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Space Domain Awareness

All articles tagged with #space domain awareness

Astranis unveils Perceptor, a GEO space-surveillance scout
technology15 days ago

Astranis unveils Perceptor, a GEO space-surveillance scout

Astranis announced Perceptor, a geostationary-orbit surveillance spacecraft built on its microGEO platform to observe and inspect other satellites and reposition via electric propulsion, marking a move from broadband to space-domain awareness. The system can fly by other satellites and operate in coordinated groups, helping military and commercial operators reduce surveillance blind spots in GEO as the Space Force pursues next-generation surveillance under RG-XX; the announcement follows a recent $450 million funding round to scale manufacturing for government procurements.

via spacenews.com|
#astranis#geo-satellites#microgeo
US Space Command Elevates Counter-LEO and Integrated Fires as 2029–2033 Priorities
defense16 days ago

US Space Command Elevates Counter-LEO and Integrated Fires as 2029–2033 Priorities

US Space Command has identified its top capability gaps for 2029–2033, prioritizing integrated space fires and counter-proliferated low Earth orbit capabilities, followed by joint space command-and-control, dedicated space-domain awareness, and sustained space maneuver; the aim is credible deterrence and the ability to disrupt adversary space networks, with industry and government labs urged to develop solutions, while Space Command itself does not procure the systems.

via SpaceNews|
#counter-pleo#defense#integrated-space-fires
China's Shijian-31 Executes Molniya-style Sweep of GEO
space1 month ago

China's Shijian-31 Executes Molniya-style Sweep of GEO

China’s classified Shijian-31 satellite, launched in June, appears to operate in a novel Molniya-like orbit that loiters over the equator and sweeps the geostationary belt, offering a unique GEO vantage with potential space-domain awareness applications; the exact payload remains unclear, but the mission demonstrates advanced orbital mechanics and signals interest in inspecting GEO assets.

via SpaceNews|
#china#geostationary-orbit#molniya-orbit
Rocket Lab clinches Space Force's inaugural GEO satellite program
military3 months ago

Rocket Lab clinches Space Force's inaugural GEO satellite program

Rocket Lab has won a $90 million U.S. Space Force contract to design, build, and operate two geostationary satellites using its Lightning bus to monitor objects in GEO. The program marks its first GEO satellite production effort and includes spacecraft manufacturing, launch integration, and up to five years of on-orbit operations. The satellites will carry Heimdall electro-optical payloads for space-domain awareness as part of a broader Space Force push to deploy distributed, commercially derived surveillance in geostationary orbit.

via SpaceNews|
#geostationary-orbit#heimdall-payloads#military
US GSSAP Sats Bracket China’s Shijian-29 in GEO
space-and-defense5 months ago

US GSSAP Sats Bracket China’s Shijian-29 in GEO

Commercial space-domain data show USA 324 and USA 325 (GSSAP) bracket and then hand off to monitor China’s Shijian-29A/B in geostationary orbit, providing continuous surveillance from opposite sides of the GEO belt from March 14–18; Shijian-29, launched December 2025, appears to be part of tech verification for space-target detection, highlighting rising proximity operations among major powers in GEO.

via SpaceNews|
#geostationary-orbit#gssap#rendezvous-proximity-operations
Anduril expands space-tracking capabilities with ExoAnalytic acquisition
technology5 months ago

Anduril expands space-tracking capabilities with ExoAnalytic acquisition

Anduril Industries plans to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions, a private operator of roughly 400 ground-based telescopes that monitor objects in orbit and provide space-domain awareness data to the U.S. government. The deal would significantly grow Anduril’s space division, folding ExoAnalytic into its space and engineering unit and integrating its tracking data with Anduril’s Lattice platform for fused sensing, with potential external sales of space-tracking data after regulatory approvals and concurrent plans to advance Anduril’s own space missions.

via SpaceNews|
#anduril-industries#exoanalytic-solutions#mergers-and-acquisitions
Starlink Satellite Image Captures Chinese Military Base
technology11 months ago

Starlink Satellite Image Captures Chinese Military Base

SpaceX's Starlink satellites were captured in a satellite image taken by Maxar Intelligence, revealing the crowded orbital environment and raising concerns about potential military and spying threats, especially as the satellites flew over a Chinese military base. The incident highlights the challenges of managing the increasing number of satellites and the importance of space domain awareness for mission success.

via PCMag|
#chinese-military-base#maxar-intelligence#satellite-imagery
space-exploration1 year ago

Firefly Aerospace to Launch Commercial Lunar Imaging Service by 2026

Firefly Aerospace announced its Ocula lunar imaging service, aiming to become the first commercial provider to offer high-resolution imagery of the Moon from lunar orbit, supporting upcoming missions including Blue Ghost 2 and future Mars exploration, with plans to develop a lunar orbit constellation and collaborate with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

via Spaceflight Now|
#firefly-aerospace#lunar-imaging#moon-mission
"Space Force Plans First Orbital Military Exercise with Rocket Lab and True Anomaly"
spacedefense2 years ago

"Space Force Plans First Orbital Military Exercise with Rocket Lab and True Anomaly"

The US Space Force is teaming up with Rocket Lab and True Anomaly for a groundbreaking mission called Victus Haze, aiming to demonstrate the military's ability to counter "on-orbit aggression." In this exercise, a spacecraft from Rocket Lab will pursue and inspect a satellite made by True Anomaly, simulating a response to potential threats from adversaries like China or Russia. This mission is part of the Space Force's efforts to validate Tactically Responsive Space capabilities and compress the time it takes to prepare and launch satellites, with the goal of being able to respond rapidly to on-orbit aggression.

via Ars Technica|
#military-exercise#orbit#satellite
"Space Force Partners with Private Sector for Space Tracking Data"
spacedefense2 years ago

"Space Force Partners with Private Sector for Space Tracking Data"

Lt. Gen. David Miller of the U.S. Space Force's Space Operations Command expects the private sector to play a crucial role in providing space tracking data and analytics capabilities to address the increasing congestion and threats to satellites in orbit. He emphasized the need for actionable intelligence and rapid decision cycles, pointing out that commercial companies can help with analytics, data interpretation, and speed in decision cycles. The Space Force is refining its plan to leverage commercial services and is expected to release a document examining how it could partner with the commercial space industry in the near future.

via SpaceNews|
#commercial-services#lt-gen-david-miller#space-domain-awareness
"Tony Frazier Named CEO of LeoLabs"
space-technology2 years ago

"Tony Frazier Named CEO of LeoLabs"

Tony Frazier, former Maxar Technologies executive, is set to become the CEO of LeoLabs on March 1, while LeoLabs co-founder Dan Ceperley will transition to the role of chief operations officer. Frazier aims to leverage his experience in commercial space and national security to drive the company's growth, as LeoLabs expands its space traffic coordination system and develops a software platform for tracking objects in space. With over $120 million raised, LeoLabs operates a global network of ground-based radars to monitor objects in low-Earth orbit.

via SpaceNews|
#leolabs#maxar-technologies#space-domain-awareness
"SpaceX and Pentagon Collaborate for Secretive X-37B Space Plane Launch"
space2 years ago

"SpaceX and Pentagon Collaborate for Secretive X-37B Space Plane Launch"

The Pentagon's secretive and mysterious spacecraft, the X-37B, is set to launch on its seventh mission. The drone, which flies without a crew, will be launched for the first time on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, indicating a potential higher orbit. The mission's objectives include testing and experimentation in new orbital regimes and future space domain awareness technologies. The X-37B has previously been used to test cutting-edge technologies and deploy small satellites. While its exact purpose remains unknown, the Pentagon emphasizes its importance. The mission will also conduct an experiment for NASA involving exposing plant seeds to the radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight. China has a similar secretive spaceplane, the Shenlong, inspired by the X-37B.

via The Washington Post|
#pentagon#space#space-domain-awareness
"US Space Force's Mission: Unraveling the Enigma of Unknown Objects in Earth's Orbit"
space2 years ago

"US Space Force's Mission: Unraveling the Enigma of Unknown Objects in Earth's Orbit"

The US Space Force aims to identify and track mysterious objects in Earth's orbit through space domain awareness (SDA). While SDA primarily focuses on monitoring space debris, commercial satellites, and adversary spacecraft, the Space Force also wants to identify objects with abnormal observables and unknown origins. The ability to rapidly identify and respond to such threats requires the use of various sensors and intelligence information. Recent events have highlighted the need for improved tracking capabilities, prompting the Space Force to collaborate with private companies and establish the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office. Despite efforts, there is currently no credible evidence of extraterrestrial origin for these anomalous objects.

via Space.com|
#objects#orbit#space