USSF

U.S. Space Force Awards Rocket Lab Launch Contract for Space Test Program (STP)-S30

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 8, 2024
Technology, Contracts, Satellite, Other Technology, Military, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Government Technology, Hardware, Defense, Neutron, Research, USSF, Launch, VLEO, Lab, Wallops Flight Facility, Spaceport, Launch Complex 2, Monolith, SSC, NASA, Multimedia, Rocket Lab, Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Systems Command, Space force, Communications satellite

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”) today announced it 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.

Key Points: 
  • Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”) today announced it 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 Program-30 (STP-S30) falls under the Space Systems Command (SSC) Assured Access to Space organization and is part of Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4).
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240408470615/en/
    Electron at Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
  • "Flexible, responsive, and reliable launch is critical to ensuring resilient space capabilities for the nation and we’re proud to deliver it to the Space Force once again with Electron,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck.

Pacific Defense Completes Hardware Integration Milestone for USSF MOSA Space Sensor Payload Development Program

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 8, 2024
Technology, Semiconductor, Satellite, Telecommunications, Software, Other Defense, Networks, Defense, Contracts, Mobile, Wireless, Hardware, USSF, GPU, VPX, Power supply, Moonraker, Tomorrow.io, Processor (computing), SSL (company), RF, United States Space Force, SDR, Spaceflight, Programmable interrupt controller, Software-defined radio, Multimedia, Chassis

Pacific Defense, a leading provider of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) products and solutions, recently announced it has completed a key program milestone on the US Space Force (USSF) Moonraker MOSA space payload contract with successful checkout and integration of the Moonraker payload.

Key Points: 
  • Pacific Defense, a leading provider of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) products and solutions, recently announced it has completed a key program milestone on the US Space Force (USSF) Moonraker MOSA space payload contract with successful checkout and integration of the Moonraker payload.
  • All system components are designed to meet requirements for space flight, with the SDR provided by Tomorrow.io and the Chassis and GPU PICs provided by Neutralino Space Ventures.
  • “Moonraker represents a fresh approach to space payload design, enabling rapid integration and deployment of critical space mission capability in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional proprietary approaches,” said Bryan Terlecky, Vice President of Space Systems at Pacific Defense.
  • “Completion of hardware integration in days rather than weeks is unheard-of in traditional space programs and clears the way for the Pacific Defense team to begin software integration and move forward toward space flight demonstrations.”
    Following this milestone, the payload enters a software integration phase, followed by functional testing in Q2 2024 and a key USSF customer demonstration in Q3 2024.

RocketStar Announces Successful Demonstration of Fusion-Enhanced Pulsed Plasma Electric Propulsion

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Nuclear fusion, Radiation, USSF, Plasma, Georgia Tech, Boron, Proton, SBIR, University, Spacecraft, OTV, Carbon, AFWERX, Nuclear engineering, Alpha, Firestar, Gamma, SpaceX, ION Satellite Carrier, Lithium

NEW YORK, March 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RocketStar Inc. has successfully demonstrated the FireStar Drive, a groundbreaking electric propulsion unit for spacecraft that uses nuclear fusion-enhanced pulsed plasma.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, March 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RocketStar Inc. has successfully demonstrated the FireStar Drive, a groundbreaking electric propulsion unit for spacecraft that uses nuclear fusion-enhanced pulsed plasma.
  • This innovative device significantly boosts the performance of RocketStar's base water-fueled pulsed plasma thruster by utilizing a unique form of aneutronic nuclear fusion.
  • The fusion discovery was first made during an SBIR Phase 1 for AFWERX where boronated water was introduced into the pulsed plasma thruster’s exhaust plume.
  • “We are very excited to test FireStar for RocketStar,” said Brent Abbott, CRO at Rogue Space Systems.

Solstar Space Awarded $1.25 Million U.S. Space Force AFWERX/AFVENTURES Phase II SBIR Contract for the Slayton Wideband Space Communicator

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
LEO, MEO, USSF, Communication, Solstar, Policy, AFWERX, USAF, Air force, Government, DAF, Communications satellite

SANTA FE, N.M., April 3, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Solstar Space (Solstar), the company making space Wi-Fi available, announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase II contract in the amount of $1,248,735 to address pressing challenges for the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The contract supports development of Solstar's Continuous Spacecraft System Communications Wideband (CSSC-WB) unit, known as the Slayton Space Communicator (Slayton). Slayton provides high-speed downlink and uplink communication capabilities designed to significantly increase connectivity with people and spacecraft operating in low earth orbit (LEO) while minimizing communications blackout periods caused by limited ground station links.

Key Points: 
  • The contract supports development of Solstar's Continuous Spacecraft System Communications Wideband (CSSC-WB) unit, known as the Slayton Space Communicator (Slayton).
  • "As LEO becomes increasingly congested, it is imperative that the U.S. Space Force has complete situational awareness.
  • As LEO becomes increasingly congested, it is imperative that the U.S. Space Force (USSF) has complete situational awareness," says Brian Barnett, CEO, Solstar Space.
  • "Slayton revolutionizes in-orbit communications by offering commercial wideband satellite services in space leveraging operational and emerging wideband commercial satellite networks in MEO and LEO.

‘This is a Foul’: Refs’ Union Condemns Lockout as PRO Bars Major League Soccer Refs from Working Matches

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Other Sports, Soccer, General Sports, Sports, Workload, PRO, Growth, CSA, Real Salt Lake, Inter Miami CF, USSF, Employment, Apple, Major League Soccer, PSRA, Athlete, NWSL, Travel, Football, Medical device

The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the certified labor union representing officials working Major League Soccer (MLS) matches, condemns the lockout imposed by MLS and its referee employment organization, the Professional Referee Organization (PRO).

Key Points: 
  • The Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA), the certified labor union representing officials working Major League Soccer (MLS) matches, condemns the lockout imposed by MLS and its referee employment organization, the Professional Referee Organization (PRO).
  • This leaves players, teams and fans without the top professional officials in the league as the 2024 MLS season kicks off.
  • PSRA has indicated its intention to continue bargaining in good faith, while MLS and PRO’s response was a lockout, denying employment to the top officials in the league.
  • PSRA comprises approximately 260 members, who are employed by PRO, the organization responsible for servicing MLS and other professional soccer leagues in the United States.

Orion Space Solutions Launches an Electro-Optical/Infrared Weather System (EWS) Satellite for U.S. Department of Defense Support

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Cloud, Collection, Weather, Forecasting, Intelligence, SSC, EWS, Data collection, Risk, Safety, Orion, Department of Defence, USSF, Spacecraft, CO, CubeSat, Communications satellite

CHANTILLY, Va., March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Orion Space Solutions (Orion), a wholly owned subsidiary of Arcfield, announced today that its Rapid Revisit Optical Cloud Imager (RROCI) satellite successfully launched on Monday, March 4. This state-of-the-art electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) weather system (EWS) spacecraft will provide high-resolution Earth observations and infrared data, allowing for accurate and up-to-date weather forecasting for the U.S. Space Force's (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC).

Key Points: 
  • SSC selected Orion and its team of partners to design, develop and demonstrate its 8-channel RROCI prototype in support of its EWS program.
  • Orion's RROCI imager utilizes commercial off-the-shelf systems to characterize cloud cover, mitigate weather risk, and provide on-the-ground weather data.
  • "We are thrilled to support the U.S. Space Force with our advanced weather satellite," said Chad Fish, Orion general manager and president.
  • "It also marks a significant milestone for our Department of Defense mission partners as we work together to develop innovative solutions in support of our nation's space superiority objective."

RocketStar Announces Newest SBIR Contract Win to Develop Low Probability of Interception Communication Software for the Military

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Transfer, AFWERX, SBIR, Air force, DAF, Small business, Noise, Sahul Shelf, Probability, Integration, Air Force Research Laboratory, United States Space Force, Communication, Commercial, Safety, COTS, USSF, LPI, Quantum computing, Software, Small Business Innovation Research, STTR, Communications satellite

In December, RocketStar continued its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

Key Points: 
  • In December, RocketStar continued its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
  • In today’s increasingly contested space domain, ensuring secure and reliable communication during launch and throughout satellite operations is paramount.
  • Near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia have the capability to disrupt, detect, and infiltrate communication channels utilized for space operations.
  • "We are eager to apply our unique LPI software and advance RocketStar's efforts to help the DAF secure our nation."

NASA Shares Assignments for its SpaceX Crew-9 Space Station Mission

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Astronaut, Multimedia, Department of Defence, Moses Austin, NASA Astronaut Corps, Artemis, Harmony, Research, Aerospace engineering, Harvard University, Glenn Research Center, International Space Station, Human, Orbit, Commercial Crew Program, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Moon, MS-10, Oceanography, Engineering, Aircraft, Ammonia, Engineering physics, Mission specialist, Cave, Biotechnology, SpaceX, Boeing, Spacecraft, Science, Martin Marietta, University, Discovery, Soyuz, USSF, NASA, Communications satellite

They will arrive to the space station for a short duration handover with NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 mission

Key Points: 
  • They will arrive to the space station for a short duration handover with NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 mission
    This will be the first spaceflight for Cardman, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017.
  • With a total of 203 days in space, this will be Hague's third launch and second mission to the orbiting laboratory.
  • Five months later, Hague launched aboard Soyuz MS-12 and served as a flight engineer aboard the space station during Expeditions 59 and 60.
  • Hague conducted three spacewalks, to upgrade space station power systems and install a docking adapter for commercial spacecraft.

Professional Soccer Referees Vote to Authorize Strike

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 22, 2024
Public Policy, Government, Soccer, Labor, Sports, CSA, Major League Soccer, Frustration, Collective agreement, PSRA, Travel, Collective bargaining, USSF, PRO, Exercise, News, Football, NWSL, Growth

Members of the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) are bargaining for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with their employer, the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), which has thus far refused to appropriately recognize the immense contributions of officials to Major League Soccer (MLS) and the sport in general.

Key Points: 
  • Members of the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) are bargaining for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with their employer, the Professional Referee Organization (PRO), which has thus far refused to appropriately recognize the immense contributions of officials to Major League Soccer (MLS) and the sport in general.
  • In a resounding display of solidarity, PSRA members voted to authorize their union to call a strike if necessary, with 100 percent of participating officials voting ‘yes’ to authorize a strike based on alleged unfair labor practices by certain PRO managers – a move that could have implications for the upcoming MLS season.
  • PSRA comprises approximately 250 members, who are employed by PRO, the organization responsible for servicing MLS and other professional soccer leagues in the United States.
  • This agreement expired on January 15, 2024, and was extended, by Member vote, to January 31, 2024.

True Anomaly Appoints Space Force Alum Frank Di Pentino as Chief Strategy Officer

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Entrepreneurship, NRO, CIA, Research, Space force, SpaceX, Jackal, International Astronautical Congress, Software, Air force, USSF, Congress, Engineering, Video game

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Jan. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- True Anomaly, Inc., the technology company developing advanced hardware and software systems to ensure the sustainable security of space, today announced the appointment of Frank Di Pentino as its first Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, he will enable True Anomaly to establish a sustained competitive advantage in developing space superiority products, anticipating customer needs, and building targeted, differentiated solutions at scale. 

Key Points: 
  • CENTENNIAL, Colo., Jan. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- True Anomaly, Inc. , the technology company developing advanced hardware and software systems to ensure the sustainable security of space, today announced the appointment of Frank Di Pentino as its first Chief Strategy Officer.
  • Di Pentino brings extensive expertise to True Anomaly's leadership team, having most recently served as Director of Advanced Concepts, Tactics, and Wargaming at the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Security and Defense Program, where he conceived of and executed the first service-level digital Force Design Wargaming methodology for the service.
  • Di Pentino will be responsible for conceptualizing and maturing asymmetric approaches to solving the country's emergent needs in the space domain.
  • Di Pentino joins True Anomaly's expanding team of C-suite talent, including its newly appointed Chief Financial Officer, Mark Seidel , and Chief Information Security Officer, Diana Lovati .