#space-force
#space-force

TechCrunch

1 day ago

Gravitics to develop 'tactically responsive' orbital platforms for the Space Force | TechCrunch

Gravitics scored a $1.7 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to enable responsive space missions. [ more ]

futurism.com

1 month ago

US Military Commander Worries China Could Launch Attack From Moon

Growing concerns over China's use of Moon for potential attacks

Space Force focusing on new attack vectors in xGEO and cislunar space [ more ]

Ars Technica

4 months ago

The US military's spaceplane is about to fly again-it needs a bigger rocket

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is set to launch with the US military's X-37B spaceplane onboard, heading into an unusual orbit.

The X-37B's flight will reach a higher altitude than previous missions and will take a flight path over Earth's polar regions. [ more ]

Ars Technica

From start to finish, Sunday's Falcon Heavy launch delivered spectacular imagery

The Falcon Heavy rocket made its fifth launch in five years on Sunday evening from Florida.However, this was the first launch of the triple-core booster in twilight, and this rare evening light provided some spectacular new insights into the liftoff and return of the rocket.This post-sunset lighting can be seen in the introductory image above, which showcases reddish hues bouncing off the white cores and upper stage.

www.npr.org

A secretive Space Force plane completed its longest mission yet

The X-37B orbital test vehicle concluded its sixth successful mission early Saturday.Staff Sgt.Adam Shanks/United States Space Force Loud booms heard in Florida marked the return of the X-37B, the U.S. Space Force's uncrewed orbital test vehicle, after the secretive space plane's sixth and longest mission yet.

Futurism

NASA Watches Nervously as Hurricane Threatens Exposed Moon Rocket

Eye of the Hurricane
NASA's uber-expensive Space Launch System (SLS) Moon rocket is officially back on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, getting ready for its next launch attempt, currently slated for just after midnight on November 14.It's been a long time coming, given that several previously launch attempts have already been scrapped due to technical issues and bad weather.

moreScience

TechCrunch

2 weeks ago

Mission District

Space Force tees up new 'responsive space' mission from Rocket Lab and True Anomaly | TechCrunch

Commercial companies Rocket Lab and True Anomaly are set to deliver and operate space hardware for the military under tight timeframes as part of the Space Force's strategic approach. [ more ]

Breaking Defense

2 months ago

Why the Space Force needs its own JAG Corps

The Space Force lacks its own judge advocate unit, despite needing specialized lawyers.

Having its own lawyers would ensure tailored legal advice for the unique challenges of the Space Force. [ more ]

Breaking Defense

10 months ago

Draft House NDAA would create Space National Guard

WASHINGTON - The House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee draft of the fiscal 2024 defense policy bill, obtained by Breaking Defense, would establish a Space National Guard, as well as approve the Biden administration's plan to create a "hybrid Space Component" comprising both full- and part-time Guardians in lieu of a separate Space Force Reserve.

Breaking Defense

Lawmaker 'definitely' considering value of independent Cyber Force, but wants more study

WASHINGTON - A key lawmaker says his subcommittee will consider the idea of having a Space Force-like independent cyber military service, but he said he wants to study the idea more to make sure it wouldn't complicate the challenging mission further.The idea was floated on Thursday by Mark Montgomery, senior director of the Center on Cyber Technology and Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who told the House Armed Services Committee's (HASC) cyber, innovative technologies and information systems (CITI) subcommittee that it needs to examine "if the current design of the Cyber Mission Force is what we need for the 21st century, or should we be considering an independent cyber force as we've recently done with the Space Force."

Breaking Defense

Lawmakers push IC for more commercial imagery acquisition, transparency

INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY SUMMIT - House lawmakers want to know more about how much the Intelligence Community is spending funds on commercial satellite imagery and imagery-derived analytical products, according to a senior House staffer.

Breaking Defense

Texas lawmakers ask Kendall to reopen contest for STARCOM HQ

WASHINGTON - The Texas congressional delegation is petitioning Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall to reconsider the department's decision to limit candidate locations for Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) to the six states already home to a Space Force base, thus eliminating Texas and 46 other states from the competition.

Ars Technica

SpaceX launches military satellites tuned to track hypersonic missiles

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched prototype satellites for the Missile Defense Agency and missile tracking satellites for the US Space Force.

The satellites are designed to track hypersonic missiles from countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Hypersonic missiles are smaller, more maneuverable, and difficult to track compared to conventional ballistic missiles. [ more ]

Ars Technica

3 months ago

The Space Force is changing the way it thinks about spaceports

Ground infrastructure is crucial for successful rocket launches and needs upgrades.

The Biden administration is requesting $1.3 billion to revamp infrastructure at the Space Force's ranges. [ more ]

Engadget

11 months ago

Astronomers identify volcano-covered planet that could have water on its surface | Engadget

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center / Chris Smith
Astronomers have found a planet they believe is blanketed by active volcanoes.In a study published Tuesday in the , a multi-national team of scientists said they discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet they believe may have water on part of its surface.The boringly named LP 791-18 d (sadly, no one thought to call it ) is located about 90 light-years from Earth in the Crater constellation.

www.dw.com

NASA to test nuclear-powered spacecraft by 2027 DW 01/25/2023

NASA will partner with the US military's research and development agency, DARPA, to develop nuclear-powered rockets that could fly astronauts to Mars.NASA says it could allow spacecraft to travel faster, reduce transit time, and have other benefits such as increased payloads on missions.Administrator Bill Nelson said Tuesday that the US space agency could "develop and demonstrate advanced nuclear thermal propulsion technology as soon as 2027."

Ars Technica

NASA cancels Artemis I launch attempt, but will delay roll back decision

NASA on Saturday announced that it will no longer attempt to launch its Artemis I mission on Tuesday, September 27, as Tropical Storm Ian continues developing in the Caribbean Sea.

moreOMG science

Ars Technica

NASA delays flight of Boeing's Starliner again, this time for parachutes

NASA and Boeing announced Wednesday that the first crewed flight of the Starliner spacecraft will now take place no earlier than July 21.This moves the vehicle's flight, carrying NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, from the previously announced timeframe of April.The manager of NASA's Commercial Crew program, Steve Stich, said the delay was attributable to the extra time needed to close out the pre-flight review process of Starliner and also due to traffic from other vehicles visiting the space station in June and the first half of July.

Los Angeles Times

California

Space station discarded some trash. It rained fire in California's sky

Jeff Watters and his friends weren't sure what to think of the streaking lights that dashed across the Sacramento night sky late Friday.About seven meteor-like blazes appeared to dart by around 9:30 p.m., diverting attention from ongoing St. Patrick's Day revelry, as evidenced by video that Watters took.

The Verge

NASA has a new launch date for its Artemis I megarocket

The Artemis I team has already finished working on the hydrogen leak, which involved replacing the seals around the "quick disconnect" system that helps funnel the freezing cold liquid hydrogen fuel into the rocket.

The Verge

'Large' hydrogen leak foils NASA's schedule for Artemis I mission

NASA will not attempt to launch its Space Launch System in the coming days, the agency announced today, skipping potential launch windows on Monday and Tuesday.

Washington Post

Business

Live updates: New effort to launch Artemis I is encountering problems loading the fuel

NASA is encountering new problems with its second attempt to launch its massive Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft to the moon.

Ars Technica

Rocket Report: SpaceX's Super Heavy is lit, court strikes down Georgia spaceport

Welcome to Edition 5.25 of the Rocket Report!On Thursday afternoon much of the space world was tuned into South Texas, where SpaceX conducted what appeared to be a successful static-fire test of its Super Heavy rocket.This was a critical step on the pathway to a much-anticipated orbital flight test of Starship this spring.

Washington Post

Business

With eye on storm, NASA presses ahead with Artemis launch attempt

NASA is moving ahead with a Tuesday launch attempt of its Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft, agency officials said Friday, as they watch a storm that could force them to roll back the rocket to its assembly building and waive off a launch to the moon for the third time.

www.cnn.com

NASA engineers encounter leak during Artemis I test

Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

www.cnn.com

NASA's Artemis I mega moon rocket prepares for prelaunch test

Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

www.cnn.com

Artemis I's next launch attempt may not happen until later this year

Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

www.nytimes.com

Television

Late Night Recaps Rihanna's Super Bowl Halftime Surprise

Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night's highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy.Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show was popular with late-night hosts on Monday, who praised the pop star for performing while pregnant.

Nytimes

Television

The Best of Late Night This Week

This week, outer space, both real and fictional, made the late-show monologues, as did the New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman's book about President Trump.

Nytimes

Television

Trevor Noah's Take on Russia's Sham Referendums in Ukraine

"I mean, it is one thing to conquer a town and blow up their buildings but to make them do paperwork?There is evil and then there's evil," Noah said.

www.cnn.com

SpaceX's most powerful rocket returns to flight and nails synchronized landing

Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter.Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, the towering launch vehicle known for its boosters' aerial acrobatics and synchronized landings when returning to Earth, took to the skies Sunday, delivering national security payloads to orbit for the US military.

Ars Technica

After doubling launch record in 2022, can SpaceX take another step up in 2023?

On the penultimate day of 2022, SpaceX completed its final launch of the year, boosting an Israeli optical satellite into low Earth orbit.This was the company's seventh launch in December and capped a year in which the Falcon family of rockets launched 61 times, all successful.All but one of these missions flew on the Falcon 9 rocket, and more than 90 percent of these flights were on a previously used booster.

Ars Technica

A camera next to the Falcon landing pads captured Tuesday's dramatic return

On Tuesday morning, a Falcon Heavy rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center, carrying a pair of satellites for the US Space Force to geostationary orbit.This was the fourth overall launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket, but it marked the first time that SpaceX invited a handful of photographers to set up remote cameras next to Landing Zone 2, which is located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Ars Technica

SpaceX successfully launches its first Falcon Heavy in 40 months

A dense fog shrouded much of Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday morning, largely obscuring the liftoff of the most powerful operational rocket in the world.But takeoff the Falcon Heavy did, promptly at 9:41 am ET, climbing steadily above the Florida coast on its way to orbit.A few minutes into the launch, two side-mounted boosters-slightly modified versions of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket-peeled away from the center core of the rocket.

Inverse

SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches on a secretive U.S. government mission

Falcon Heavy, the world's most powerful operational rocket, just blasted off to the skies following a three-year rest.The hulking vehicle took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday morning at 9:41 a.m.This launch kicks off the secretive USSF-44 mission for the U.S. Space Force, which will deploy two payloads into Earth-centered orbit - including the TETRA 1 microsatellite, according to NASA.

Ars Technica

The world's most powerful rocket finally returns after a 3-year absence

As early as Tuesday morning, the Falcon Heavy will take flight for the first time since June 2019, ending a long period of inactivity for the world's most powerful, operational rocket.Under the power of 27 Merlin engines in its first stage, the rocket will carry two space technology payloads into orbit for US Space Force.

www.cnn.com

NASA inspects Artemis I rocket after Hurricane Nicole

Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter.Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.The Artemis I moon rocket is still standing after battling Hurricane Nicole, which made landfall as a Category 1 storm roughly 70 miles south from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida overnight.

Theregister

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launches after a 3-year hiatus

The most powerful operational rocket flying today - SpaceX's Falcon Heavy - blasted multiple military satellites into orbit on a classified mission for the US Space Force on Tuesday, marking its fourth flight since 2019.The 230-foot-tall vehicle launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 0941 ET (1341 UTC).

www.cnn.com

Rocket Lab catches, then drops booster in helicopter capture attempt

New York (CNN Business)Rocket Lab, which aims to launch satellites into space quickly and cheaply, said it just used a helicopter to catch part of a rocket in mid-air.

The Verge

NASA's Artemis I launch has officially been delayed until November

The long-anticipated launch of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket has been pushed back to mid-November after NASA waved off its September 27th launch plans in the wake of Hurricane Ian ( via Space.com).

The Verge

NASA calls off Artemis I launch as Tropical Storm Ian looms

NASA called off its Artemis I launch scheduled for September 27th as Tropical Storm Ian continues to intensify, potentially strengthening into a major hurricane that strikes Florida next week.

www.cnn.com

Next launch attempt of Artemis I set for Tuesday, but could delay due to tropical depression

Given the uncertainty in the storm track, intensity and the arrival time, the Artemis team will use the latest data to inform their decision, said Mike Bolger, manager of NASA's Exploration Ground Systems Program.Assessing crucial data Meanwhile, the Artemis team is encouraged after "a really successful tanking test," and "the rocket is looking good for upcoming launch attempts, said John Blevins, SLS chief engineer at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.The Artemis team is closely monitoring the weather and will make a decision on Saturday.

The Verge

NASA loads Artemis I rocket with fuel in major troubleshooting test

Today, NASA got its next-generation Moon rocket all tanked up with nowhere to go.

Nytimes

NYC music

Space Force Song Shoots for the Stars, but Some Think It Falls Flat

It was a familiar scenario for the fledgling military branch, which has been the butt of jokes and TV satire.

Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month.

www.cnn.com

Music

Space Force releases official song Semper Supra'

The US Space Force released its official song, titled Semper Supra, on Tuesday.

Engadget

Music

The US Space Force's new anthem proves it's just another boring government entity | Engadget

Three years after becoming the newest branch of the US Armed Forces, the Space Force has an official song.

www.vice.com

Music

The Space Force Now Has an Official Song

Image Source: Space Force/Staff Sgt. James Richardson Jr America's Space Forceremember that the United States military added a new branch of service recently, and thus has a Space Force?has released its new official song, which it claims took years of research and revision.

Theregister

NASA to try again with SLS Moon rocket launch this month

NASA will attempt, for the third time now, to blast off its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to the Moon in late September.

www.cnn.com

NASA eyes two dates in late September for Artemis I launch but several hurdles remain

Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

The Verge

NASA eyes late September for another Artemis I launch attempt

After repeated delays, NASA is lightly penciling in launch dates of September 23rd or 27th for its Artemis I mission.

Washington Post

Business

Timing of NASA's moon launch may depend on emergency detonation system

Like all big rockets, NASA's Space Launch System is outfitted with powerful engines and thousands of gallons of highly combustible propellants capable of lifting a booster the size of a tall building off the Earth and traveling many times the speed of sound out of the atmosphere.

www.aljazeera.com

NASA aims to launch new Artemis Moon rocket on Saturday

Fuel leaks and a bad engine sensor foiled Monday's attempt, managers say they have now addressed the problems.

Ars Technica