Tag: Space Force
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Space Force Shifts Six National Security Launches to SpaceX as Vulcan Stays Grounded
Vulcan has been grounded since February 12, 2026, when a solid rocket booster anomaly occurred during the USSF-87 mission. The rocket reached orbit, but one of its Northrop Grumman GEM 63XL boosters suffered a visible nozzle failure shortly after liftoff, prompting a comprehensive technical review. Because this was the second nozzle-related irregularity in four flights,…
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Space Force Readies Two RFIs as Pentagon Elevates Cislunar Space to Warfighting Domain
The shift marks a sharp reversal within a single year. “At the beginning of the year there was no talk of cislunar, and basically I was told: ‘Don’t talk about cislunar and stop getting into it.’ At the end of the year here, and we’re not even at the end, I’ve got the secretary of…
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Space Force Sets Target of Eight Missions a Day in Eastern and Western Range Overhaul
The long-term roadmap addresses accelerating launch demands across commercial and national security sectors. It builds on prior infrastructure programs in which Space Systems Command advanced Eastern and Western Range capabilities. As commercial launch providers establish rapid turnaround cadences, demonstrated when Space Launch Delta 45 broke annual launch records on the Eastern Range, the service is…
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Space Forces Central Commander Projects Fivefold Growth Within Three Years
Space Forces Central, or SPACECENT, was activated in December 2022 with a small staff of about 30 personnel split between Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Benson said that while his team has had an outsized impact during operations against Iran, it needs to grow to meet the expectations…
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SpaceX Set to Launch Classified USSF-481 Mission From Vandenberg
The mission will deliver undisclosed payloads to an undisclosed location in orbit. SpaceX is not expected to provide additional details during its webcast, which is anticipated to begin about 10 minutes before launch and likely end shortly after the first stage lands. The Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off during a four-hour window that…
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BAE Systems Wins Space Force Contract for Compact Satellite Communications Terminals
The contract draws on the company’s history of delivering radiation-hardened hardware and communications systems, spanning from Apollo-era programs to current deep-space and airborne missions. BAE Systems will base its solution on its space-hardened family of software-defined radios. These radios are designed to ensure reliable performance in contested or degraded environments, including conditions involving jamming, electromagnetic…
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Space Force Seeks Industry Input on Vandenberg Mission Development Zone
The service outlined the proposal as it looks to grow the range of capabilities available to launch providers operating at the installation. The effort centers on creating dedicated space to meet demand for additional processing and assembly resources. Under the plan, the Mission Development Zone would give launch providers room for additional payload processing capacity…
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Fisica Wins Space Force DARC Contract for UK Radar Site
DARC is building a global network of advanced ground-based sensors intended to enhance space domain awareness. The program began its first phase one year ago under a trilateral agreement. With construction now complete at the Australian site, the program is advancing to the UK location. Fisica, based in San Leandro, California, secured the contract through…
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Northrop Grumman Delivers 21 Transport Layer Satellites to Vandenberg for Space Force Constellation
The Transport Layer is designed to include hundreds of Low-Earth Orbit satellites to speed secure military communications. Together with the Tracking Layer for missile deterrence, it forms the two major components of SDA’s future Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Tranche 1 of the Transport Layer is to have 126 satellites, split evenly among three prime contractors:…
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Stoke Space Raises $1 Billion, Targets Early 2027 Debut for Fully Reusable Nova Rocket
Stoke Space announced on September 8 that it completed the initial closing of a $1 billion Series E financing round, bringing its total capital raised to $2.3 billion. The Kent, Washington-based company will use the funding to prepare its fully reusable Nova Pathfinder rocket for a first orbital launch in early 2027, expand production and…