Tag

Spaceforce

All articles tagged with #spaceforce

defense5 days ago•2 min saved

US acknowledges first orbital weapons capability amid space-military buildup

The U.S. publicly acknowledged for the first time that it has weapons deployed in space, describing 'on-orbit space control weapons' to protect forces but not disclosing their exact nature or deployment date. Framed as part of a broader modernization of the Air and Space Forces in response to advances by adversaries and AI-driven warfare, the capabilities could range from jamming to kinetic effects. Russia and China are expected to respond diplomatically, while leaders push to accelerate autonomous systems and cheaper weapons as space security becomes a central strategic concern.

via CNBC|

#ai #autonomy #defense

science8 days ago•6 min saved

NASA launches fast-track bid race to host the United States Space Academy

NASA outlines a rapid plan to establish the United States Space Academy, inviting all states to bid for a permanent campus with initial classes in 2028 and a 2031 move, as a presidential commission and funding questions shape the project.

via Ars Technica|

#bidding #education #nasa

defense3 months ago•3 min saved

SpaceX to build global space-based target-tracking network

The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $4.16 billion contract to develop a proliferated low-earth-orbit constellation for the Air Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) system to detect, track and custody airborne targets globally from space, with initial capability expected by 2028; SpaceX is the first contractor but the Space Force will source from multiple providers as part of a broader shift to space-based sensing alongside a separate $2.29 billion Space Data Network award.

via SpaceNews|

#amti #defense #satellites

science-and-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

"SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Rockets America's X-37B Spaceplane into a Secretive Orbit"

The US military's X-37B space plane, on its seventh mission, was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Florida, marking the first time the vehicle has been sent to potentially higher orbits. The mission, shrouded in secrecy and part of the National Security Space Launch program, aims to test new orbital regimes and space domain awareness technologies. The launch comes amid heightened US-China space rivalry and includes a NASA experiment on the effects of space radiation on plant seeds. The exact orbit and mission details remain undisclosed.

via DAWN.com|

##falconheavy #science-and-technology

science-and-technology2 years ago•6 min saved

"Space Rivals: X-37B's Secretive Orbit and SpaceX's Spectacular Dual Launch"

Boeing and SpaceX have revealed footage of the secretive X-37B spaceplane, operated by the U.S. Space Force, with an extended payload module. The video, part of a montage shown before the latest X-37B launch, depicts the vehicle separating from its launch rocket during the OTV-6 mission in 2020. The X-37B's missions remain largely classified, fueling speculation about their purposes, which could range from intelligence and surveillance to space-based weapons. The recent launch, OTV-7, utilized a Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time, potentially placing the X-37B in a higher orbit and expanding its operational capabilities. Details about the mission are limited, but it is known to include experiments on space domain awareness technologies and the effects of radiation on materials.

via The War Zone|

##boeing #science-and-technology