Sandra Erwin, Author at SpaceNews https://spacenews.com Covering the business and politics of space Fri, 14 Jun 2024 12:38:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-SN_forza_star-32x32.png Sandra Erwin, Author at SpaceNews https://spacenews.com 32 32 80681979 Blue Origin, SpaceX, ULA to compete for $5.6 billion in Pentagon launch contracts https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-spacex-ula-win-5-6-billion-in-pentagon-launch-contracts/ https://spacenews.com/blue-origin-spacex-ula-win-5-6-billion-in-pentagon-launch-contracts/#respond Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:14:56 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=443027 New Glenn pathfinder
New Glenn pathfinder

Blue Origin scores first major national security launch deal

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House Appropriations Committee pares back Space Force budget request https://spacenews.com/house-appropriations-committee-pares-back-space-force-budget-request/ https://spacenews.com/house-appropriations-committee-pares-back-space-force-budget-request/#respond Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:55:52 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=442994

The committee cut $900 million from the Space Force’s proposed $29.6 billion budget

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U.S. to rely on commercial satellites to image spacecraft in orbit https://spacenews.com/u-s-to-rely-on-commercial-satellites-to-image-spacecraft-in-orbit/ https://spacenews.com/u-s-to-rely-on-commercial-satellites-to-image-spacecraft-in-orbit/#respond Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:10:12 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=442980

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is interested in “commercial unclassified non-Earth imaging and associated analytics"

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AI transforming satellite imaging industry ‘but it’s not magic’ https://spacenews.com/ai-transforming-satellite-imaging-industry-but-its-not-magic/ https://spacenews.com/ai-transforming-satellite-imaging-industry-but-its-not-magic/#respond Wed, 12 Jun 2024 21:22:30 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=442688

Planet's senior vice president Troy Toman says the company is resetting expectations around AI’s capabilities to solve complex problems

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Anduril gets $19 million contract to develop solid rocket motors for U.S. Navy https://spacenews.com/anduril-gets-19-million-contract-to-develop-solid-rocket-motors-for-u-s-navy/ https://spacenews.com/anduril-gets-19-million-contract-to-develop-solid-rocket-motors-for-u-s-navy/#respond Wed, 12 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=442343

The company will develop 21-inch diameter solid rocket motors for the second stage of the Standard Missile 6

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Pentagon embracing SpaceX’s Starshield for future military satcom https://spacenews.com/pentagon-embracing-spacexs-starshield-for-future-military-satcom/ https://spacenews.com/pentagon-embracing-spacexs-starshield-for-future-military-satcom/#respond Tue, 11 Jun 2024 22:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=442381

DoD buys Starlink’s commercial internet service but also plans to acquire more than 100 ‘Starshield’ satellites that would be government-owned

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New direct-to-cell satellite tech could disrupt billion-dollar military satcom programs https://spacenews.com/new-direct-to-cell-satellite-tech-could-disrupt-billion-dollar-military-satcom-programs/ https://spacenews.com/new-direct-to-cell-satellite-tech-could-disrupt-billion-dollar-military-satcom-programs/#respond Mon, 10 Jun 2024 21:46:49 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=442124

Col. Eric Felt: Direct-to-cell services conceivably could enhance or replace dedicated narrowband satcom systems like the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS)

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Scout Space telescope to hitch a ride on ABL rocket https://spacenews.com/scout-space-telescope-to-hitch-a-ride-on-abl-rocket/ https://spacenews.com/scout-space-telescope-to-hitch-a-ride-on-abl-rocket/#respond Mon, 10 Jun 2024 13:16:18 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=441729

Scout Space’s ‘Owlet’ smallsat mission would be the third launch of ABL’s RS1 rocket

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Space Development Agency calls on satellite builders to diversify suppliers https://spacenews.com/space-development-agency-calls-on-satellite-builders-to-diversify-suppliers/ https://spacenews.com/space-development-agency-calls-on-satellite-builders-to-diversify-suppliers/#respond Sun, 09 Jun 2024 11:13:18 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=441756

Contractors urged to "have a different mentality" on parts ordering

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Space Force agency taps 20 companies for $1 billion ground systems IDIQ https://spacenews.com/space-force-agency-taps-20-companies-for-1-billion-ground-systems-idiq/ https://spacenews.com/space-force-agency-taps-20-companies-for-1-billion-ground-systems-idiq/#respond Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:36:03 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=441400

The Space Rapid Capabilities Office plans to develop a next-generation ground system for military satellites

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Competing with Uncle Sam’s free space offerings https://spacenews.com/competing-with-uncle-sams-free-space-offerings/ https://spacenews.com/competing-with-uncle-sams-free-space-offerings/#respond Fri, 07 Jun 2024 15:06:59 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=441187 painting of a GPS satellite in orbit.
painting of a GPS satellite in orbit.

Convincing customers to pay for Space Domain Awareness and Alt-PNT services over free alternatives remains a challenge.

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AI powering commercial insights into the final frontier https://spacenews.com/ai-powering-commercial-insights-into-the-final-frontier/ https://spacenews.com/ai-powering-commercial-insights-into-the-final-frontier/#respond Fri, 07 Jun 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=441229

The U.S. Space Force, which is responsible for providing space domain awareness data for military operations, is currently refining its plan to leverage commercial innovations. 

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Report: Space Force transitioning to new model for the defense of space https://spacenews.com/report-space-force-transitioning-to-new-model-for-the-defense-of-space/ https://spacenews.com/report-space-force-transitioning-to-new-model-for-the-defense-of-space/#respond Thu, 06 Jun 2024 16:23:10 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=441152

‘In the coming years, the Space Force will likely take additional steps toward a more distributed and proliferated approach for defense space capabilities’

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Firefly inks multi-launch deal with Lockheed Martin for Alpha rocket rides https://spacenews.com/firefly-inks-multi-launch-deal-with-lockheed-martin-for-alpha-rocket-rides/ https://spacenews.com/firefly-inks-multi-launch-deal-with-lockheed-martin-for-alpha-rocket-rides/#respond Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:11:33 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=440762

The agreement includes 15 firm launches as well as options for an additional 10 missions

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The Satellite Breakup: Military’s Push to Go Small https://spacenews.com/the-satellite-breakup-militarys-push-to-go-small/ https://spacenews.com/the-satellite-breakup-militarys-push-to-go-small/#respond Wed, 05 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=429166 is being emulated across the Space Force. Credit: Northrop Grumman
is being emulated across the Space Force. Credit: Northrop Grumman

Taking cues from the Space Development Agency, the Space Force is rethinking its future satellite architecture

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Slingshot unveils AI that spots satellite anomalies and potential bad actors https://spacenews.com/slingshot-unveils-ai-that-spots-satellite-anomalies-and-potential-bad-actors/ https://spacenews.com/slingshot-unveils-ai-that-spots-satellite-anomalies-and-potential-bad-actors/#respond Wed, 05 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=429014

The AI tool named ‘Agatha’ was developed under a DARPA contract

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Iridium secures $94 million U.S. Space Force contract for satellite communications support https://spacenews.com/iridium-secures-94-million-u-s-space-force-contract-for-satellite-communications-support/ https://spacenews.com/iridium-secures-94-million-u-s-space-force-contract-for-satellite-communications-support/#respond Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:11:48 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=429106

The contract is for ground infrastructure, including a service center that supports DoD users of Iridium communications

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Space-based monitoring of electronic signals is now a commercial battleground https://spacenews.com/space-based-electronic-eavesdropping-becomes-commercial-battleground/ https://spacenews.com/space-based-electronic-eavesdropping-becomes-commercial-battleground/#respond Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=428778

Radio-frequency (RF) monitoring companies are broadening their capabilities beyond ship tracking

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Space Development Agency opens door to new vendors with ‘HALO’ satellite program https://spacenews.com/space-development-agency-opens-door-to-new-vendors-with-halo-satellite-program/ https://spacenews.com/space-development-agency-opens-door-to-new-vendors-with-halo-satellite-program/#respond Sat, 01 Jun 2024 17:52:39 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=428311

The Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated LEO program ‘will provide opportunities for companies to gain valuable experience working with SDA on demonstration projects’

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Space Force narrows anti-jam satellite contest to Boeing, Northrop Grumman https://spacenews.com/space-force-narrows-anti-jam-satellite-contest-to-boeing-northrop-grumman/ https://spacenews.com/space-force-narrows-anti-jam-satellite-contest-to-boeing-northrop-grumman/#respond Thu, 30 May 2024 22:02:25 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=427895

After conducting market research, the Space Systems Command said ‘limiting competition to the Boeing Company and Northrop Grumman is justified’

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AI startup Wallaroo tapped to help Space Force operationalize machine learning https://spacenews.com/ai-startup-wallaroo-tapped-to-help-space-force-operationalize-machine-learning/ https://spacenews.com/ai-startup-wallaroo-tapped-to-help-space-force-operationalize-machine-learning/#respond Thu, 30 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=427640

The company aims to bring AI to space domain awareness

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Ursa Major completes ground tests of new hypersonic rocket engine https://spacenews.com/ursa-major-completes-ground-tests-of-new-hypersonic-rocket-engine/ https://spacenews.com/ursa-major-completes-ground-tests-of-new-hypersonic-rocket-engine/#respond Thu, 30 May 2024 04:10:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=427679

The company said it performed successful hot fire tests of its Draper engine

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GOP senator calls for boosting Space Force capabilities to counter China https://spacenews.com/gop-senator-calls-for-boosting-space-force-capabilities-to-counter-china/ https://spacenews.com/gop-senator-calls-for-boosting-space-force-capabilities-to-counter-china/#respond Wed, 29 May 2024 17:42:37 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=427619

Sen. Roger Wicker argues that DoD must evolve its perception of the Space Force from an enabling service to one with ‘formidable offensive potential’

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Sea-based launch startup scores $2.5 million Pentagon contract https://spacenews.com/sea-based-launch-startup-scores-2-5-million-pentagon-contract/ https://spacenews.com/sea-based-launch-startup-scores-2-5-million-pentagon-contract/#respond Wed, 29 May 2024 14:57:01 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=427589

The Spaceport Company received a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit to advance the development of a mobile, ocean-going launch platform

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