Signals & Space Monthly Briefing

April 2020

Prepared by the CyberWire (Wednesday, April 1, 2020) The coronavirus pandemic as a threat to international stability... Pyongyang has consistently denied that it has a COVID-19 problem, but outsiders, including according to Bloomberg the senior US commander in Korea, General Robert Abrams, don't believe it. Not only is it unlikely that North Korea has escaped when its two neighbors, South Korea and China, have been heavily affected, but there are also indications that the DPRK's military is dealing with an epidemic. The Military Times reports that US and South Korean leaders and military commands are preparing for the eventuality that a serious COVID-19 outbreak in the DPRK could push the regime into dangerous instability. ...and a threat to companies' survival. The pandemic has also had a strongly negative impact on the global economy, and defense and aerospace are not among the sectors that have shown themselves to be relatively resilient in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. (Cloud services, business software vendors, telework providers, and cybersecurity companies seem in general to have been less severely affected than others.) The US Department of Defense has begun regular conversations with the larger companies in the Defense Industrial Base with a view to assessing the disease's impact on their ability to continue to do business, Air Force Magazine wrote on March 17th. The Acting Director for Defense Pricing and Contracting has asked contractors to take "unprecedented" steps toward making remote work possible for their employees. Defense Systems reports that Acting Director Kim Herrington asked that contractors offer "the same maximum telework flexibilities extended to DOD service members and civilians also be made available to contractors when contract services can be delivered, without mission degradation, while off-site." Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Virginia Penrod this week issued comprehensive guidance for military personnel working during the COVID-19 emergency. Her memorandum was accompanied by a fact sheet addressing frequently asked questions about telework and other matters. Space.com has a rundown of how the pandemic has been affecting the space industry. Big integrators, like Boeing, have temporarily shuttered most commercial work. As the Washington Post reports the Department of Defense has tried to keep its contractors working (Air Force and Space Force procurement offices have played a prominent role in that effort, according to Space News) but as the Hill says, the sector continues to experience a great deal of stress. Congress did pass, and the President signed, a two-trillion-dollar pandemic stimulus package, the largest in US history. In addition to direct economic stimulation, the bill includes significant direction and resources for both remote work and security. The Wall Street Journal sees troubled Boeing as the biggest winner whether it receives all the cash it hopes for or not. On March 19th, before the package passed, Boeing had petitioned the Government for a $60 billion assistance package, a request that prompted the resignation of Boeing board member Nikki Hayley, opposed on "philosophical grounds," the Hill reports, to such bailouts. Boeing has been in distress since safety problems with its 737 MAX commercial aircraft began to surface over the past year, sharply cutting into orders. Airlines themselves have been hit very hard by travel restrictions, and some analysts see Boeing's survival as contingent on substantial Government help. The outbreak has driven some companies under. Bigelow Aerospace, a small firm but a prominent one, active in the development of space habitats, on March 23rd laid off all of its employees and ceased operations. Space News notes that the company had been under some financial stress, and the effects of the pandemic on its ability to operate were more than it could withstand. The Defense Department, aware of the importance of small businesses to the Defense Industrial Base, is taking steps to keep them up and running, Federal News Network reports. Such companies are particularly sensitive to cash flow, and the Pentagon is restructuring its procurement system to help sustain cash flow to small businesses. Sponsored by Cosmic AES Looking for your next career step in signals and space? Let’s talk. At Cosmic AES, we leverage existing and emerging technologies, rapid prototyping, and disciplined engineering practices to develop innovative solutions to the most difficult national security concerns. We’re always looking for talented engineers, software developers, and system analysts who thrive in a fast-paced, creative environment. See the opportunities available at Cosmic AES.  Counterspace capabilites loom. The Secure World Foundation has released its annual open-source assessment of Global Counterspace Capabilities. The highlights of the 2020 report cover activities of seven nations: China, which has tested in-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations, is reported to have jammed GPS signals in the vicinity of Shanghai, and has continued work on ground-based directed energy weapons. Russia, which has also conducted rendezvous and proximity operations (in both low-earth and geosynchronous orbit—at least one of the operations involved shadowing a US NRO reconnaissance spacecraft), seems to be running two counterspace programs (Burevestnik and Nivelir, respectively believed to be a co-orbital anti-satellite program and a surveillance and tracking program), shows signs of undertaking development of Ekipazh, a "nuclear-powered space-based electronic warfare capability," and which continues widespread jamming of precision navigation and timing signals in Syria, occupied Crimea, and Russia itself. France, whose new space defense strategy touches plans for ground-based laser weapons and "guardian satellites." India, which has continued to assess the results of the anti-satellite system tested in March of last year, and which has established a Defence Space Agency and Defence Space Research Organization. Iran, which attempted unsuccessful satellite launches in August and February, and has jammed precision navigation and timing signals in the vicinity of the Straits of Hormuz. Japan, which has begun to explore development of counterspace capabilities. The United States, which has released of cubesats, explored rendezvous and proximity operations, tested GPS jamming in naval exercises, and moved forward with the creation of Space Force. Some of these developments are arguably benign, in some cases involving dual-use capabilities (like the rendezvous and proximity operations). Both kinetic and non-kinetic technologies are under development or at least consideration, but the report stresses that "only non-kinetic capabilities are actively being used in current military operations."  The ransomware threat to the Defense industry's supply chain: CPI and Kimchuk (and an update on Visser). Last month we read about the ransomware attack on Visser Precision, the Colorado-based manufacturer that supplies leading aerospace firms, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and SpaceX. (Infosecurity Magazine has a quick overview of that incident, and Information Security Buzz offers a selection of industry comment.) It came to light early in March that another company, California-based Communications & Power Industry (CPI) also sustained a ransomware attack in January. TechCrunch reported that, although the company had paid a reputed $500 thousand ransom to restore access to its data, recovery had been slow. “We are working with a third-party forensic investigation firm to investigate the incident. The investigation is ongoing, We have worked with counsel to notify law enforcement and governmental authorities, as well as customers, in a timely manner,” a CPI representative told TechCrunch. CPI makes components for radars, sensors, and electronic warfare systems. Some of the data affected by the attack pertained to Lockheed Martin's shipboard Aegis system. The ransomware infection is believed to have begun with phishing—a CPI employee clicked a malicious link and the ransomware spread into the company's network. A number of CPI's systems, reportedly some one hundred fifty, are said to be still running Windows XP, which as My Tech Decisions points out is now several years beyond its end-of-life. Which systems were infected remains unclear, and CPI has been tight-lipped about the incident, but older operating systems have a tendency to enjoy a kind of afterlife in control system applications. Moody's analysts believe the incident will affect CPI's revenue during the present quarter, dropping it by 5-10%, but the investor service thinks that, overall, the consequences of the attack are "manageable," and it hasn't changed its rating of the manufacturer. A third supplier to the defense and aerospace industry has also suffered a ransomware incident. Electronics manufacturer Kimchuk, based in Connecticut, was hit with DoppelPaymer ransomware, the same strain that affected Visser, early in March. Kimchuk refused to pay the ransom, and TechCrunch says that the attackers began releasing stolen files as they'd threatened to do. As SC Magazine noted, the attacks throw the threat to the defense and aerospace supply chain into sharp relief. Ransomware had through the end of last year been seem most commonly in attacks on poorly secured organizations that were highly dependent upon data availability: municipal governments, schools, healthcare facilities, and so on. A secure offline backup was the easiest and most effective defense against those attacks—if an organization were hit, it could restore from backup, stop the security hole the attackers used to get in (usually a human-provided hole, as most attacks were socially engineered) and return to business, inconvenienced but not seriously damaged. This has changed. First, ransomware gangs are increasingly going after industrial targets. And second, they now routinely steal files before encrypting them. This gives them added leverage over their victims: pay up, or we'll release sensitive company information where it will do you the most damage. That seems to have been the case with these recent attacks on the defense supply chain. Cybersecurity certification program for Defense contractors remains on track and on schedule. The Department of Defense firmly quashed rumors that COVID-19 would delay implementation of its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), Nextgov reports. The Department has executed its memorandum of understanding with the independent not-for-profit group that will serve as the accreditation body, and businesses should expect the program to proceed as planned. The accreditation will apply to new contracts, and it won’t be retroactively imposed on existing agreements. The CMMC is similar to standards contractors have used for self-assessment. The use of an independent accreditation organization, however, is new: there will be an end to reliance on self-attestation. Contractors have expressed reservations about CMMC. Six industry groups (the Alliance for Digital Innovation, BSA: The Software Alliance, the Cybersecurity Coalition, the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), the Internet Association, and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)) signed a letter to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment in which they argued that "current plans for implementing CMMC lack sufficient clarity and predictability in key areas, and as a result may unnecessarily generate confusion, delay and associated costs." The signatories' concerns fall into four categories: "Enhance Clarity about CMMC’s Scope, Applicability, and Implementation Timeline." They're skeptical that a new third-part auditing process will be available for enterprise-scale audits in 2020. They think the flow-down requirements remain unclear, as is the scope of the certification requirements, and they believe that without clarification it will be difficult to achieve consistency across the program. "Certification and Recertification." The signatories would like to know "whether contractors covered by this year’s RFIs and RFPs will need to recertify in three years," and they would like clarification on how companies not presently part of the Defense Industrial Base are to participate. They also ask for technical details about certification in complex environments. "Streamlining Federal Cybersecurity Requirements." Industry would like CMMC to "align the CMMC with the DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide (SRG), DFARS 252.204-7012 and FEDRAMP." "Ensure No New Risks are Created." The signatories are concerned that vulnerabilities identified during audits are communicated in ways that don't increase the risk to companies. And they question the extent to which the CMMC appears designed for traditional models that progress and innovation may render obsolete. In any case, there are many reasons for believing that the Pentagon is serious about enforcing the cybersecurity of its systems. This past month the US Army, for example, cancelled plans to spend $600 million on more Israeli Iron Dome rocket-defense missile batteries because of the contractor's refusal to turn over its source code for inspection. The Army regarded this as posing an unacceptable cybersecurity risk, and the $373 million it had spent on two Iron Dome batteries were not sufficient to persuade it otherwise, Infosecurity Magazine reports. Space Force continues to grow up. Space Force continues to shape itself even as the nation grapples with the pandemic, the Military Times reports, despite delays in some of the ceremonial aspects of establishing itself. It's moving toward defining its intelligence needs, which C4ISRNET suggests will be substantial, and is also working on developing doctrine, according to Breaking Defense. The youngest US military Service launched its first national security mission during March. Space.com writes that on March 26th Space Force put the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) satellite, the final spacecraft in the AEHF constellation, into orbit. AEHF provides jam-resistant communications between the US National Command Authority and deployed military forces.  Space Force is gearing up its procurement arm as well. Federal News Network has an overview of the Service's plans as they stand so far. Its 2021 budget will contain substantial outlays for commercial communications satellite services (heavier on research and development than on COTS purchases, according to Breaking Defense). Looking for an indication of a Service's place in the pecking order of agency equities? Look at the attitude of the reserve components. Stars and Stripes and others report that the National Guard definitely wants a place in Space Force for what it calls the Guard's "space warriors." [2144]   Today's edition of the CyberWire reports events affecting Australia, China, France, India, Iran, Japan, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Selected Reading Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities (11) Trends (2) Marketplace (37) Products, Services, and Solutions (7) Technologies, Techniques, and Standards (14) Design and Innovation (5) Research and Development (7) Legislation, Policy, and Regulation (35) Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement (11) Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities Coronavirus may force ROK/U.S. military alliance to contend with North Korean instability (Military Times) North Korea is the least-equipped country in the world to deal with coronavirus. Last week, at a ground-breaking ceremony for a new Pyongyang General Hospital scheduled for completion by October, Kim Jong Un himself admitted that North Korea lacks modern medical facilities and demanded improvements. North Korea fires 3 unidentified projectiles, says South Korea’s military (Military Times) North Korea has fired three unidentified projectiles off its east coast on Monday, South Korea’s military said. Pentagon Keeps Eye on Defense Industrial Base as COVID-19 Pandemic Evolves (Air Force Magazine) The Pentagon is talking to top vendors as it attempts to measure and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the defense industry. America’s adversaries keep investing in weapons to take out satellites (C4ISRNET) America’s four greatest adversaries are investing in systems that can take out satellites on orbit, including funding laser systems, nuclear power and satellites that shadow American space vehicles. US Scraps Missiles Over Cybersecurity Concerns (Infosecurity Magazine) America drops plans to adopt Iron Dome missile defense system amid cybersecurity fears Are China's moon missions a threat to the US? Space experts don't think so (Space.com) Are China's moon ambitions a threat to the U.S.? No, security experts say. Lessons for the US military from the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Military Times) There are “plenty of military lessons” for the U.S. in Ukraine, which has been fighting the Russian military for six years. Defense contractor CPI hit by ransomware attack (TechCrunch) Exclusive: The radar and electronic warfare technology maker was knocked offline in January and recovery is still under way. SpaceX Contractor Hit by Data Breach (Infosecurity Magazine) DoppelPaymer ransomware pegged as the likely culprit Experts Insight On Visser Data Breach (Supplier To Lockheed, Tesla, Boeing And SpaceX) (Information Security Buzz) It has been reported that an American manufacturer which works with SpaceX and Tesla is being extorted by cyber criminals who are leaking documents relating to these companies. The cyber crime group known as DoppelPaymer has already leaked non-disclosure agreements signed between Visser Precision and the Elon Musk-led companies SpaceX and Tesla. More documents stolen from Visser’s … NCIS: Suspect targeted Navy jets by attaching flashlights to garden rake (Navy Times) She allegedly targeted aircraft by attaching flashlights to a rake. Trends Four fears satellite manufacturers can't shake (SpaceNews.com) Satellite manufacturers expressed optimism about market demand, but also listed challenges they face amid market and technological changes. Cybersecurity in the Aeronautics Industry (Aeronautics) Although it appears that flying is one of the… Marketplace Rigorous Privacy and InfoSec Requirements May Be in Store for Companies That Accept Government Equity Stakes (Cooley) Federal government agencies, government-controlled corporations and some government contractors must comply with robust federal laws that govern federal agencies’ privacy and information security p… Air Force, Space Force procurement offices try to keep programs moving during pandemic (SpaceNews) Source selections for national security space launch, ground based strategic deterrent remain on track Coronavirus hits defense contractor jobs (TheHill) The aerospace industry is buckling under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic. Many businesses are closing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Not the defense industry. (Washington Post) While stores and factories around the country are shutting down, and millions are teleworking from home, defense contractors have been required, by and large, to stay open. Bigelow Aerospace lays off entire workforce (SpaceNews.com) Bigelow Aerospace, the company founded more than two decades ago to develop commercial space habitats, laid off all its employees March 23. COVID-19: WH Relocates Space Council Meet; Space Symposium Postponed (Breaking Defense) Vice President Mike Pence still is scheduled to chair the upcoming National Space Council meeting despite the White House decision to cancel the public event. Coronavirus outbreak shakes the space industry: Here are the biggest effects so far (Space.com) The list is getting longer by the day. Space Force issues two more contracts for protected SATCOM (C4ISRNET) Two companies will join Northrop Grumman in developing prototype payloads for the Space Force's Protected Tactical SATCOM program, bringing advanced anti-jamming communications to the war fighter. KBR Fortifies Cybersecurity of U.S. Air Force Weapons Systems (Yahoo) KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it has been awarded a $26.8 million task order to provide additional cybersecurity engineering support to the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Engineering Directorate Cyber Systems Engineering Division. Pandemic heaps fresh pressure on Boeing as 737 Max grounding continues (Flight Global) The coronavirus pandemic, combined with the 737 Max grounding, could leave Boeing facing challenges more significant than it has experienced in perhaps 50 years, say some aerospace analysts. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun Expresses Regret Over Criticisms of Leadership and Predecessor (Wall Street Journal) Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun told executives that he regretted voicing criticisms of the company’s leadership and former CEO in an interview with the New York Times this week. Bill Ackman Sees Boeing’s Survival Hinging on U.S. Government Bailout (Yahoo) Boeing Co.’s staggering decline is spurring doubts about how the planemaker -- long a symbol of U.S. industrial might -- will survive the coronavirus pandemic.Wall Street is already bracing for a dividend cut as Boeing seeks to preserve cash. And the company isn’t likely to make it at Boeing to Emerge as Big Stimulus Winner (Wall Street Journal) Boeing is set to emerge as a big winner of the coronavirus stimulus package, even if the aerospace giant declines to seek direct taxpayer help Boeing is expected to get billions of dollars in bailouts from the Senate, despite backlash over the 737 Max crisis and past stock buybacks (Business Insider) A provision tucked into the Senate bailout offers $17 billion in loans to companies "critical to maintaining national security," with Boeing in mind. Boeing Suspends Dividend; CEO, Chairman To Forgo Pay Through End Of 2020 (Nasdaq) Boeing Co. (BA) announced that its chief executive Dave Calhoun and Board Chairman Larry Kellner will forego all pay until the end of 2020 to navigates COVID-19 crisis. Should Boeing be bailed out? (Asia Times) Troubled aviation giant Boeing is asking the US government to step in with US$60 billion in “government aid,” including loan guarantees. What should the Trump administration do? In France, because … How to Make a Boeing Bailout More Palatable (Yahoo) Boeing Co. is the least deserving of the corporate needy in the coronavirus crisis, but the nature of its position means it must get a special cut of a $2 trillion aid package working its way through Congress. Nikki Haley resigns from Boeing board, cites opposition to bailout (TheHill) Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley is resigning from Boeing's board after the aircraft maker asked for a government bailout amid the coronavirus outbreak. Raytheon-UTC merger wins approval, pending divestitures (Defense News) The merger between two defense giants got the green light from the U.S. Department of Justice, under the condition that divestitures already in the works move forward and another piece of business is shed. Is SpaceX Really Worth 10x Boeing and Lockheed Martin's Space Business? (The Motley Fool) Yes. In fact, when you do the math, SpaceX could be worth even more. Elon Musk Wants to Build a New Starship Every 72 Hours So He Can Colonize Mars (Popular Mechanics) Very doable! SpaceX plans to send 3 tourists to the space station next year (New Scientist) SpaceX is partnering with a US start-up called Axiom Space to launch three space tourists on a 10-day trip to the International Space Station WSJ News Exclusive | Musk’s SpaceX Looking to Compete for $16 Billion in Federal Broadband Subsidies (Wall Street Journal) The company is seeking to qualify for federal subsidies to provide broadband service to rural areas, over the objections of competitors who say its satellite-based technology is unproven. Chinese auto giant Geely plans a private satellite network to support autonomous vehicles (Network World) Geely is developing a satellite network to provide high-bandwidth wireless needed by on-board applications in self-driving vehicles. Electronic warfare partnership boost for South Australia (The Lead SA) Defence has entered into a partnership with Flinders University and a leading industry group to grow research capacity and deliver training to Australia’s next generation of Electronic Warfare experts. Qatar cancels major defense trade conference as coronavirus fears spread (Defense News) Qatar announced March 3 that's its biennial maritime trade show would be cancelled as coronavirus fears spread. Peraton to acquire SATCOM for US Africa Command (C4ISRNET) The company says it will take a vendor-agnostic approach to securing satellite communications for AFRICOM. Chinese billionaire starts satellite venture to rival Elon Musk  (The Telegraph) A Chinese billionaire has started a venture to launch satellites, rivalling similar ambitions from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. NASA picks SpaceX Falcon Heavy to launch Psyche mission to metal asteroid in 2022 (Space.com) NASA has contracted SpaceX to launch its Psyche mission to a unique metal asteroid in July 2022. NASA picks SpaceX to fly cargo to moon-orbiting Gateway space station (Space.com) Dragon XL will supply the Gateway. DISA Awards Expression Networks $121M Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Ops Support Contract (GovCon Wire) Expression Networks has secured a potential $121M contract to help the Defense Information Systems A Two incumbents join five newcomers on $990M defense intel contract (Washington Business Journal) Six area contractors will compete for task orders on the Defense Intelligence Agency's DORE2 contract. Jacobs (J) Receives $37-Million Contract to Support DoD HSD (Yahoo) Jacobs Engineering Group (J) receives a five-year $37-million contract award to Support DoD HSD. Lockheed Martin CEO will step down (Washington Post) Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson will be succeeded by James Taiclet, who has been a board member since 2018. New chief named for Lockheed Martin International (Washington Business Journal) Timothy Cahill has managed several Lockheed product lines over his nearly 25 years there. Northrop Grumman Prices $2.25 Billion Debt Offering (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced today that it has priced a $2.25 billion underwritten public offering of senior unsecured notes. The notes include: $750 million of 4.400% senior notes due... CACI Wins Potential $200M Navy Satcom, C5ISR Support IDIQ - GovCon Wire (GovCon Wire) CACI International (NYSE: CACI) has won a potential $199.5M contract to provide satellite communicat Products, Services, and Solutions New Data Storage Module Embeds Latest Commercial Technology Into Critical Defense and Aerospace Applications (AP NEWS) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com ), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, today announced the EnsembleSeries™ SCM6010 OpenVPX™ data storage module featuring the latest non-volatile memory express (NVMe) M.2 commercial technology critical for high-speed, low-latency performance. SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites into orbit, misses rocket landing (Space.com) The Falcon 9 rocket had launched a record 5 times. SpaceX puts 60 satellites into orbit despite engine failure (C4ISRNET) The U.S. military has expressed interest in the Starlink’s capabilities. NRO to launch more payloads from New Zealand with Rocket Labs (C4ISRNET) Rocket Labs will use its Electron rocket to launch three more National Reconnaissance Office payloads into orbit after successfully launching one of the agency's satellites Jan. 31. Elon Musk dismisses astronomers’ concerns over Starlink (C4ISRNET) The SpaceX founder predicted his massive satellite constellation would have zero impact on astronomical discoveries even though the company is experimenting with ways to reduce any reflection from the satellites. Mercury Systems Announces High-Performance Digital Transceiver for SWaP-Constrained Electronic Warfare Applications (Yahoo) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical technologies for aerospace and defense, today announced the EnsembleSeries™ DCM3220 digital transceiver, a multi-channel, highly configurable transmit/receive module with integrated FPGA processing. This Rugged, High-performance Large Area Display Provides Increased Situational Awareness (GuruFocus) Rugged, High-performance Large Area Display Provides Increased Situational Awareness, Stocks: MRCY, release date:Mar 12, 2020 Technologies, Techniques, and Standards New Space Fence radar is officially online (C4ISRNET) A major radar project has achieved operational capability, the Space Force announced. China's new crew spacecraft looks like it could dock with the International Space Station (Space.com) But that's not possible politically at the moment. Last of the AEHF satellites launches from Florida (C4ISRNET) An Atlas 5 rocket successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida March 26 carrying a satellite that is expected to provide secure, jam-resistant communications for the military for the next 15 years. US launches advanced satellite in 1st Space Force national security mission (Space.com) The AEHF-6 satellite will round out a next-gen military communications constellation. Next GPS III satellite now ready for everyday use (C4ISRNET) The second GPS III satellite, a new, more powerful navigation satellite, is officially healthy and available for use by the military, the Space Force says. The new imperative: Connecting the joint force with a digital advantage (Defense News) While the U.S. military operates sophisticated weapons systems, it is not networked in a way that reflects the digital connectivity we all depend on in our everyday lives. GPS satellite gets a digital twin to ensure cyber security (GPS World) The U.S. Air Force is using digital replica of a GPS IIF satellite to detect any cyber-security issues, … SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket aborts Starlink satellite constellation launch at last second (Space.com) A Falcon 9 engine power issue caused the abort at T-0 seconds. These space surveillance satellites just got an upgrade (C4ISRNET) A major overhaul to the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program's ground system will come in handy as the Space Force expands the constellation later this year. The Space Force is adding another satellite to its first launch (C4ISRNET) Capable of gathering range data on other objects in space using lasers, TDO-2 will contribute to the Space Force space domain awareness. How Minot plans to protect America’s ICBMs from drones (C4ISRNET) Drones are both a threat to Minot's ICBM mission — and potentially a benefit. Army Doubts Iron Dome Can Kill Cruise Missiles (Breaking Defense) Israeli manufacturer Rafael says its anti-rocket system can now shoot down cruise missiles. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and acquisition chief Bruce Jette are saying, show us the data. Russian and Chinese Satellites Are Helping US Pilots Spy on Russia and China (Defense One) U-2 pilots are wearing watches that connect to foreign satellites, giving them backup navigation when GPS is jammed. The Navy will test pushing new software to ships at sea (C4ISRNET) The Navy plans to test next year whether it can push new software — not just patches but new algorithms and battle-management aids — to its fleet without the assistance of in-person installation teams. Design and Innovation Air Force trusted computing experts look to digital twins to foil cyber attack on GPS satellite constellation (Military & Aerospace Electronics) SMC ran tests without risking damage to expensive and resource-constrained satellites, and to confirm that all system components behave as intended. What Can the Picatinny Rail Teach Us About Artificial Intelligence? (War on the Rocks) Editor’s Note: This article was submitted in response to the call for ideas issued by the co-chairs of the National Security Commission on Artificial Bots bring automation to the war on data entry (C4ISRNET) Business workflow automation is a way to tackle dull work with modern tools. How industry and government can partner for more secure systems (Fifth Domain) A top NIST official warned that industry needs to tell government how software security features are developed. DoD Winnowing Efforts To Counter Small Drones (Breaking Defense) "We're looking across the spectrum at the detect, track, ID, and defeat systems," Geaney said. Research and Development SpaceX stacks third Starship prototype ahead of testing (photos) (Space.com) The SN3 could take to the skies soon. Meet Perseverance: Mars rover gets name ahead of July launch (Phys.org) NASA's next Mars rover finally has a name. Perseverance, a six-wheeled robotic explorer, will blast off this summer to collect Martian samples for eventual return to Earth. SpaceLogistics teams with DARPA to service satellites on orbit (C4ISRNET) DARPA has selected a commercial partner for its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program, which will use robotic arms on a space vehicle to perform repairs, augmentation, transport and more for on orbit satellites. Raytheon and the NSF Collaborate to Detect Near-Earth Asteroids (Dallas Innovates) Dusty asteroids in space are hard to detect. Raytheon's McKinney-headquartered Space and Airborne Systems has entered an R&D agreement to combine radio astronomy and radar techniques to solve that problem. SpaceX Starship prototype explodes in test again (UPI) Another prototype of SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded during a pressure test at the company's construction yard in Boca Chica, Texas. SETI@home Search for Alien Life Project Shuts Down After 21 Years (BleepingComputer) SETI@home has announced that they will no longer be distributing new work to clients starting on March 31st as they have enough data and want to focus on completing their back-end analysis of the data. Northrop Grumman’s Wholly Owned Subsidiary, SpaceLogistics, Selected by DARPA as Commercial Partner for Robotic Servicing Mission (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) SpaceLogistics LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as its commercial partner for the agency’s Robotic... Legislation, Policy, and Regulation Pentagon looks to help keep small federal contractors afloat (Federal News Network) In today’s Federal Newscast, small business government contractors already are feeling the impact of the government slowdown because of the coronavirus. So the Pentagon is adjusting some contracts to… DOD asks contractors to maximize telework capabilities (Defense Systems) The Pentagon is asking for 'maximum telework flexibilities' extended to DOD service members and civilian employees also be made available to contractors when possible. Amid pandemic, Pentagon urges ‘hyper-vigilance’ against foreign investment (Defense News) The economic situation creates Commission suggests creating reserve force of civilian cybersecurity experts (Fifth Domain) A new commission suggests several changes to address the government's cybersecurity workforce problems Don't lift Iran sanctions, not even for the coronavirus (Washington Examiner) Like clockwork, two dozen left-wing activist groups demanded last week the United States lift sanctions on Iran to help the Islamic Republic fight the coronavirus. “With hospitals overrun and Iranian doctors struggling to procure necessary equipment, the U.S. must be part of the solution rather… INSIGHT: New DoD Cybersecurity Certification Holds Key to Contracts (Bloomberg Law) New Department of Defense cybersecurity certification will represent contractors’ ticket to get into the game, Baker Donelson attorneys write. Without that ticket, contractors will not have a chance to compete for and win DoD contracts. UK should rethink deadline for defense, foreign policy review, says former national security adviser (Defense News) Analysts are concerned that the review will be fudged in the rush to complete the promised deep dive into defense, foreign policy and security strategy reform. What exactly is the Defense Production Act? (Military Times) The Defense Production Act of 1950 was signed by President Harry S. Truman amid concerns about supplies and equipment during that war. Interest groups pressure White House and Congress to allow federal contractors to telework (Federal Times) While federal employees can currently telework, contractors have been left in the dark. The Professional Services Council fears the lack of clarity could lead to layoffs. Spending on R&D doubles in bid to drive innovation (The Telegraph) Spending on UK research and development is set to nearly double to £22bn per year within five years, after the Chancellor used the Budget speech to unveil a raft of measures designed to turbocharge the nation’s cutting edge science and technology. The Pentagon’s first class of cybersecurity auditors is almost here (Fifth Domain) The Pentagon hopes to have the first class of auditors to evaluate contractors’ cybersecurity ready by April, a top Department of Defense official said March 5. DoD Drafts New Acquisition Strategy For Commercial SATCOM (Breaking Defense) Space Force will ask for 2022 money for commercial satcom, but the funds will not be for buying services as industry would like -- rather for R&D. Inside the Space Force’s push to integrate and change acquisition (Federal News Network) The Space Acquisition Council will have its first meeting in April… Amid a global pandemic, the Space Force is still working to get off the ground (Military Times) The coronavirus pandemic is holding up some ceremonial moves, but things are still on schedule. US Space Force: What you need to know (MSN) The Trump administration wants to be ready for conflict in space. The Pentagon has sent a new legislative proposal on the Space Force to Congress (Defense News) All of the controversial policy issues have been kicked down the road for a future proposal. The Space Force will need space intelligence (C4ISRNET) As the Space Force stands up, the nascent service will need to focus on building out its space intelligence core, says the Space Force vice commander. Space Force leaders concerned about quality of threat intelligence (SpaceNews.com) Thompson: “We need intelligence to understand what the threat is and what it does.” AF To HASC: Space War Doctrine Near; SPACECOM HQ Pick Delayed (Breaking Defense) Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said the Space Command basing decision is being reopened, with a choice delayed until the end of the year -- at the earliest. Space Force’s 2021 budget plan is heavy on satellites and launch (SpaceNews) Here’s an analysis of the proposed U.S. Space Force budget’s high points. Here’s what we know about the Space Force’s acquisitions plan (C4ISRNET) The Space Force plans for space acquisition are not as radical as some expected, keeping its various acquisitions organizations as separate entities while placing them under a new Space Systems Command. Experts Worry Secrecy Will Hinder Space Acquisition Reform (Air Force Magazine) The overclassification of space systems makes it harder to achieve the procurement reforms that military space needs, experts argued at Satellite 2020. The Pentagon has relaunched its Space Command location search. Here’s why. (Defense News) Don't expect a decision on Space Command's new location until after November. National Guard’s top general backs Space Guard idea, calls members of the newest branch 'space warriors' (Stars and Stripes) Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., the ranking member of the House committee’s subpanel on defense, said the Defense Department is expected to give Congress a plan to integrate the National Guard and reserves with Space Force within two months. Space Force ‘not rushing’ to create National Guard branch, top civilian says (Defense News) It could be another year before the Space Force finalizes how it will incorporate the Guard and reserves, says Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett. Here's Who Will Get the First Chance to Transfer into Space Force (Military.com) Some troops will have to wait longer to join. Navy to Make Modest Personnel Contribution to Space Force, New Space Designator Likely (USNI News) SAN DIEGO, Calif. – While some Navy personnel are helping the new Space Force take shape, the Navy’s contribution to the newest military branch will be small, a senior service official said. “Space is kind of a big area that we are working on right now,” Vice Adm. Brian B. Brown, commander of Naval Information … US Space Force May Become the Most Female-Friendly Military Service (Military.com) The sixth and newest U.S. military service may also be the one most appealing to and inclusive of women. Air Force leaders don’t want to give up spectrum for 5G (C4ISRNET) Top U.S. Air Force officials doubled down Tuesday on the message the Pentagon will not vacate airwaves that telecom firms want in their race with China to build the next-generation mobile networks, known as 5G. Will Space Command Come To Florida? State Leaders Ready To Make The Case Once Again (90.7 WMFE) Florida is back in the running to host the Space Command. The Air Force left the state off a short list last year but the competition to host Space Command has been reopened. DoD names new permanent director to lead security clearance agency (Federal News Network) The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency will name a new permanent director after months of acting leadership. Cabaniss resigns as OPM director (Federal News Network) Dale Cabaniss, who briefly led the Office of Personnel Management for six months, has resigned Tuesday afternoon, Federal News Network has learned. Government’s Maximum Telework Policy Overlooks Contractors (Nextgov.com) Industry association pushes for the administration to issue guidance for flexibility and greater use of contractors during the coronavirus pandemic. Under Secretary of Defense Ellen Lord statement on misleading cybersecurity certification information (NDIA) Since I introduced the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification model last year, I have consistently stressed the importance of communicating and engaging extensively with industry, academia, military services, the Hill and the public to hear their concerns and suggestions. Tech Industry Voices Concerns about the Pentagon’s Cybersecurity Certification Plan (Nextgov.com) Officials say an updated rule for implementing the program will be open for comment later this spring. Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement Amazon Claims Pentagon’s JEDI Overhaul Keeps Microsoft in Driver’s Seat (Wall Street Journal) Amazon accused the Pentagon of seeking to manipulate its review of a huge cloud-computing deal in order to steer the award to rival Microsoft. Why a federal court halted work on the Pentagon’s enterprise cloud (Federal Times) Amazon asked for an injunction on the JEDI cloud contract because of alleged errors in the procurement process and political interference allegation against President Donald Trump. A new court document shows why it won. US Defense Department asks federal court for 120 days to re-examine certain aspects of JEDI cloud contract (Computing) The Department says it wants to re-evaluate a pricing clause, in particular DoD likely to split JEDI contract between Amazon and Microsoft, analyst says (GeekWire) Could Amazon and Microsoft end up sharing the Pentagon’s coveted $10 billion JEDI cloud computing contract? That’s the likely scenario to play out in light of recent legal developments, according to… NASA: Boeing software team had too much power over Starliner capsule (UPI) Boeing's software team had too much influence over final decisions regarding the company's Starliner capsule, a top NASA administrator said Friday. US regulators will force Boeing to rewire 737 MAX jets: report (France 24) US regulators will force Boeing to rewire 737 MAX jets: report ‘Sometimes They’re Angry With Us and That’s OK’: Boeing and 737 MAX Families Form Painful Partnership (Wall Street Journal) The grieving families of the 157 who died in Ethiopia want to mark the ground with a permanent memorial and a paved road to reach it. As a result , the families are caught in a grim partnership with the two companies that have been the source of their pain. Congressional Report Faults Boeing on MAX Design, FAA for Lax Oversight (Wall Street Journal) Preliminary findings describe in stark terms how engineering mistakes and a “culture of concealment” at Boeing, coupled with insufficient federal safety oversight, led to two fatal crashes of 737 MAX aircraft. Judge says Amazon is ‘likely to succeed’ on key argument in Pentagon cloud lawsuit (Washington Post) In an opinion unsealed Friday, Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith sided with Amazon on several points. The ruling halts JEDI cloud work at the Pentagon and allows Amazon's bid protest to move forward. GDIT protests Navy’s $7.7 billion NGEN-R contract (Federal News Network) General Dynamics Information Technology, one of the two losing bidders for the largest portion of the NGEN contract, has filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office. Former Obama Admin Acting DHS Inspector General Indicted on Theft, Fraud Charges (Law & Crime) A 59-year-old Maryland man who served as the Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security between the 2011 and 2013 years of Barack Obama's presidency has been indicted for alleged theft and fraud.

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