Department of Defense relies on a loose federation of stovepiped government-built satellites and commercial providers to provide connectivity. But moving forward, the Space Force wants to integrate those capabilities, allowing war fighters to seamlessly roam from one signal to another to maintain their connection. Space Force Strategy Out In ‘Months’ In Time For Budget (Breaking Defense) "At the end of the day, anyone who's using satellite communications doesn't really care where that information comes from," Lt. Gen. William Liquori says. ASC NEWS: Space Force Establishing New Office to Bolster International Partnerships (National Defense) The Space Force has established a new Chief Partnership Office that will focus on developing operational capabilities with allied nations, the service's top officer announced Sept. 15. Space Force Official Argues Funding Should Match 'Huge' Space Responsibilities (Air Force Magazine) Military space budgets should be large enough to reflect the varied, unique responsibilities of those operations, a Space Force official argued this week. Space Development Agency praised as change agent in Pentagon procurement (SpaceNews) SDA's contracting process has impressed industry executives. Space Chief Targets Red Tape To Speed New Tech (Breaking Defense) "If we get this right, we will be the envy of the other services, because we're not tied to business of the past," says Space Force CSO Gen. Jay Raymond.  White House asks for flexibility in Space Force funding in stopgap spending measure (TheHill) The White House has asked Congress for flexibility to fund the Space Force, new submarines and a new nuclear warhead as part of an expected stopgap spending measure, among other requested exceptions. Raymond to Swear in New Space Force Members at AFA's Virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference (Air Force Magazine) Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond will virtually swear in some of the first Space Professionals into USSF during AFA's vASC conference. Space Force aims to set standard for diversity, inclusion in the military (Air Force Times) Some critics worry steps taken in public, such as the military’s first all-female space operations crew, only serve to obscure larger systemic problems the Space Force has inherited from the branch of the military it grew out of, the U.S. Air Force. U.S. Space Force May Become a Possibility for a Few Naval Academy Graduates - Seapower (Seapower) In the future, a commission in the U.S. Space Force may be a possibility for a few new graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA).  “USNA graduates select commissions into the Navy or Marine Corps,” said Cmdr.... From uniforms to first sergeants, Space Force gets down to basics (Air Force Times) The Space Force will use Air Force-like first sergeants for now, but has not ruled out moving to the Navy type of system where multiple SNCOs hold those responsibilities. The Space Force Will Soon Let Some Members Test Out Dress, PT Uniforms (Military.com) Uniforms are on Space Force's long list of details still to be determined. William Shatner wants the US Space Force ranks to use captains, not colonels (Space.com) In a bizarre, real-life plot twist worthy of any "Star Trek" episode, none other than William Shatner, the actor who famously played Captain James T. Kirk in "Star Trek: The Original Series," wants U.S. Space Force to rename its colonels to captains. The Air and Space Forces Want to Break the Mold. Here’s How They’re Starting. (Air Force Magazine) The Department of the Air Force’s top officers are beginning to lay the groundwork for changes to how they manage and provide global air and space forces. The long road to an independent Air Force (Air Force Times) The Air Force celebrates its 73rd birthday today. But its creation was controversial for decades. CSAF Brown Mulls Streamlining Of Air Force Commands; Barrett Announces ‘e’ Aircraft (Breaking Defense) "I want to go fast. I want to go fast. I want to go fast," says CSAF Gen. Charles Brown about revamping the Air Force to meet Russian and Chinese threats. US Air Force launches new ‘eSeries’ aircraft designation. The internet has questions. (Defense News) The announcement initially prompted confusion over social media as users pointed out that the U.S. military already uses the prefix Hyten to issue new joint requirements on handling data (Defense News) Gen. John Hyten wants to change how the Joint Requirements Oversight Council issues its guidance on data. Worried About Chinese Backdoors, Lord Pushes For New Tech Strategy (Breaking Defense) Ellen Lord said DoD is working to develop a "microelectronics strategy," to bring manufacturing and testing to the US Pentagon announces nomination of new DISA director (C4ISRNET) The Pentagon also announced a new director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. Turnover on the CMMC Advisory Board continues (Federal News Network) Ty Schieber, the chairman of the CMMC-AB, and Mark Berman, the chairman of the communications committee, are leaving the CMMC Advisory Board unexpectedly. ‘We’re not going back,’ Air Force leadership says telework is here to stay (Federal News Network) The Air Force is fully embracing telework, even after COVID goes away. What Joe Biden could mean for US space policy (Quartz) Studying the campaign to figure out how NASA and the Space Force might change under a Democratic White House Combat Leaders Go Through Hell to Learn About Risk. The Acquisition Corps Should Do the Same (Defense One) One reason the “culture of innovation” hasn’t taken proper hold at the Pentagon is that its buyers aren’t trained over and over to weigh uncertainties. Reporter's notebook: Navy SEAL admiral survives San Diego hot seat, moves on to SOCOM job (San Diego Union-Tribune) Rear Adm. Collin Green tried to root out misconduct among the elite Navy SEALs and became the target of conspiracy allegations in Gallagher case Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement Iranian Hackers Indicted for Stealing Aerospace & Satellite Tracking Data (Dark Reading) Also, the US Treasury sanctioned Iranian attack group APT39 following a years-long malware campaign. Why the Pentagon’s JEDI Saga Is Far From Over (Nextgov.com) The Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure procurement may be grounded until at least February, according to a new timeline agreed to by the government and Amazon Web Services. Pentagon reaffirms Microsoft’s JEDI cloud contract win despite procurement mistake (Washington Post) The Pentagon reaffirmed its controversial decision to give its largest-ever cloud computing contract to Microsoft instead of to market-leader Amazon, defying a court decision that blocked the earlier award amid criticism that President Trump’s animosity toward Amazon influenced the decision. JEDI: Why we will continue to protest this politically corrupted contract award (Amazon Web Services) Earlier today, the DoD announced it had concluded its corrective action and affirmed its prior JEDI contract award to Microsoft. Taking corrective action should have provided the DoD an opportunity to address the numerous material evaluation errors outlined in our protest, ensure a fair and level playing field, and ultimately, expedite the conclusion of litigation. Unfortunately, the DoD rejected that opportunity. Court rejects Oracle's appeal over Pentagon JEDI contract (UPI) A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected challenges by Oracle Corp. to the Pentagon's JEDI cloud computing contract, potentially worth $10 billion.

Compiled and published by the CyberWire editorial staff. Views and assertions in source articles are those of the authors, not CyberWire, Inc. or Cosmic AES