Tag: Space Force
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Quantum Space to Go Public in $1.2 Billion SPAC Deal Backed by Former NASA Chief Jim Bridenstine
Quantum Space has agreed to go public through a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. VI in a transaction valuing the combined company at approximately $1.2 billion. The deal includes a $300 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) led by Inflection Point Asset Management and is expected to close…
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Space Force evaluating anomaly-related damage, future danger areas
Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45), which operates the Eastern Range, have cleared a major safety milestone following the anomaly involving a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket on May 28. The Blast Danger Area (BDA), a keep-out zone in place during hazardous vehicle operations like a static fire or launch, was removed on June 1…
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Space Force Plans 2027 GEO Refueling and Servicing Demos
What orbital servicing capabilities will Space Force demonstrate in 2027? The U.S. Space Force will launch its first operational demonstrations of in-space refueling and satellite servicing in geostationary orbit (GEO) during 2027 under the USSF-23 mission. The mission represents the military’s most ambitious step toward establishing persistent space logistics capabilities at the critical 35,786 km…
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Space Force Projects 25 Additional Heavy-Lift Missions Through 2029
What’s driving Space Force’s sudden need for 25 additional heavy-lift launches? The U.S. Space Force has identified 25 additional “high-energy” missions requiring heavy-lift launch vehicles between 2027-2029, representing a significant expansion in national security space requirements beyond current manifest projections. This surge reflects accelerating deployment of large military satellites, next-generation missile warning systems, and deep-space…
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Space Force awards $3.2B for Golden Dome interceptor prototypes
What does the Space Force’s $3.2 billion Golden Dome contract mean for space-based missile defense? The U.S. Space Force awarded up to $3.2 billion across 12 companies to develop competing prototypes for the Golden Dome boost-phase interceptor program, marking the largest single defense space investment since the Space Development Agency’s initial satellite constellation awards. The…
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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…