Northrop Grumman to conceptualize Moon trains for DARPA
"The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface," according to Northrop Grumman's announcement.
Space Force needs more money, people to secure cislunar space: Mitchell Institute
The Mitchell Institute is advocating that from now on Congress bolster the Space Force's budget by "about $250M a year" and "increase end strength by approximately 200 personnel for the new responsibilities associated with emerging national interests on the moon and the cislunar region."
Turning 4, the Space Force’s favorite word is ‘more’: 2024 Preview
"And so I think, as you see new missions come on, you can presume that that means more Guardians to perform those missions, and we'll have to adjust the strength going up," said CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman.
DARPA picks 14 vendors for lunar economy-building study
Technologies being explored include "lunar power; mining and commercial in-situ resource utilization; communications, navigation, and timing; transit, mobility, and logistics; and construction and robotics," according to DARPA.
EXCLUSIVE: New Joint Force space doctrine clarifies Space Command’s ‘offensive’, ‘defensive’ ops
The new version of Joint Publication 3-14 explains that "offensive and defensive space operations" are supported primarily by "direct capabilities" — that is, "fires that impact an adversary."
AFRL picks 3 contractors for JETSON effort to develop fission powered spacecraft
The Space Force sees nuclear fission reactors as a solution to replace solar panels for operations in the darkness of deep space.
AUKUS security pact should expand to include space monitoring: MITRE
"Each nation possesses unique advantages, technological capacities, and strategic geographic positions that, when combined, have the potential to significantly advance humanity's understanding of what's going on in space," the paper says.
With India’s Moon triumph, lunar space race surges while UN struggles to set guardrails
"More than 100 lunar missions are planned for this decade alone, including many that are commercial," said Jessica West, of Canada's Project Ploughshares.
From Polaris to pulsars: Navy eyes celestial navigation as GPS alternative
Pulsar-based PNT could be used in cislunar space — where the Space Force already is eyeing future operations — or farther out into the solar system where GPS signals do not reach, explained Paul Ray, NRL's head of high energy astrophysics and applications.
NGA emphasizing space GEOINT mission, developing lunar model for operators: Director
"And make no mistake, distinguishing friendly from unfriendly behavior and space has become particularly important to us," NGA Director Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth told the GEOINT 2023 conference today.