NorthStar Earth & Space’s Post

Space #SituationalAwareness: Navigating The Next Frontier As humanity extends its reach into the cosmos, the realm of #space situational awareness (SSA) has become a critical component of national security and defense strategies. SSA encompasses the ability to detect, track, catalog, and predict the movements of objects in space, including satellites, debris, and celestial bodies.  Read our new blog:

Space debris poses a significant threat to #spacemissions, both manned and unmanned, and can hamper the smooth functioning of #artificialsatellites. Monitoring and removing space debris is crucial for ensuring the success of future space missions. Governmental space organizations and private companies are developing advanced technologies for effective space debris monitoring and removal. #AMR #SpaceDebris #SpaceSustainability #SpaceSafety #OrbitalCleanup #FutureSpaceMissions #SpaceTechnology #DebrisMonitoring #SpaceInnovation #SatelliteSafety #CleanSpace https://lnkd.in/dN5mnihV

Throwback to One of Spaceflux's Cislunar Space Observations Our Track & Guard and monitoring systems successfully observed MMS-4 (ID: 40485), a spacecraft in the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. Using our Namibia-based Sensor (nam-1), we were able to precisely track this object at a range of 151,700 km, recording a visual magnitude of 16.01. This observation, conducted on September 4th, 2024, at 02:30 UTC, leveraged our proprietary image stacking technology to enhance the detection of faint objects in cislunar space. Our cutting-edge faint object detection capabilities ensure that we provide high-resolution data to protect national security and foster space safety. Through these initiatives, Spaceflux remains committed to supporting government agencies and private companies with reliable and precise space situational awareness (#SSA) to safeguard assets in orbit and beyond. Space traffic management and cislunar space monitoring are critical to mitigating risks posed by space debris and ensuring the safe operation of civil and defense assets in space. We are proud to contribute to global efforts in space safety, bringing innovation through AI-powered tracking systems and a commitment to data accuracy.  #AI #STM

𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 The U.S. Space Force anticipates its newest space observation satellites, known as Silent Barker, will be ready for initial operations in early 2025, according to Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of U.S. Space Command. Launched in September 2023, the spacecraft has undergone extensive on-orbit testing over the past year. While the exact number of satellites launched remains undisclosed, the mission included at least two. Gen. Whiting emphasized that a yearlong testing phase is typical for such advanced missions, but future satellites in the Silent Barker constellation should integrate more efficiently. Full operational capability is projected by 2026, with data from the satellites gradually feeding into operational databases once testing concludes. Silent Barker, a joint initiative between the Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), is designed to enhance tracking of objects and potential threats in geosynchronous orbit, approximately 22,000 miles above Earth. This mission replaces the aging Space-Based Space Surveillance System, which will reach the end of its operational life in 2028. The program began development in 2017, with an acquisition plan established in 2020. As space becomes a contested domain with increasing activity from China and Russia, Silent Barker will provide critical surveillance capabilities, supplementing ground-based systems that are limited in detail and visibility. The Silent Barker program is part of a broader effort to strengthen space domain awareness. Other upcoming capabilities include the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), under development by Northrop Grumman, which will monitor geosynchronous orbit from installations in the U.S., Australia, and the UK. Additionally, the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System, slated for completion in 2025, will integrate space surveillance data to detect and mitigate space-based threats. These advancements mark significant progress in ensuring the security of U.S. and allied assets in space. #SilentBarker #SpaceForce #SpaceDomainAwareness #SpaceSurveillance #DARC #AdvancedTracking #NationalSecurity Source: Defense News / Space Force

Satellites play Hide and Seek 🛰️ Despite advancements in space surveillance, #military satellites can still evade detection through various techniques. China's Shenlong spaceplane recently released a smaller companion craft, which went unnoticed for some time. Nations use methods like radar-absorbent materials, non-reflective coatings, and strategic maneuvers to hide #satellites. These stealth tactics pose challenges for the U.S. and its allies in tracking potential threats in orbit. Improved sensors, AI, and international cooperation are crucial for enhancing #space domain awareness and countering these stealthy moves.

🚨 **Breaking News: Space Safety Alert!** 🚨 In other major news, a **Russian satellite** has broken up into more than 100 pieces of debris in orbit, causing a significant safety concern. 🌌🛰️ The **US Space Command** reported the incident, noting that astronauts on the **International Space Station (ISS)** had to take shelter in their spacecraft for about an hour. 😨👩🚀👨🚀 Here's what happened: - The satellite involved was the **Resurs-P1**, decommissioned in 2022. - Over 100 pieces of traceable debris were created instantly. 💥🔍 - The cause of the breakup remains unknown at this time. 🤔❓ This incident is a stark reminder of the 2021 event when Russia tested a ground-based anti-satellite missile, creating thousands of debris pieces. 💣🚀 The increasing prospect of **satellite collisions and space warfare** has intensified calls from space advocates and legal experts for an international mechanism to manage space traffic. 🌍⚖️ This urgent matter highlights the need for global cooperation to ensure the safety and sustainability of space activities. 🌐🤝 Let's work together to protect our shared space environment! 💫🌠 Do follow me ,if you feel my content is important enough 🙂 🌌🚀🛰️ Stay tuned for more updates on space exploration and industry developments!🌟 ❤️ 🙏 ( Thank you) ℹ️ Source:WION (World Is One News) Enhanced with insights from Glasp & CHTGPT #SpaceSafety #InternationalCooperation #SatelliteDebris #ISS #SpaceCommand #GlobalSecurity

Folks, space debris isn’t gonna go away. We can expect it to increasingly impact operations unless we do something different… Space Cowboy ADR is adding a better option to the playbook of debris risk reduction by collecting medium sized debris that threatens client satellites. When space debris threatens: 1) Space Cowboy ADR 2) Conduct collision avoidance maneuver 3) Assume risk and be prepared for (not surprised by) the worst #giddyup

Redwire Space is designing their Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) SabreSat for government intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. In recent years, companies have worked to establish constellations at altitudes ranging from 250-400 km to gather high-resolution Earth imagery and to provide low-latency communications. Redwire sees advantages for national security satellites to operate at VLEO altitudes from 90-350 km. “Getting twice as close gives you a 400% improvement in your sensor performance for electro-optical, infrared and all sorts of applications that the US government is interested in.” - Spence Wise #spacepropulsion #spaceexploration #VLEO

🛰️ The Critical Role of Space Tracking in Modern Defense As space becomes an increasingly contested domain, the need for sophisticated tracking solutions has never been more crucial. LeoLabs' growing presence in the defense sector, as highlighted by Defense News, underscores the vital role that space situational awareness plays in national security. The ability to monitor and manage space assets is not just a technological advantage—it's a strategic imperative. With the exponential increase in satellites and space debris, LeoLabs' innovative approach to space tracking is a game-changer. Their advancements are setting new standards for safeguarding assets in low Earth orbit, ensuring that the skies remain safe and operational for defense and commercial purposes alike. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gFP_Mrbp #SpaceDefense #LeoLabs #SpaceTracking #NationalSecurity #DefenseInnovation #DeepTech #BOKAGroup

Space Ops: Shedding Some Light On The X-37B On Oct. 10, the U.S. Space Force shared that the X-37B orbital test vehicle would begin executing a series of “first of its kind” aerobraking maneuvers to dispose of service module components in low Earth orbit (LEO), before continuing with its mission. The Pentagon has historically kept the spaceplane’s capabilities and mission objectives under wraps, so when the service’s press release emerged, more than a few pairs of eyebrows shot straight up among space observers. Two Boeing-built unmanned, reusable X-37B space vehicles have completed six missions since the first launch in 2010. The sixth mission, which launched May 17, 2020, and successfully ended Nov. 12, 2022, was the first to include a service module attached to the aft of the vehicle that could expand the number of experiments that could be hosted during a mission. Its current mission launched late last December. Aerobraking is a fairly standard way for spacecraft to switch orbits without using up a lot of fuel, and to maneuver in LEO in particular. In this instance, the X-37B will use the drag of the Earth’s atmosphere to drop the service module off, which will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere in accordance with space debris mitigation standards, the Space Force says. It is the first time the service and the X-37B have attempted to carry out such a maneuver while in orbit around the Earth, a spokesperson told Aviation Week at the time of the announcement. So why share this news now, when the X-37 has remained largely shrouded in secrecy? The decision to shed a brief patch of light on the current mission might be attributed to a number of factors, likely in combination. Since Congress established the Space Force in 2019, the Defense Department as a whole has more openly discussed the space-based threats it sees coming at breathtaking speed from adversaries like Russia and China, and described the capabilities needed to counter those threats. Disclosing this aerobraking maneuver could be the Space Force’s way of showing the world what the spaceplane is capable of, with an intended audience of anyone from allies and partners, adversaries, lawmakers, industry, potential recruits, and perhaps even the service itself. The concept of “dynamic space operations,” in which spacecraft are capable of sustained maneuvering on orbit, is a priority area for Space Force investment. Aerobraking is a key enabler for such on-orbit mobility, and if the Space Force can demonstrate it can change orbital planes without using up too much fuel, that could significantly benefit future operations. The publicity could also allow the service to model responsible behavior in space. Russia and China don’t always disclose their own activities or maneuvers in space, and leaders, including U.S. Space Command Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting, have called on Moscow and Beijing to more proactively communicate actions that may affect orbital safety or situational awareness.