Air & Space Forces Magazine’s Post

🛰️ ISAM is the future of space. ❓ The question is when will we create that future. Air & Space Forces Magazine writes: United States Space Force and U.S. Space Command leaders are eager for this capability. U.S. Space Command boss Gen. Stephen Whiting has argued that “it is time to bring dynamic operations and on-orbit logistics and infrastructure to the space domain.” Not being able to refuel satellites in orbit severely limits operational flexibility and empowers adversaries. It forces operators to choose between exposing satellites to risk in a game of orbital cat-and-mouse or shortening their lifespans each time they expend precious fuel.     Satellites should fly “until missions are complete, not until the fuel we launched with is depleted,” notes U.S. Space Command boss Gen. Stephen Whiting. 📰 Read more:

Orbital Prime and SpaceWERX STRATFI awardee, Orbit Fab, has announced that the firm’s RAFTI (Rapidly Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) refueling port has been designated by Space Systems Command as a refueling interface for in-space fueling of military satellites. The SSC’s System Engineering Review Board (SERB) made the recommendation following mission-critical assessments that RAFTI meets the technical qualifications to support a wide range of U.S. Government space missions - including meeting United States Space Force’s request and need for refueling as a commercial service. Learn more: https://ow.ly/cHbK50T17Qm . . . #SpaceWERX #SpacePrime #OrbitalPrime #SpaceVentures #STRATFI #spacerefuel #space #satellites

Last night, SpaceX launched Hisdesat Servicios Estratégicos’s SpainSat New Generation (NG) I communication satellite from Space Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, FL. The SpainSat NG program aims to develop, launch and operate the European most advanced next-gen military telecommunications satellites. It represents Spain’s most ambitious program and Hisdesat’s most significant project up to now. The project comprises two satellites built by Airbus Defence and Space – SpainSat NG I and SpainSat NG II – which will operate in X-band, military Ka band, and UHF. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dTw63QxM #Airbus #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Spainsat #Spain #launch

U.S. military satellites manufactured by York Space Systems and SpaceX successfully demonstrated cross-vendor laser communications link in low Earth orbit, marking a milestone for the Pentagon’s next-generation satellite network. The satellites are part of the U.S. Space Force’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a network designed to enhance military communications and missile tracking capabilities.

U.S. military satellites manufactured by York Space Systems and SpaceX successfully demonstrated cross-vendor laser communications link in low Earth orbit, marking a milestone for the Pentagon’s next-generation satellite network. https://lnkd.in/gvM-2PHt

The latest Eurospace report reveals that recent growth in the #space sector is largely driven by #SpaceX and Chinese programs, with Europe's industry lagging behind due to declining commercial demand and limited #military investment. Despite the recent Ariane 6 launch, which may boost Europe’s space capabilities, the sector remains under pressure. For a detailed look at these trends and their implications, read the full article: https://lnkd.in/duJKawQ8

'The Space Development Agency, a Pentagon space acquisition organization, already has launched 27 low Earth orbit satellites for experimentation and demonstrations in the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture program ... 'By the end of 2025, the program expects to have 160 satellites in orbit, the majority covering the globe to create connectivity across regions, more than two dozen dedicated to missile warning and a handful running missile control. 'The Space Development Agency had demonstrated Link 16 connectivity using its satellites ... 'Link 16 is the tactical data link used by the U.S. military, NATO and other partner nations ... 'The program seeks to create a hybrid satellite terminal for troops to use. That would allow a user’s terminal to switch between the low Earth orbit satellites transport layer or use dedicated military or commercial bandwidths such as the satellite communication Ka and Ku bands, respectively. 'The system would work much like multiband radios can switch between frequency bands for a variety of communications options'. https://lnkd.in/grmdHBnd

An exciting announcement from Orbit Fab! Orbit Fab has just achieved a major milestone! The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) has officially designated Orbit Fab’s RAFTI (Rapid Attachable Fluid Transfer Interface) as the standard for in-space refueling of military satellites. This landmark achievement marks a significant leap forward in space technology! The RAFTI refueling port is set to revolutionize satellite operations by making in-space refueling a reality. This innovation will not only extend the lifespans of satellites but also enhance their mission capabilities. While it supports critical military objectives, RAFTI also opens the door to exciting commercial possibilities in space. Read more below. #spaceforce #spacetech #satelliterefueling #wealthingvcfund #proudinvestor

🚀🛰️ "Arctic Connection: Satellites Set to Launch Early" 🛰️🚀 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gPRdMJUx 1️⃣ 🛡️ "Secure Skies Ahead" 🛡️ Northrop Grumman's ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 satellites, built on the GEOStar-3 platform, are ready to revolutionize Arctic communication. Hosting the U.S. military’s EPS-R payload, these satellites mark the first operational U.S. military payload on a commercial vehicle operated by an international partner. 2️⃣ 🌐 "Broadband Breakthrough" 🌐 Launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in July, these satellites promise constant broadband coverage over the North Pole. This crucial step addresses the underserved high-latitude areas, ensuring robust internet connectivity where it’s needed most. 3️⃣ 🌍 "Global Collaboration in Orbit" 🌍 The ASBM satellites host payloads from multiple entities, including the Norwegian Armed Forces and Viasat. This international effort showcases a unique partnership to enhance secure communications and monitoring capabilities in the challenging Arctic environment. Polar orbits, global impacts—these satellites are cooler than ever! #ArcticBroadband #SatelliteLaunch #NorthropGrumman #SpaceX #SpaceInnovation #GlobalConnectivity #MilitaryTech #Viasat @NorthropGrumman @SpaceX

On Thursday, the US Space Force successfully launched an operational weather satellite for the first time in a decade, marking a significant step forward in upgrading a meteorological network that has been in orbit for over half a century. The Ball Aerospace-built satellite was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on April 11 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, signaling the start of a modernization effort for the Space Force's 60-year-old weather constellation, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). The newly launched spacecraft is part of the Weather Satellite Follow-on Microwave program, or WSF-M, and is equipped with sensors capable of measuring atmospheric moisture, cloud cover, and precipitation. This data is crucial for the military to plan its missions effectively. The last DMSP satellite was launched in 2014, and this latest launch marks the beginning of a new era of weather monitoring and forecasting for the Space Force, ensuring that the military has access to accurate and timely weather data to support its operations. This significant milestone highlights the Space Force's commitment to advancing space technology and its role in supporting military operations, as well as the broader importance of weather monitoring and forecasting for the global community. #defense #defence #military #technology #aerospace #space #spacemission #moon #rocket #rockets #spaceexploration #aerospace #satellite #satellites #spacetechnology #spaceinnovation #spacecraft #spacenews #spacestation