Signals & Space Monthly Briefing

October 2021

Prepared by the CyberWire (Invalid Date) At a glance. UN space policy discussions in Geneva aim at controlling an incipient arms race. The UK publishes a space strategy for a "Galactic Britain." Warning on "space terrorism." Space infrastructure protection. Cyber risks facing space infrastructure. Phishing hits a major Russian space organization. Milestones in commercial spaceflight. Connectivity through low-earth orbit. Space trash collection. Space Force acquisition policies. Developments in Space Force culture and organization. UN space policy discussions. The United Nations, seeing an incipient arms race in space, and hoping to head such a race off through negotiation, addressed this challenge in Geneva during the last week of September when the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research held its annual Outer Space Security Conference. MIT Technology Review summarized the important takeaways: An arms race is already in progress, with kinetic anti-satellite weapons having been tested by several powers. And China's delegation pointed to the creation of US Space Force as an aggressive move. But the issue now seems to have become one of arms control as opposed to the prevention of the militarization of space. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 needs to be updated to take into account the proliferation of commercial, non-state actors in space. The familiar law of due regard will prove inadequate to the adjudication of conflicts. The conference sees technological advance as offering promise for new approaches to regulating conflict and competition in space. The United Kingdom has drafted, and begun to circulate, a proposed UN resolution that would aim, not at arms control, but rather at confidence-building measures that would reduce the risk of war due to misunderstanding and misperception. The UK wants dialogue, deconfliction, and workable norms of international conduct in space. Breaking Defense says the US supports the British proposal. A space strategy for the United Kingdom. On September 27th the UK published its National Space Strategy. Publicly characterized as "Galactic Britain," the document says "This strategy sets out the government’s ambitions for the UK in space, bringing together civil and defence policy for the first time." The strategy's goals are: "Grow and level up our space economy" "Promote the values of Global Britain" "Lead pioneering scientific discovery and inspire the nation" "Protect and defend our national interests in and through space" "Use space to deliver for UK citizens and the world" The strategy, Via Satellite reports, has been generally applauded by industry. Chief of Britain's Space Directorate warns of the possibility of "space terrorism." According to Defense News, Air Vice Marshal Harvey Smyth, speaking at the DSEI 2021 conference in London on September 14th, said, “We all have witnessed what happens, and what particularly happens when the air domain became accessible to all — terrorists turned airliners into weapons." The chief of the UK's new Space Directorate added, "If such a trend holds true for space, when will we have to deal with our first example of space terrorism? And are we prepared for such a dramatic strategic shock?” Access to space is now more widespread and inexpensive than it's ever been, and Smyth's warning, while based mostly on a priori possibility, nonetheless addresses a serious potential threat. Space infrastructure: questions for policy-makers. A report by the Wilson Center outlines what it takes to be the overlooked risk vulnerabilities in space systems pose for 5G infrastructure in particular. The authors outline four questions policy-makers should be asking with respect to dependence on space systems: "Criticality: Who Depends on a Particular Satellite System (Now and in the Future), to What Degree, and for What Purposes?" "Physical Architecture: What Does the Ground Teleport Infrastructure and Launch Look Like, and Where Are They Located?" "Data and Digital Systems: How Does the System Protect the Data It Is Moving and Ensure That the Data Keeps Moving Reliably?" "Supply Chains: Which, and How Many, Vendors Comprise the Satellite System’s Hardware and Software) Supply Chain?" Space Force preps cybersecurity standards for satellite systems. Air Force Magazine says the Space Force Commercial Satellite Communications Office (CSCO) will this month issue a timeline for rolling out the long-awaited Infrastructure Asset Pre-Assessment (IA-Pre) program. IA-Pre will set cybersecurity standards for satcom vendors hoping to win military contracts, requiring external appraisal of alignment with enhanced National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-53 guidelines. The rules will impact both space and ground equipment and networks in an effort to bolster commercial systems’ resilience to cyberattacks and smooth acquisition procedures. The move toward greater regulation is consistent with the greater use Space Force intends to make of commercial satellite services. Concerns about cyber threats to space systems are far from idle. The Register reviewed space systems' vulnerability to cyberattack--they present a large and difficult to protect attack surface--and severe consequences exploitation of such vulnerabilities would bring. Space plays a prominent role in both military and civilian infrastructue. "'Persistent, over-the-horizon vision and continual, assured, high data-rate connectivity is fundamental in winning modern wars,'" Kevin Curran, a senior IEEE member and professor of cyber security at Ulster University, [told the Register]. The importance of space to the largest nation states cannot be overstated, according to Prof Curran. 'Essential systems such as communications, air transport, maritime trade, financial services, weather monitoring and defence all rely heavily on space infrastructure, including satellites, ground stations and data links at the national, regional, and international level,' he adds." Complicating the challenges of securing space systems against cyberattack is the large, complex, and diverse supply chain such systems depend upon. In any case, this is the risk the CSCO intends to mitigate with IA-Pre. But Space Force won't be the only source of standards and requirements. At a high level of generality, July'sNational Security Memorandum on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems outlined an approach to securing critical infrastructure that will certainly affect space systems. A number of agencies have been given regulatory, oversight, and policy-making responsibility, but the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Defense will have especially extensive roles to play. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD (A&S)) oversees the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, (CMMC) an initiative of particular importance to Defense contractors. OUSD (A&S) explains CMMC as follows: "The CMMC will review and combine various cybersecurity standards and best practices and map these controls and processes across several maturity levels that range from basic cyber hygiene to advanced. For a given CMMC level, the associated controls and processes, when implemented, will reduce risk against a specific set of cyber threats." "The CMMC effort builds upon existing regulation (DFARS 252.204-7012) that is based on trust by adding a verification component with respect to cybersecurity requirements." "The goal is for CMMC to be cost-effective and affordable for small businesses to implement at the lower CMMC levels." "Authorized and accredited CMMC Third Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs) will conduct assessments and issue CMMC certificates to Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies at the appropriate level." A recent example of a cyberattack on a space supply chain. An example of a cyberattack on a space supply chain emerged this month from Russia. Security firm Malwarebytes reported on September 22nd that it had “reason to believe that the MSHTML vulnerability listed under CVE-2021-40444 is being used to target Russian entities.” MSHTML is a Mcrosoft browser engine that can be exploited, Microsoft warns, when rendering malicious ActiveX controls. Malwarebytes says its researchers had intercepted email attachments that appear to be used as phishbait to catch Russian organizations. Among the organizations targeted was JSC GREC Makeyev, a company that develops both liquid and solid propellant ballistic missile systems, and that serves as one of Russia’s principal rocket and space technology research and development centers. One of the phishing emails directed at Makeyev recipients represented itself as coming from human resources. Other organizations are receiving emails purporting to come from the Ministry of the Interior and providing notification that illegal activity has been detected. Phishing emails are a common cyberattack technique: they either contain malware in an attachment or they include a link that takes users to a malicious site where their devices are compromised or their credentials are harvested. Microsoft has patched the vulnerability the attackers seek to exploit. Malwarebytes offered no attribution. As the company observes, however, “It is rare that we find evidence of cybercrimes against Russian targets. Given the targets, especially the first one, we suspect that there may be a state-sponsored actor behind these attacks, and we are trying to find out the origin of the attacks. We will keep you informed if we make any progress in that regard.” The three classic categories of cyber threat actor are criminals (out for financial gain), "hacktivists" (hackers engaging in activism, motivated by ideology, grievance, or a simple artistic desire to commit interesting vandalism), and nation-states (conducting espionage, battlespace preparation, or disabling attacks against an adversary). Makeyev may be a Russian company, but as Malwarebytes points out, that makes it a bit of an outlier. Much of the threat activity in cyberspace originates in Russia, where the criminals tend to operate at the sufferance of the government's security services, and where the security and intelligence services themselves are among the world's leading cyber threat actors. Western aerospace and electronics companies have long figured on the target lists of hostile intelligence services, and that trend shows no signs of abating. Commercial spaceflight continues to reach significant milestones. Between the 15th and 18th of September SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission put four civilians in orbit. Launched aboard a Falcon 9, the Crew Dragon capsule carried a crew the Wall Street Journal describes as "a billionaire businessman, a geoscientist, a physician assistant and an aerospace engineer." It's the first crewed orbital flight "arranged entirely by private parties." Previous orbital tourism had involved booking a seat aboard a Russian Soyuz, Space.com observes. MIT Technology Review gives the flight excellent reviews, seeing the absence of a pilot on board as particularly important to the future of commercial space flight. But, of course, this, and the previous month's suborbital flights by Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic represent successful but very early steps down what will be a long road. The FAA, after concluding a safety-of-flight investigation into some warnings received during Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity, have cleared the spaceplane for further flights. Boeing's Starliner crew vehicle isn't faring as well. After technical issues caused a test flight to be cancelled, the company continues to investigate the valve issues that were at the root of the problem. Starliner isn't going to be ready for some time, as hopes for a quick fix and a successful flight have faded. Ars Technica says there's no date, yet, for another attempt at a test flight. Space.com reports that a flight may slip into 2022. Connectivity through low-earth orbit. SpaceX continued to expand its StarLink constellation this past month, launching fifty-one satellites aboard a much-used Falcon Heavy (now at ten flights) from Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 14th, Space.com reports. The highest-profile provider of satellite-borne Internet has encountered some difficulties with its early adopters, some of whom, according to Business Insider, have been frustrated by their inability to get information on their accounts and equipment from the company's customer service. Clearly, the commercial space sector is experiencing growing pains as it expands into the business-to-consumer market. StarLink has positioned itself as a last-mile provider, a company that can deliver affordable broadband to underserved regions and communities. Its subscription fees are competitive, but, MIT Technology Review points out, a user's start-up costs can be high, perhaps prohibitively high for much of the target market. Other new last-mile solutions are coming online. Space.com reports that thirty-four new OneWeb satellites were flown aboard an Arianespace vehicle launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 15th, bringing the constellation near the halfway point in reaching its goal of six-hundred-forty-eight satellites. OneWeb and Hughes had earlier also concluded service distribution agreements for the US and Indian markets. Lynk Global has entered into partnerships with two telcos, the Bahama's  Aliv and the Central African Republic's Telecel Centrafrique. Lynk has demonstrated the ability to provide connectivity to unmodified cell phones, Via Satellite reports. And in Australia Optus has partnered with the Federal government to provide satellite-delivered voice phone service to rural users in Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. Inmarsat is tackling in-flight passenger connectivity for airlines with its OneFi platform. One player, Google, has left the satellite surrogate market. Bloomberg reports that the company has sold the intellectual property for its abandoned Project Loon (which has sought to offer high-altitude, balloon-borne connectivity) to SoftBank. Cleaning up low-earth orbit. Orbital deconfliction is challenging enough when dealing with properly tracked and managed spacecraft. Space junk complicates the problem enormously. Breaking Defense quotes Major General DeAnna Burt, vice commander of Space Force Space Operations Command. Speaking at the Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, she said, "We need to pick up debris — we need trash trucks. We need things to go make debris go away. That’s definitely a need, and I think there is a use case for industry to get after that as a service-based opportunity.” There is indeed commercial interest in orbital trash collection and hauling, albeit with government support: Astroscale has contracted with Rocket Lab to put its own trash collector into orbit. Via Satellite reports that Astroscale's system has been selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for Phase I of JAXA's Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration Project (CRD2). Phase I is collection; Phase II will be removal, deorbiting. Space Force and acquisition policy. Via Satellite looks at Space Force's acquisition policies and sees some prospect for procurement reform. Rapid acquisition tools adequate to address swiftly moving technologies have been a perennial challenge for the Department of Defense. The establishment of Space Force offers at least the theoretical opportunity for reform and modernization, but there's a great deal of inertia in Defense acquisition policies and practices. That inertia, and the difficulty of change, have been well understood for years, but actually changing direction will take a great deal of energy, thoughtfully applied. US Space Force continues to develop its culture. Army and Navy units are transitioning into Space Force. Breaking Defense reports that, effective October 1st, AFA: the Army’s Space Operations Brigade and the Navy’s Satellite Operations Center are expected to move over to Space Force. Space Force is working to design a personnel management system that will accommodate both professional development and work-life balance, the latter a goal that military Services have traditionally found challenging. Federal News Network quotes the Guardian Ideal, the Service's personnel planning document: “We must think differently about talent management for the Space Force to be successful. We are creating a regulated market approach to talent management that integrates and strengthens equity, development, and human dignity. It empowers individuals to pursue pathways that are informed by both their preferences and an understanding of Space Force requirements To that end, we are designing and implementing a new talent management approach to tap into and build upon each person’s unique strengths to power interconnected high-performing teams.” Space Force now officially has, not only its own enlisted insignia of rank (a lot like those of Mother Air Force, only spacier), but its own distinctive uniforms as well, which have attracted mixed reviews. You be the judge. NPR sees a bit of Battlestar Galactica in the uniforms, but we have to note, in fairness, that the insignia Lorne Greene wore as Commander Adama on the original series was US Army Military Intelligence branch brass, right off the rack. [2582]   Today's edition of the CyberWire reports events affecting . Selected Reading Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities Head of UK’s Space Directorate warns of space terrorism (Defense News) UK officials says the low cost of getting payloads on orbit could open up potential for new threats in space. In space, no one can hear cyber security professionals scream (Register) Miscreants hacking vulnerable orbital hardware could set living standards back by decades in seconds N.Korea tests first 'strategic' cruise missile with possible nuclear capability (Reuters) North Korea carried out successful tests of a new long-range cruise missile over the weekend, state media said on Monday, seen by analysts as possibly the country's first such weapon with a nuclear capability. North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into sea (Navy Times) North Korea on Tuesday fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, Seoul and Tokyo officials said. Trends Over-Classification in Space Programs Presents Too Great a Risk (Breaking Defense) In mid-August, Breaking Defense revealed a push inside the Pentagon to take a black anti-satellite system, declassify it and make a public demonstration of its capabilities. Surrounding that issue is a long-running debate about how much of its space capabilities the US should keep secret. In this op-ed, Christopher Stone of the Mitchell Institute argues… The Evolving Geography of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (War on the Rocks) Rosie the Riveter worked in California. One of more than 310,000 women who toiled in the U.S. aircraft industry in 1943, she became emblematic of a Ground Segment Faces Upheaval and Transformation With the Entry of Cloud Giants (Via Satellite) Ground systems technology is years behind the satellites it supports and catching up will entail a fundamental transformation of the sector and the introduction of interoperable standards, panelists at SATELLITE 2021 said Wednesday, Sept. 8. Marketplace Space Force awards $88 million in contracts for launch system prototyping (C4ISRNet) The contracts will help launch providers develop transformational capabilities, according to the Space Force. Space Force Awards Launch Prototype Awards to SpaceX, ULA, Rocket Lab, and Blue Origin (Via Satellite) The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded about $88 million in development contracts to U.S. launch providers for next generation rocket engine testing and upper stage resiliency enhancements. SpaceX, United Launch Alliance (ULA), Rocket Lab, and Blue Origin received the awards announced Sept. Space Force issues $47.5 million for prototype data transport service (Defense News) The U.S. Space Force believes its prototype network could serve as a foundation for future Joint All-Domain Command and Control capabilities. Will the Space Force Fix Military Space Acquisition? (Via Satellite) The newest military branch was formed to improve the way the U.S. military buys space systems. Two years in, is the Space Force moving in the right direction? Army kicks off work on networking intel systems (Washington Technology) The Army has a plethora of intelligence systems based at the Aberdeen Proving Ground that need to be networked together and a new request for information starts to lay the groundwork for a contract to do just that. 13 US lawmakers back Lockheed-Aerojet merger in new letter (Yahoo) A bipartisan group of 13 lawmakers wrote to the Pentagon in support Lockheed Martin’s proposed $4.4 billon acquisition of rocket maker Aerojet Rocketdyne. Isotropic Systems Closes $37M Funding Round (Via Satellite) Isotropic Systems, which plans to become a key player in the burgeoning antenna industry, has secured another $37 million in Series B funding. The equity funding round was announced Sept. 27 and was led by Seraphim Space Investment Trust. The round also included participation from strategic and deep-tech venture Xona Space Systems Raises $8M to Fund its First PNT Mission (Via Satellite) Satellite navigation startup Xona Space Systems has raised $8 million in a funding round that the company says will fully fund its first mission. The Seraphim Space Investment Trust and MaC Venture Capital co-led the round. The trust is part of Seraphim Capital, and went public on the London Stock Exchange in July. Palantir backs satellite intelligence company (CTOvision.com) Palantir has extended its partnership with an emerging geospatial intelligence firm by making an equity investment. Terms of Palantir's investment in BlackSky Holdings were not disclosed, but it follows a pilot program that saw BlackSky deliver insights Peter Thiel Bankrolls Satellite Imaging Startup HySpecIQ (Bloomberg) Billionaire invested more than $20 million in the company. HySpecIQ has U.S. Defense contract for space cameras. Intelsat’s Micha Explains Intelsat US Government Strategy - Via Satellite - (Via Satellite) David Micha joined Intelsat as president of government subsidiary Intelsat General in February of this year, after decades at L3 Technologies and the combined company L3Harris. In his first interview with Via Satellite, Micha talks about the dynamics of the U.S. government market. While he admits the relationship OneWeb Forms Government Subsidiary With Completed TrustComm Acquisition (Via Satellite) OneWeb has completed its acquisition of satellite service provider TrustComm, the Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) operator announced Sept. 21. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.  OneWeb announced the deal in May 2021, just after signing a distribution partner agreement with the company. The acquisition is intended to open Google Hands SoftBank Patents From Failed Balloon Moonshot (Bloomberg) SoftBank paid $125 million for a stake in Loon project in 2019. Google closed the high-altitude internet initiative this year. HawkEye 360 Awarded Long-Term Government Geospatial Intelligence Contract (Via Satellite) HawkEye 360 has received a $10 million contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), turning a pilot program for commercial Radio Frequency (RF) data into a long-term contract.  Under the $10 million, base year plus four option years contract announced Monday, HawkEye will provide the NGA the means Terran Orbital to Build New $300M Manufacturing Plant on Florida's Merritt Island (Via Satellite) End-to-end satellite solutions provider Terran Orbital will build a 660,000-square foot space vehicle manufacturing facility on Florida's Merritt Island. The startup company, which is based in Boca Raton, Florida, made the announcement alongside its partner organization Space Florida and Florida Governor Ron Jacobs Receives $302M Contract to Update NGA's GEOINT Data Platform; Caesar Nieves Quoted (GovCon Wire) Looking for the latest GovCon News? Check out our story: Jacobs Receives $302M Contract to Update NGA's GEOINT Data Platform. Click to read more! Inmarsat Wins New Maritime Contract With Solstad Offshore (Via Satellite) Inmarsat has signed a new deal in the maritime area for its new Fleet LTE service. The company announced Sept. 28 that Solstad Offshore -- one of the largest offshore support vessel owners in the world with a fleet of around 100 vessels -- has signed a contract to use the service on several of its North Sea vessels. BAE Systems to acquire smallsat company In-Space Missions (SpaceNews) BAE Systems announced Sept. 14 that it will acquire In-Space Missions, a company that recently won a contract to build a British military satellite. Raytheon to Buy Space Electronics Supplier SEAKR Engineering; Roy Azevedo Quoted (GovCon Wire) Looking for the latest GovCon News? Check out our story: Raytheon to Buy Space Electronics Supplier SEAKR Engineering. Click to read more! L3Harris becomes Space ISAC’s newest founding member (Electronics Weekly) L3Harris Technologies, the aerospace and defence specialist, has joined the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) as its newest founding mem Jacobs (J) Wins $302M GEODS Contract, Boosts CMS Backlog (Nasdaq) Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. J has received a seven-year, $302-million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (“NGA”). Dynetics selected to build NASA's sustainable lunar lander (SpaceRef) Dynetics selected to build NASA's sustainable lunar lander - SpaceRef BlackSky Is Now Trading After SPAC Merger Completion (Via Satellite) Space-based geospatial intelligence company BlackSky is now trading on the New York Stock Exchange after completing its special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger on Sept. 9. BlackSky Holdings completed its merger with Osprey Technology Acquisition Corp. and the combined company has been renamed BlackSky Lockheed scores US Army contract for major electronic warfare, intel and cyber platform (C4ISRNet) The contract will support additional prototyping and proof of concept for the Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team. Mercury Systems announces appointment of Thomas Huber as Executive Vice President, Chief Transformation Officer (Yahoo Finance) Thomas Huber Thomas Huber, Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, Mercury Systems, Inc. Raytheon builds space presence in Denver metro area (Denver Business Journal) Raytheon’s Sept. 14 deal to buy fast-growing SEAKR Engineering isn’t the only way the defense and aerospace giant has been growing in the Denver metro area. SpaceX's Elon Musk donates $50 million to Inspiration4 spaceflight fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Space.com) The donation puts Inspiration4 over the top in its quest to raise $200 million for St. Jude. Virgin Orbit Enters AI Software Agreement with BigBear (Via Satellite) Commercial launch service provider Virgin Orbit will now be able to provide AI-powered insights and data to its government and commercial customers under the terms of a new software agreement the company reached with BigBear.ai (BigBear). BigBear operationalizes artificial intelligence and machine learning at scale Spire Signs Myriota as a Space Service Customer (Via Satellite) Myriota will use Spire’s space services to deploy its satellite Internet of Things (IoT) constellation, the companies announced Wednesday. This is Spire’s first large-scale, commercial IoT customer for its space-as-a-service offering.  Through Spire’s space-as-a-service, Spire’s constellation will collect Myriota’s Products, Services, and Solutions Lynk Signs 2 Mobile Operators for Satellite-to-Cell Service (Via Satellite) Two mobile network operators, Aliv and Telecel Centrafrique, have acquired first-to-market rights to implement satellite-to-cell service from Lynk Global. Aliv operates in the Bahamas, and Telecel operates in the Central African Republic. Lynk announced Wednesday that these telcos are the first in a flagship SES, Hughes Achieve Multi-Orbit Satellite UAV Connection During Collaborative Demo (Via Satellite) Hughes Network Systems and SES have demonstrated the ability to connect remotely piloted aircraft with satellites in Geosynchronous (GEO) and Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO), the satellite operators announced early Wednesday. Hughes and SES collaborated on showcasing the capability for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Optus to trial rural satellite voice tech with Federal Government (CRN Australia) Over 12-months with Federal Government. Inmarsat Launches OneFi, a New Platform for Airlines (Via Satellite) Inmarsat has made a move in the In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) arena with the launch of a brand-new platform, OneFi, a customer experience platform for airlines. Inmarsat announced Tuesday that it is in advanced discussions with leading airlines about adopting the platform and expects to see a rollout with its first Spaceflight Signs Slew of Launch Customers and Ground Station Deal (Via Satellite) Spaceflight has signed a slew of new customers for rideshare and launch services, and a ground station services agreement with RBC Signals.  On Tuesday, the company released a sizable list of customers for upcoming missions, including first-time customers. Spaceflight is planning several Sherpa orbital transfer Tom Choi Looks to Challenge the Boundaries of Low-Cost GEO With Swissto12 Collaboration (Via Satellite) While progress with the man Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations continues, there are still some exciting things going on in Geostationary Orbit (GEO). SWISSto12, a provider of payload systems for telecoms satellites based on 3D printing technologies and Saturn Satellite Networks, a developer of small GEO satellite AWS, Satellogic Space-Cloud Collaboration Yields Reduction in Data Processing Time (Via Satellite) Satellogic and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have detailed how AWS cloud infrastructure supports Satellogic, in a case study on how the cloud and space work together. Clint Crosier, director of the AWS Aerospace and Satellite Solutions division, told Via Satellite that through helping Satellogic scale, AWS learned how to Shell Taps Hiber for Satellite IoT Monitoring Solution (Via Satellite) Hiber, the Dutch satellite Internet of Things (IoT) company, has signed a breakthrough deal with one of the world’s largest oil companies. It will provide Shell with integrity monitoring solutions globally. The global framework agreement allows all Shell entities and subsidiaries to use the HiberHilo product across Satcube, Forsway Execs Detail Swedish LEO Terminal Project (Via Satellite) A group of major Swedish technology companies that recently formed a partnership expects to have prototype low-cost satellite terminals for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) ready for testing and validation in 2022, and then in 2023 expects to launch them into the market. This could be a huge development for the Swedish space Arianespace Soyuz rocket launches 34 more OneWeb internet satellites to orbit (Space.com) OneWeb's 648-satellite constellation is nearly halfway built. OneWeb and Hughes Sign Service Distribution Agreements for US, India (Via Satellite) Hughes Network Systems has agreed to distribute OneWeb capacity to its customers in two agreements announced Thursday, Sept. 9 at SATELLITE 2021 for the United States and India. The distribution agreement for the U.S. focuses on enterprise services, and the companies have reached an MOU to distribute services in SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch internet satellite to serve Alaska in 2022 (Space.com) The powerful rocket is poised to get quite a workout over the coming months. SpaceX's Starlink broadband satellites could be used for GPS navigation (Space.com) SpaceX's Starlink satellites may be used for navigation and global positioning in addition to their core function of broadband Internet, a new research study suggests. Who is Starlink really for? (MIT Technology Review) The boom in LEO satellites will probably change the lives of customers who’ve struggled for high-speed internet—but only if they can afford it. SpaceX Starlink customers who paid a $100 deposit 7 months ago are frustrated at being unable to contact customer service to see when their kits will arrive (Business Insider) SpaceX's Starlink told the customers that they'd get the kit between mid to late 2021, but they can't find a customer-support contact for an update. SpaceX launches 51 Starlink internet satellites in the constellation's 1st West Coast launch (Space.com) One of SpaceX's oldest rockets launched on a historic 10th flight, carrying the first stack of Starlink satellites into space in more than two months before sticking a landing at sea to cap the successful mission. Rocket ‘terminated’ in fiery explosion over Pacific Ocean (Air Force Times) Firefly Aerospace’s unmanned Alpha rocket, built to carry satellites, was destroyed in an explosive fireball after suffering an “anomaly.” Firefly Aerospace traces rocket launch failure to premature engine shutdown (Space.com) The main propellant valves for one of Alpha's four first-stage engines closed. SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission just opened a new era of private spaceflight (Space.com) And some of the advances may trickle down to the masses. SpaceX Returns Private Astronauts to Earth After Three Days in Orbit (Wall Street Journal) The four-person crew lands off the coast of Florida, completing a mission that included scientific research and cold pizza. SpaceX Launches All-Civilian Inspiration4 Mission in a Major Space Travel Milestone (Via Satellite) An all-civilian crew dubbed Inspiration4 is currently orbiting the Earth in a major milestone for commercial spaceflight. SpaceX launched the crew of Inspiration4 on a Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday evening from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.  The group is going through a three-day journey on a Crew Dragon spacecraft, Elon Musk’s SpaceX Launches First All-Civilian Flight to Orbit (Wall Street Journal) The Inspiration4 mission, led by billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman, would take Americans the farthest into space since 2009. SpaceX launches Inspiration4 flight of all-civilian crew (Washington Post) Four amateur astronauts lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center here Wednesday evening, making history by becoming the first all-civilian crew to reach orbit in a fully commercial mission operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and paid for by a billionaire entrepreneur. Why SpaceX's private Inspiration4 mission to Earth orbit is so important (Space.com) Inspiration4 is doing something new and different. Inspiration4: Why SpaceX’s first all-private mission is a big deal (MIT Technology Review) Is it finally time to be cautiously optimistic about the future of crewed space travel? Inspiration4 reveals mission payload highlights, including the first ever minted NFT song to go into space (Inspiration4) Song from Grammy award-winning rock band Kings of Leon one of several items to be auctioned beginning Sept. 9 to support $200 million fundraising effort for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital SpaceX's newest drone ship returns to port after its 1st rocket landing at sea (photos, videos) (Space.com) Get a bird's-eye view of A Shortfall of Gravitas and its rocket catch! FAA clears Virgin Galactic to start flying again (Space.com) Virgin Galactic had been grounded while the FAA investigated an issue on the company's July 11 test flight. Pilots saw 'red light' warning during Virgin Galactic's historic spaceflight with Richard Branson: report (Space.com) The flight could have ended very badly. What Blue Origin's Failure to Launch Means for Boeing and Lockheed (The Motley Fool) Blue Origin promised United Launch Alliance new engines in time for 2019. It's already missed that deadline, and 2022 is coming up fast. Boeing still studying Starliner valve issues, with no launch date in sight (Ars Technica) "The team's making great progress on further troubleshooting." Boeing's next Starliner test launch for NASA may slip to 2022 (Space.com) Starliner's valve issue remains unresolved. Northrop Grumman-Built Satellite Successfully Launched for NASA’s Landsat 9 Mission (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), Landsat 9, the latest satellite in the Landsat series was successfully launched today aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA)... Mercury Systems wins five product excellence awards in Military & Aerospace Electronics 2021 Innovators Awards program (GlobeNewswire News Room) Mercury Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical... Mercury Systems successfully demonstrates ready-to-run SOSA aligned sensor processing platform (GlobeNewswire News Room) Pre-configured multi-vendor system enables engineers to immediately start application design, saving valuable time and money... Northrop Grumman’s LEO Satellite Payload for DARPA Revolutionizes Positioning, Navigation and Timing (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Blackjack program has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a contract for Phase 2 development of an advanced, software-defined... UNITED KINGDOM : QinetiQ paints new page of GEOINT Picasso project (Intelligence Online) QinetiQ has been picked to take on the Picasso Aeronautical Information Capability project, one of the components of the vast Picasso programme set up to improve the British ministry of defence's Ultra-small anti-jam GPS receivers with M-code security that resist spoofing introduced by BAE Systems (Military & Aerospace Electronics) The MicroGRAM-M is about the size of a postage stamp, and is for assured position. navigation, and timing (PNT) for size-constrained applications. PPM Systems Releases New RF Tech Products (Via Satellite) PPM Systems has released new RF components for its satellite and defense customers, the company announced Sept. 26. The company has unveiled a series of high power broadband diplexers, plus new low to high power Radio Frequency (RF) phase shifters. Among the new products is the CMIDX series of high-power broadband Totum Claims First Indoor, Direct-to-Satellite IoT Connection (Via Satellite) Totum reports it has demonstrated a bidirectional communication between a fully integrated system-on-a-chip and a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite. The company claims this is the first operation of indoor direct-to-satellite Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.  Totum’s satellite communicated with a terrestrial PPM Systems Releases New RF Tech Products (Via Satellite) PPM Systems has released new RF components for its satellite and defense customers, the company announced Sept. 26. The company has unveiled a series of high power broadband diplexers, plus new low to high power Radio Frequency (RF) phase shifters. Among the new products is the CMIDX series of high-power broadband Lockheed Awarded Army OTA Agreement to Provide Terrestrial Layer System Prototypes (ExecutiveBiz) Lockheed Martin has received an other transaction authority agreement from the U.S. Army to provide prototypes of the service’s next-generation tactical vehicle for manufacturing proof of concept. Technologies, Techniques, and Standards Seizing Opportunities: Four National Security Questions to Ask About the Use of Satellites in 5G Networks (Wilson Center) In order to deliver on the full promise of the fifth generation of mobile (5G) networks (near ubiquitous, instantaneous coverage for a massive number of connected devices), satellites will need to play a far more central role within telecommunications networks going forward with both terrestrial and space-based components working in tandem for a wider diversity of functions. DoD To Update Satellite Cyber Rules For Megaconstellations (Breaking Defense) Space Force's is to allow for "increased trust in industry" to assess their own systems' cybersecurity needs, "while doing due diligence" in reviewing whether those assessments are reliable, said Jared Reece. The Secret War Over Pentagon Aid in Fighting Wildfires (New York Times) The military’s satellites excel at spotting new blazes, but for decades they have been mostly off limits to civilian firefighters. Watchdog expects delays to Space Force’s next missile warning satellites (C4ISRNet) The unclassified report finds that technological and staffing challenges pose a high risk of delays for the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared program. Private Eyes in the Sky (Foreign Affairs) How commercial satellites are transforming intelligence. Space Force says demand for Cape Canaveral rocket launches may soon exceed capacity (Florida Politics) Cape Canaveral could soon be launching 'a couple hundred' rockets per year. SPACECOM Needs More Data, Sensors To Track On-Orbit Threats (Breaking Defense) "The government has not decided what we want our format to be" for SSA data provided by commercial firms, explained SPACECOM's Col. Scot Brodeur. "But when we do decide, in short order I need y'all to be all in on getting onto that format." Space Force Readies Long-Delayed Cybersecurity Standards for Commercial Satcom Providers (Air Force Magazine) Within 30 days, the Space Force Commercial Satellite Communications Office will issue guidance for commercial satcom providers, who welcome the news. US Army works through what ‘information advantage’ is and how to achieve it (Defense News) The Army is conducting a series of experiments to figure out the right mix to achieve information advantage for commanders. The dawn of America’s latest (“forever”?) conflict: the Over-the-Horizon War of 2021 (Lawfire) Ending a “forever war?”  Forget it.  It seems we are now embarking upon a new conflict, and one that—even if successful—will be difficult, long, and costly: the Over-the-Horizon (OTH) War of 2021. … Air Force Needs 'Zealots For The Electromagnetic Spectrum': General (Breaking Defense) "[The electromagnetic spectrum is] like the oxygen that surrounds us right now. You don't have a choice. You are in it," the Air Force's director of EMS superiority said. Design and Innovation Spire, SpaceChain Team Up to Prove Blockchain's Feasibility in Space (Via Satellite) Two space-as-a-service solutions providers are teaming up to demonstrate the feasibility of blockchain technology computation in space. Spire Global, a publicly traded space data analytics company, announced it entered into a partnership agreement with Singapore's SpaceChain to demonstrate the ability to resolve Algorithmic Warfare: AI Key to Unlocking New Space Applications (National Defense) Experts say artificial intelligence — which has wide applications across the military, civil and private sectors — will be critical to furthering space technology as the cosmos becomes more contested. Algorithmic Warfare: How AI Could Go Disastrously Wrong (National Defense) As researchers and engineers race to develop new artificial intelligence systems for the U.S. military, they must consider how the technology could lead to accidents with catastrophic consequences. Space Force Calls For 'Trash Trucks' For All The Orbiting Junk (Breaking Defense) Active debris removal is "definitely a need, and I think there is a use case for industry to get after that as a service-based opportunity," said Maj. Gen. DeAnna Burt. Astroscale Taps Rocket Lab to Launch Active Debris Removal Mission (Via Satellite) Astroscale has chosen Rocket Lab to launch its first active debris removal mission. The company announced Sept. 21 that Rocket Lab will launch Astroscale’s Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J) satellite, which has been selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for Phase I of its Satellite Manufacturing in the Era of Mass Production (Via Satellite) Unprecedented automation, software-defined designs and modular systems: New levels of innovation are on the rise in tandem with LEO satellites. Air Force testing how to do intelligence in disconnected environments (C4ISRNet) 16th Air Force is maturing its ability to converge intelligence, cyber and information warfare capabilities, but it needs to improve its speed. Project Convergence: Exercise Shows Value In Data Weapons Check For The Digital Age (Breaking Defense) "Data is the new ammunition, and we have to test fire our digital systems just like we test fire our weapons systems," writes Ret. Gen. Richard Cody. A responsive launch capability will deter enemies, boost national security (Defense News) Threats to American satellites are only going to continue to evolve and become more sophisticated. Small Sats at DoD: Let Hundreds Of Programs Bloom (Breaking Defense) DoD investments in small satellites to date are mostly in the realm of communications and remote sensing, says OUSDR&E's Doug Schroeder. US, India To Co-Develop Military Drones (Breaking Defense) "The DTTI has struggled to maintain momentum in recent years, but this new project may signal a renewed mutual interest in substantial progress for capability benefits," says Chris Bassler of CSBA. Future Air, Space Force Tech Demos To Focus On INDOPACOM, SPACECOM (Breaking Defense) "Our secretary has been very clear that he wants us to move rapidly from experimentation and  demonstration to fielding," says Air Force Chief Architect Preston Dunlap. Design Constraints and Integration Challenges Drive the Search for the Perfect Antenna (Via Satellite) The perfect antenna is one the customer uses, never sees, and never worries about, said Carl Novello, the chief technology officer of NXT Communications (NXTCOMM). How Startup Space’s Youngest-Ever Winner Found Gold in NASA’s Idea Storage Closet (Via Satellite) Adisesh Yeragudi just graduated from Rutgers University... and also became Startup Space’s youngest-ever competition winner at SATELLITE 2021. His company, AV SpaceTech, is building a modular ion space propulsion engine — the Xe-1 — a disc composed of engine layers that can be added or removed to increase or decrease Research and Development Congress to NASA: What comes after the International Space Station? (Space.com) The specter of NASA's 30-year space shuttle program loomed large as congressional representatives sought details about the agency's plans for orbital spaceflight after the International Space Station. NASA's NIAC Program Gives a Sneak Peek at the Future of Space Travel (Wired) As the agency develops plans for exploring the moon and Mars, it's seeking cutting-edge research that could turn science fiction into reality. OQ Technology Applies for Series of Satellite IoT Patents in US, Europe (Via Satellite) OQ Technology, which is working to offer satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) service following cellular standards, has applied for six patents in the U.S. and Europe to improve IoT service in remote locations.  OQ Technology is a satellite-based IoT startup, and its technology follows 3GPP-based cellular Space Development Agency approves design for satellites that can track hypersonic weapons (C4ISRNet) The satellites will form a key part of the agency's National Defense Space Architecture, a proliferated constellation to be made up of hundreds of satellites. Boeing successfully flight tests new ICBM interceptor system (Aerospace Manufacturing) The system that defends the US from rogue-state long range intercontinental ballistic missile threats, such as from North Korea, has successfully demonstrated an advanced interceptor capability. NASA's Gateway moon-orbiting space station explained in pictures (Space.com) NASA's planned Gateway space station will house astronauts in lunar orbit. NASA's Perseverance rover has taken the 1st steps in decades-long dream of Mars sample return (Space.com) Perseverance's Mars rock samples may even hide salt crystal time capsules. Analysts See Shortfalls in Pentagon S&T Funding (National Defense) The Pentagon needs to invest more in science-and-technology programs to be prepared to deter or defeat advanced adversaries, according to a recent think tank report. NASA wants you for a one-year Mars mission simulation (Military Times) NASA's CHAPEA might be the perfect gig for military members and veterans looking to be on the distant frontier of space with the Mars Mission. Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Connectivity for Long Range Command and Control (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully demonstrated a data link for connecting aircraft in highly contested airspace for long-range command and control through an open architecture network. This... Academia Security Demands Challenge Air Force, Defense Contractor Collaboration With Academia (Air Force Magazine) Partnerships between the Air Force and academia are needed to deliver cutting-edge technology to the warfighter, but security issues can arise, experts say. Legislation, Policy, and Regulation Space policy is finally moving into the 21st century (MIT Technology Review) Three big takeaways from the UN’s 2021 Outer Space Security Conference. New UK space strategy sets the stage for defense investments (Defense News) Britain gave a broad view of where the country is heading in the defense space sector as it launched a national space strategy Sept. 27, but details about London’s military ambitions were largely absent from the document. Exclusive: UK Pushes New UN Accord On Military Space Norms (Breaking Defense) The US intends to support the British effort. UK Space Players Applaud First-Ever National Space Strategy (Via Satellite) United Kingdom space companies applauded the country for releasing the first-ever national space strategy this week. The strategy sets out ambitions for a “Galactic Britain,” with goals to establish launch capabilities from Cornwall and Sutherland, and invest into military satellite communications.  The United NASA splits human spaceflight directorate into two new branches (Space.com) The move is a return to the way things used to be at NASA. A Bipartisan Call To Stay The Course On US Homeland Missile Defense (Breaking Defense) The Missile Defense Review sets "the stage for a high-stakes policy debate between those who value missile defense as an enabler of US grand strategy, and those who fear enhanced missile defense may start an arms race with Russia and China," write Walter Slocombe and Robert Soofer. STRATCOM Commander Warns Of China-Russia Coordination; Report Details AI Collaboration (Breaking Defense) "Our findings expose gaps between Chinese and Russian aspirations and the reality on the ground, bringing greater accuracy and nuance to current assessments of Sino-Russian cooperation," on AI, notes a new report by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology. HASC Makes Plan To Force DoD Use Of Commercial Space (Breaking Defense) The HASC policy bill covers everything from commercial space situational awareness to on-orbit servicing to responsive launch. HASC NDAA Markup Adds Slew Of Cyber, IT, Spectrum Initiatives (Breaking Defense) "If there's one overarching theme of our approach this year, it's to transform where we're heading and focus on technology and innovation and how to start using that better," HASC Chair Smith said in opening remarks. Experts Detail the Gaps in Current Space Policy Systems (Via Satellite) Space traffic management, space debris, long-term sustainability, spectrum allocation, Moon resources — the list of challenges for the space policy realm is great. And space is a global resource, so decisions have to be made with stakeholders from around the world, many times with conflicting agendas.  Space policy Space Force zeroing-in on satellites, launch vehicles, radar, electro-optical sensors, communications, and cyber security (Military & Aerospace Electronics) The newest branch of the U.S. military in residence at the Pentagon, the U.S. Space Force, operates at the upper limits of human territory. Space Force expects $1 billion in contracts in first year of Space Enterprise Consortium Reloaded (Defense News) The Space Force has ramped up the amount of money flowing through the Space Enterprise Consortium as it tries to bring more nontraditional vendors into the fold. The Missile Defense Agency must be free to move quickly and with limited restrictions (Defense News) We have made important progress with homeland missile defense, but today we risk falling further behind the threat. Navy forges maritime space officer designator (Navy Times) Applications are now open. GOP lawmaker threatens to delay Biden national security nominees over Afghanistan (Defense News) The threat from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., comes amid bipartisan congressional criticism of the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal strategy. Biden taps Guertin to lead operational test and evaluation at DoD (Defense News) President Joe Biden on Thursday said he intends to nominate Nickolas Guertin to serve as director of operational test and evaluation at the Department of Defense. Army, Navy Units To Transfer To Space Force Soon (Breaking Defense) The Army units involved operate a payload for the Wideband Global SATCOM system; the Navy's are connected to the Mobile User Objective System sats. Space Force’s talent management system focuses on development, work-life balance (Federal News Network) The newest service put out its plan for how it will develop employees into the future. Space Force Uniform Prototype Has Diagonal Buttons, PT Uniforms Are Black and Gray (Air Force Magazine) The Space Force revealed its prototype service dress uniform featuring a dark blue coat—almost black—that closes with a diagonal row of six buttons. The New Space Force Uniforms Are Causing A Stir (NPR) A commenter said the new uniforms look like something from Battlestar Galactica, adding one of the show's taglines: "So say we all." The Space Force Finally Has Its Own Rank Insignia (Military.com) The design borrows heavily from the Air Force, with a white and blue color scheme and stripes as an homage to Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg. To insignia and beyond: Space Force rolls out new designs for enlisted sleeves (Air Force Times) The Space Force hopes to have the new enlisted insignia patches on guardians' arms by the end of 2021. Bill To Abolish U.S. Space Force Introduced By North Bay Rep. Jared Huffman (CBS Local San Francisco) A North Bay congressman has introduced a bill to abolish the U.S. Space Force, a day after the newest branch of the military unveiled new uniform prototypes. Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement WSJ News Exclusive | Former Boeing Pilot Expected to Face Prosecution in 737 MAX Probe (Wall Street Journal) Federal prosecutors plan to criminally charge a former Boeing pilot they suspect of misleading aviation regulators about safety issues blamed for two fatal crashes of the 737 MAX. Republicans Press Pentagon on Amazon Bid for Canceled Cloud Deal (Bloomberg) The top Republicans on congressional antitrust subcommittees are demanding documents from the Defense Department to investigate what they say is potential anticompetitive conduct related to a now-canceled $10 billion cloud-computing contract.

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