"Proficiency with missile-warning sensors is one of the hottest capabilities to have today, and positions the company extremely well for Golden Dome work," Caleb Henry, research director at Quilty Space, told Breaking Defense.
While not necessarily a near-term possibility, Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen said the Space Force is "looking at increasing the resiliency, increasing the ways that we have to get assured access to space, that's where the these initial discussions with our international partners are coming in."
Blending superior optics, advanced stabilization and AI-powered autonomy in a compact and rugged system, ASELFLIR 600 delivers unmatched intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
Both companies were awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contracts under the service's National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1.
Kratos will be tasked with “systems engineering, integration, and testing (SEIT), to include integrated subscale, full-scale, and air launch services to address the need to affordably increase hypersonic flight test cadence,” according to the company.
Victus Haze is the second iteration of the Space Force’s Tactically Responsive Space-3 (TacRS-3) mission to launch a prototype satellite within 24 hours of a “go” order, but also is designed to quickly perform an up-close on-orbit inspection of a (simulated) threatening spacecraft.
Interested companies have until Dec. 15 to respond to the service's dual requests for proposals: one for the critical, high-dollar NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches; and the other for Lane 1 small launches.
Michigan’s defense ecosystem and expertise makes it a special asset for production.
The company says its new rocket will be ready to launch in the first half of 2023 for a “confidential customer.”
"We developed an acquisition strategy consisting of a dual-lane approach that provides access to diverse commercially available systems," said Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, Space Force's acquisition lead for space launch.
"Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 is designed to serve the responsive space needs of commercial, civil, defense, and national security customers, supporting up to 12 missions per year," the company said.
"Those of us who follow the space industry closely understand the autonomous flight termination is a key component of the range of the future. In fact, for DoD missions, autonomous flight termination is a mandate by 2025," said NASA's David Pierce.
Peter Beck, the firm's CEO, has big plans to follow the first launch from his new US facility.
Rather than going into a polar orbit, the Cluster 6 birds will be stationed in an inclined orbit over the middle of the globe, explained HawkEye 360's Chief Operating Office Rob Rainhart in an interview with Breaking Defense.
NROL 162, nicknamed by Rocket Lab "Wise One Looks Ahead" is scheduled to launch as early as 1:00 am EDT on June 13 from New Zealand, according to a company press release. NROL-199, "Antipodean Adventure" is scheduled to launched on July 22.
Ahead of the Wednesday launch, mystery surrounds what the mission of NROL-87 is. NRO never talks about the purpose of specific satellites, period, but the payload will be launched to an orbit consistent with that of an imaging satellite.