The US Space Force

[TomS]

USA-193 was in an elliptical orbit with an apogee of 2,700km for instance.

No, it wasn't. As I pointed out, UAS-193 was in a nearly circular and low orbit around 350 km from the outset. The 2700 km apogee figure for Burnt Frost is the max alt that some debris was lofted to after the impact.

 

[jsport]

EXCLUSIVE: GMTI emerges as new front in Space Force-NGA turf battle - Breaking Defense

NGA chief Frank Whitworth defended his agency’s role in Ground Moving Target Indicator operations to Breaking Defense, as sources say there’s tension behind the scenes.

breakingdefense.com

Space Force officials have characterized their responsibilities for the GMTI satellites — and, eventually, other moving target indicator satellites (MTI) designed to track airborne targets — as simply an extension to the heavens of the Air Force’s US Code Title 10 role in JSTARS. Title 10 governs military roles and missions, whereas Title 50 governs those of intelligence agencies. That said, there long has been a gray zone between the two.

“JSTARS was the air model, providing situational awareness to the combatant commanders from the air. What we’re doing is taking that air vision and elevating it into space, so it is no different,” Gen. Michael Guetlein, Space Force vice chief, told the annual McAleese Defense Conference on March 7. “From a Title 10 perspective, we have the exact same responsibilities to provide situational awareness to the battle commander on tactically relevant timelines.”

 

[Josh_TN]

Regarding Sierra Ghost, from the article abovw:

What payload could possibly justify that kind of cost?

 

[Forest Green]

No, it wasn't. As I pointed out, UAS-193 was in a nearly circular and low orbit around 350 km from the outset. The 2700 km apogee figure for Burnt Frost is the max alt that some debris was lofted to after the impact.

It doesn't make sense to quote the altitude the debris reached, but yeah, I see that's what the stupid report is doing alright. I interpreted that as an elliptical orbit. Nevertheless, the point still holds. Some recon satellites are on elliptical orbits and even dip below 100km*, most on geocentric orbits would orbit very low like USA-193.

*https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday/a...re-does-outer-space-begin-As-suborbital-space

SM-3 IIA however has the potential to reach almost any LEO orbit and 24 of them have been produced every year since introduction.

 

[Josh_TN]

I cannot think of a single satellite that I remember having a perigee below 300km. Can you provide an example?

 

[Forest Green]

I cannot think of a single satellite that I remember having a perigee below 300km. Can you provide an example?

Well, we're going off on a strawman here really, because 250km is not the maximum intercept altitude of any variant of SM-3, IA, IB or IIA, nor was it the intended altitude of USA-193, which was circa 350km, still well inside any SM-3 variant's intercept ceiling. But anyway:

KH-9 Hexagon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

KH-11 KENNEN - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The edge of space: Revisiting the Karman Line

In this paper I revisit proposed definitions of the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space, considering orbital and suborbital trajec…

www.sciencedirect.com

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/low-earth-orbi

Japan's Tsubame records lowest ever satellite altitude | SpaceTech Asia

Tsubame, an Earth Observation satellite developed by Japan’s space agency JAXA, has been registered by the Guinness World Records as having achieved the “lowest altitude by an Earth observation satellite in orbit,” for an altitude of 167.4 km. The 383kg satellite was decommissioned on Oct 1...

www.spacetechasia.com

 

[Forest Green]

Spy agency eyes May launch of first proliferated constellation

The launch is one of six planned for this year to support the NRO's push to increase the number of satellites it has in orbit.

www.defensenews.com

Ansys Partners with BAE Systems to Enhance Digital Engineering in Defense Sector

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 10, 2024 - Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) today revealed its collaboration with BAE Systems, Inc., aimed at enhancing digital engineering and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) across the Department of Defense (DoD)

www.spacewar.com

SkyFi and Enabled Intelligence unite to advance geospatial intelligence with AI-driven satellite imagery

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 10, 2024 - Enabled Intelligence, known for scalable and secure AI data solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with SkyFi, a leader in Earth observation imagery and analytics. This alliance aims to en

www.spacewar.com

Space Force lays out commercial partnerships plan to speed procurement

The long-awaited document provides a broad look at the service’s vision for a more integrated space architecture, but is light on funding details.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Forest Green]

Rocket Lab secures Space Force contract for STP-S30 launch

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 09, 2024 - Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has been awarded a $14.49 million task order by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) to launch an Electron mission from Launch Complex 2. The mission, called Space Test Pr

www.spacewar.com

Delta IV Heavy Completes Its Final Mission with NROL-70 Launch by US Space Force and ULA

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 10, 2024 - The US Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC), together with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and United Launch Alliance (ULA), has successfully launched the NROL-70 mission. This launch,

www.spacewar.com

Space Force picks satellite providers for rapid delivery mission

The Victus Haze responsive space mission is slated to launch in 2025 with a focus on real-time threat response.

www.defensenews.com

Space Force launches weather satellite to replace 1960s-era spacecraft

The launch is a first step toward modernizing the Space Force’s more than 60-year-old weather constellation, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Forest Green]

Rocket Lab awarded SSC contract to develop spacecraft for TacRS mission

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 12, 2024 - Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has reported its selection for a $32M contract from the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) to execute the VICTUS HAZE Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS

www.spacewar.com

Space Systems Command launches next-gen WSF-M weather satellite with SpaceX

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 11, 2024 - Today, at 7:25 a.m. PDT, the Space Systems Command (SSC) in collaboration with its mission partners, achieved the successful launch of the USSF-62 Weather System Follow-on - Microwave (WSF-M) satell

www.spacewar.com

 

[Forest Green]

Space Development Agency satellites poised to track first missile test

Tranche 0 tracking satellites have been collecting and transmitting, but their position has yet to align with the timing of a missile launch.

www.defensenews.com

 

[TomcatViP]

Atmospheric Drop test of Ghost system by Sierra (really basic but notice the offset CG + rudder control strategy and the volume of payload returned from orbit) :

View: https://youtu.be/3RKiGL_ul58?si=-K44Q7c4Y7j4zAXg

CEP noted as 100m

 

[TomcatViP]

Here is a suggested example of payload for CSAR insertion/extraction :

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/a1wDG_kxhF8?si=AshyWAGSQ3LstqkC

 

[Forest Green]

Space defense investments set to soar with projected 160% growth in satellite launches

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 16, 2024 - In a significant industry forecast, Novaspace, a union of Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners, predicts a 160% increase in global defense and dual-use satellite launches over the next decade. The firm

www.spacewar.com

 

[Forest Green]

Lack of standards slows allied tech-sharing, Space Force official says

While the issue is often raised by commercial firms, the official told the Defense Innovation Board it is also a challenge for international allies.

www.defensenews.com

NASA chief warns of Chinese military presence in space

Washington (AFP) April 17, 2024 - China is bolstering its space capabilities and is using its civilian program to mask its military objectives, the head of the US space agency NASA said Wednesday, warning that Washington must remain vigilant.

www.spacewar.com

How the Space Force is making its systems more resilient

A little-known board has been working over the last year to identify resiliency measures and ensure the systems the Space Force buys meet those standards.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Forest Green]

Exclusive: Northrop Grumman working with Musk's SpaceX on U.S. spy satellite system

Aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman is working with SpaceX, the space venture of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, on a classified spy satellite project already capturing high-resolution imagery of the Earth, according to people familiar with the program. The program, details of...

finance.yahoo.com

 

[Forest Green]

Space Operations Command takes control of Space-Based Infrared System

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 19, 2024 - The United States Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) has successfully transitioned the control of the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Baseline Release (SBR 23-1) to the Space Operations C

www.spacewar.com

 

[Josh_TN]

Fair disclosure: working on an article I will submit to publications, so if you do not want to give up sources and means, no need to respond.

The questions are broadly concerning satellite EW possibilities.

Are modern UHF satellites AESA based at this point? For instance, what does something like Starlink use? As such, presumably they have some frequency agility? If so, could a communications satellite in LEO potentially be used to jam a particular receiver on the surface? Alternatively, could a purpose built satellite achieve this if a communications satellite could not? Would a satellite with a passive array facing away from earth and an active array facing down be able to detect a downlink and project a jamming signal on a reciprocal bearing in realtime like an aircraft’s RF digital memory jammer?

L band question; do satellite navigation signals have any overlap or near overlap with Link 16 bandwidth?

 

[Forest Green]

Interconnected quantum system boosts long-distance secure communication

London, UK (SPX) Apr 22, 2024 - Quantum networking, pivotal for distributed computing and secure communication, relies on the seamless sharing of quantum information. However, the transmission of quantum data over extended distanc

www.spacewar.com

Kratos and SES showcase new virtualized SATCOM system for US Army

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 22, 2024 - Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS) and SES have successfully conducted a demonstration of a fully virtualized satellite communications (SATCOM) ground system for the U.S. Arm

www.spacewar.com

 

[Forest Green]

Reimagining enlisted education: Space Force launches Vosler Fellowships

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 24, 2024 - The U.S. Space Force has revamped its enlisted professional military education (EPME) to better suit the specific needs of its enlisted personnel, known as Guardians. A key milestone was celeb

www.spacewar.com

US Space Force renews partnership with L3Harris for space domain awareness

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 24, 2024 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has secured the fifth-year option of the Maintenance Of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities (MOSSAIC) program. This contract, valued at up to $187 mi

www.spacewar.com

 

[Forest Green]

Space Force EW unit working to integrate new weapon systems, intel personnel - Breaking Defense

The Space Force's Delta 3 is responsible for organizing, training and equipping Guardians for electronic warfare missions involving satellite communications, as well as sustaining related offensive and defensive EW systems.

breakingdefense.com

 

[Forest Green]

Millennium Space Systems is delivering on critical missile tracking constellation - Breaking Defense

With programs like MTC, Millennium Space Systems is redefining what it means to be an operational prime – rapidly delivering operational small sat constellations on rapid timelines.

breakingdefense.com