Tag: Space Force
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Space Force Awards Kronos Contracts to Two Prime Contractors
What capabilities will the Space Force’s Kronos program deliver? The U.S. Space Force has awarded two prototype contracts for its Kronos program, marking a critical milestone in the service’s effort to develop next-generation space domain awareness capabilities. The program aims to deliver advanced tracking and characterization systems for objects in cislunar space, addressing growing concerns…
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Space Force considers Vulcan flights minus solid boosters
Can Vulcan launch military payloads without its solid rocket boosters? The U.S. Space Force is evaluating whether United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur can fly lower-energy national security missions without solid rocket motors (SRMs) as the investigation into a recent solid booster anomaly continues to ground the rocket’s full-performance configuration. This contingency planning reflects the military’s…
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Pentagon Eyes Vulcan Issues for Next Launch Competition
How Will Vulcan’s Reliability Issues Reshape Pentagon Launch Strategy? United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket faces its second grounding in less than two years, and a Space Force three-star general confirmed Tuesday that these reliability issues will “absolutely” influence the Pentagon’s next launch services competition. Despite a backlog of nearly 70 missions, Vulcan has completed just…
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Seattle startup Integrate lands $17M to expand its super-secure project management tool for defense tech
The team at Seattle startup Integrate. (Integrate Photo) Seattle’s Integrate on Wednesday announced $17 million in new funding to broaden the scope of its super-secure project management tool that targets complex operations in defense, space and other sectors. Integrate landed a $25 million contract last June from the U.S. Space Force to support the deployment…
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ULA launches first mission of 2026 with USSF-87 aboard Vulcan – SRB issue observed
United Launch Alliance launched its first mission of 2026 with the USSF-87 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Vulcan Centaur V-005, with four solid rocket boosters in the VC4S configuration, launched on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 4:22 AM EST (09:22 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 41. One SRB appeared to have another…
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Starfish Space wins $54.5M Space Force contract for another satellite servicing vehicle
An artist’s conception shows Starfish Space’s Otter spacecraft in geosynchronous Earth orbit. (Starfish Space Illustration) Tukwila, Wash.-based Starfish Space has been awarded a $54.5 million contract to produce another Otter satellite servicing spacecraft for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. The deal, announced this week, builds on a $37.5 million Space Systems Command contract…
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Starfish Space wins $52.5M contract to provide satellite disposal service for Space Development Agency
An artist’s conception shows an Otter spacecraft in proximity to another satellite. (Starfish Space Illustration) Starfish Space has secured a $52.5 million contract from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency to dispose of military satellites at the end of their operational lives. The Tukwila, Wash.-based startup says it’s the first commercial deal ever struck…
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Meet the Arc spacecraft: It aims to deliver cargo anywhere in the world in an hour
A relatively new spacecraft company, Inversion, revealed its new “on demand” delivery vehicle Wednesday evening during a splashy ceremony at its factory in Los Angeles. The company said it is building the Arc spacecraft to provide a capability to the US military to deliver as much as 500 pounds (225 kg) of supplies almost anywhere…
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Space entrepreneurs see defense projects as next frontier for funding and innovation
The Golden Dome is envisioned as a network of satellite sensors and interceptors that could protect America from incoming missiles. (Lockheed Martin Illustration) Will the Golden Dome be a golden opportunity for commercial space ventures? That may be a bit of an exaggeration. But at a Seattle Tech Week presentation on the space industry, a…
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Integrate wins $25M Space Force contract for super-secure project management tool
Integrate is supporting the modernization of program execution across space missions with tools designed for speed, transparency and interoperability. (Integrate Photo) Seattle-based Integrate has been awarded a $25 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to support the deployment of its multiplayer project management software for government teams — and for the commercial space contractors…