The SpaceLead’s Post

The latest from Emergent Defense Magazine: AFRL launches SPIRRAL – Experiment could revolutionize space-based thermal systems 👉 https://lnkd.in/dHuXXmBF The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has launched its SPIRRAL (Space Power InfraRed Regulation and Analysis of Lifetime) experiment through the DOD Space Test Program. The experiment is designed to characterize the performance of Variable Emissivity Materials (VEMs), to help solve thermal challenges for space vehicles in orbit.

The latest from Emergent Defense Magazine: AFRL launches SPIRRAL – Experiment could revolutionize space-based thermal systems 👉 https://lnkd.in/d4jiABaE The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has launched its SPIRRAL (Space Power InfraRed Regulation and Analysis of Lifetime) experiment through the DOD Space Test Program. The experiment is designed to characterize the performance of Variable Emissivity Materials (VEMs), to help solve thermal challenges for space vehicles in orbit.

The aerobraking itself could prove valuable as the Space Force pursues dynamic space operations, where satellites can launch into orbit faster and move around quickly once they get there. #AirForce #USAF #Airman #SpaceForce #Guardian

#China #PLA #AerospaceForce #SpaceDream Base 37 is the PLA’s base for early warning and space situational awareness, likely now under the command of the PLA’s new Aerospace Force (PLAASF). Observable elements of Base 37 appear to be engaged in research on a wide array of space situational awareness (SSA) topics, and units directly reporting to Base 37 operate at least some of the Large-Phased Radar Array (LPAR) stations previously belonging to the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). Continued tensions between the PLAAF and the PLAASF on LPAR ownership may produce two networks of LPAR stations with overlapping roles, but different command structures, and potentially different data management systems that may complicate the PLA’s SSA capabilities. In addition, Base 37 is engaged in research related to optical space detection, but there is little indication as of yet that Base 37 directly operates optical SSA assets. If Base 37 is going to take over foreign space object tracking, one would assume they would also absorb or build optical assets. Additional research is needed to determine if: (1) there will soon be a buildout of new optical facilities for Base 37; (2) Base 37 will rely on other organizations for tracking geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) and other high orbits; (3) the PLA prioritizes military space preparation in low Earth orbit over GEO. Base 37 units in Qinghai and Yunnan near known optical facilities are the best places to track. https://lnkd.in/gXVVk5Yr

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

Many of the technologies that will define the future of space warfare are already in development. The problem facing the U.S. is that China is spearheading most of it.

Space Force Delays Vulcan Rocket Launches to 2025 ✦ https://lnkd.in/g-tutKTy The U.S. Space Force has adjusted its launch timeline for ULA's Vulcan rocket due to complications with missions USSF-106 and USSF-87, delaying them to 2025. Vulcan's certification process is underway, but anomalies raise concerns about the timeline, impacting military launch capabilities. https://lnkd.in/g-tutKTy #astronomy #space #physics

TacRS missions enable the #USSPACECOM commander to plan and react quickly. The Victus Haze mission will showcase spacecraft capable of rendezvous and proximity operations, and provide a command and control center, crucial for addressing space threats. 

The U.S. government is pushing for real progress in on-orbit refueling and servicing technologies over the next two years, with implications for military space operations, future lunar habitats, and the space economy at large. https://lnkd.in/gxsMheMa

This is why the Space Force exists. Untracked space debris poses a major threat to manned and unmanned space launches, and can be an opportunity for adversaries to exploit. Without the Space Force, this debris will be out of control in just a few years. Our mission is to ensure the safety and security of our nation's space assets. #SpaceForce #SpaceSecurity #RPO National Space Defense Center (NSDC)