Space Force, IC’s battle over commercial ISR reignites as appropriators add fuel
More than a dozen sources tell Breaking Defense that tensions between the NGA and Space Force are rising on commercial ISR, with White House officials watching closely.
NRO moves closer to formal program to buy commercial radar-sat data
The executive branch is "still talking through exactly what the scope and scale" of any new NRO program would be, but the "intent" is to "more cost effectively leverage" commercial capabilities "over the longer term," said NRO's head of commercial programs Pete Muend.
NRO expects even lower National Security Space Launch costs starting in FY25
Troy Meink, NRO principal deputy director, explained that the decline in launch costs is one of two critical factors in allowing NRO to begin to diversify its on-orbit force structure to include both "large and small satellites" using multiple orbital domains.
Space Force takes ‘acceptable’ cut to $29.4B in FY25 budget request
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall explained that the "small decrease in the number for the Space Force" isn't itself quite reflective of reality, as there are mitigating circumstances that lessen the blow.
Space Force, NRO approach key milestone for GMTI as other programs fall behind: Calvelli
With apparent frustration with another program, Space Force acquisition chief Frank Calvelli asked, “What I don't get… [is] why would somebody want to have this sort of reputation-ruining stain in the papers all the time?”
‘Tactical ISR’ from space requires DoD, NRO policy changes: Calvelli
"We are clearly moving away from airborne ISR assets and moving into space. It's the absolute right thing to do from a resiliency and sustainability perspective," Air Force space acquisition czar Frank Calvelli said.
Finnish hyperspectral satellite firm Kuva moves into US market
While Kuva Space's while full constellation of 100 satellites won't be ready until 2030, the firm can "start providing reliable service to commercial and government customers in the US and our partner nations" once the first two are up, said Jerry Welsh, board member of Kuva's new US arm.
White House official urges more ‘real’ Pentagon investment in space mobility
"We can't expect to bridge the valley of death through S&T programs, and industry accelerator programs. ... We need to identify and prioritize resources, funding and personnel," said Diane Howard, National Space Council head of commercial space policy.
Firefly joins NRO launch provider pool with Alpha rocket
Firefly is already on contract and will "support a responsive on-orbit mission for the NRO" using the Alpha small launcher and its Elytra on-orbit vehicle for hosting payloads.
To kill the kill chains: How Space Force could use AI to avoid ‘operational surprise’ on orbit
A new "white paper" from Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, obtained by Breaking Defense, stresses the foundational role of timely space domain awareness in ensuring that Space Force commanders are not caught flat-footed by adversaries.
Everything, everywhere, all at once: 5 space stories from 2023
There's a whole lotta shakin' goin' on in space, from Geneva to Washington to Colorado Springs to Los Angeles.
Draft Space Force-NRO plan for tracking moving targets ‘floating’ around military, IC
"This is a new type of capability. It's not completely the Intelligence Community supporting the [Defense Department]. It's not completely a DoD mission without the help of the Intelligence Community. It's this combination of the two," said CSO Gen. Chance Saltzman.
Space acquisition review calls for cutting red tape, empowering acquisition chief
The Defense Business Board study, however, recommends against folding the NRO and MDA into the Space Force.
NRO taps 5 firms for new electro-optical imaging capabilities
The five Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) contracts will allow NRO to study imagery and techniques used by the companies, which include novel ways of processing images to increase their fidelity and resolution.
Space Force orders 21 new National Security Space Launches: 11 to ULA, 10 to SpaceX
The planned launches, which will take place starting in FY26, include sending a second SILENTBARKER watchdog satellite jointly developed by the service and the National Reconnaissance Office to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO).