On Monday, First Lady Jill Biden and Secretary of the VA Denis McDonough visited the Space Coast as part of her Joining Forces initiative to support military families. The two started with a tour of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station facilities before returning to Patrick Space Force Base to visit a Starbase classroom and hold a round-table with military spouses.
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Space Force modernizing training with mixed reality for the competitive space domain
In an era where space has become a fiercely contested domain, the U.S. Space Force faces the formidable challenge of training its personnel to excel in an environment where real-world experience is limited. As such, the military branch is leveraging advanced technologies to revolutionize its training methods, preparing guardians for the intricacies of space operations in the face of evolving threats while their expanding role.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX receives first Starshield contract from the US Space Force
According to a statement given to CNBC, earlier this month the Space Force purchased services on SpaceX’s new Starshield constellation. This is the first contract SpaceX has gotten for its government focused service it has yet to share much about publicly.
Expand Expanding CloseWhite House reverts Space Command HQ move to Alabama
After years of debate and division, Space Command finally has a decision on where it will be headquartered at. The decision came straight from the top and like all moves in DC is filled with more political divide.
Expand Expanding CloseAerojet Rocketdyne acquired by L3Harris Technologies
The Federal Trade Commission has granted approval for L3Harris Technologies to complete its acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne.
Expand Expanding CloseDefense Department funding bolsters The Spaceport Company’s mobile sea-based launch platforms
The Spaceport Company, a pioneering player in the space industry composed of launch system and maritime experts, has received a significant boost in funding from the Department of Defense to develop mobile sea-based launch platforms.
Expand Expanding CloseSpace Force readiness could be at risk due to rising anti-LGBTQ+ laws
Two high-ranking Department of Defense officials have stated the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ laws like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill has put the Air Force and Space Force readiness at risk due to the need to relocate families of bullied children.
Expand Expanding CloseSTAR Command is a thing, and it’s coming to Florida
If you went back five years to when I saw my first rocket launch and tried to convince me that I would write an article about how STAR Command was a real thing now, I would probably tell you to get away from my cameras and beer. But here we are, and guess what? It’s real, well, in a way.
Expand Expanding CloseSpace Force’s top secret spaceplane returns from orbit after a 908-day mission
It seems to be a news story that takes place every couple of years, but early Saturday morning, sonic booms were heard across Florida Space Coast. Those rather iconic booms could only mean one thing, the arrival of NASA’s Space Shuttle or the Space Force’s classified X37-B spaceplane. Since all of NASA’s shuttles have been collecting dust in museums for the past decade, it must be that pesky X37-B.
Expand Expanding CloseGovernment agencies are finally taking UFOs seriously
UFOs, which are more commonly referred to as UAPs these days, have been in the media quite a bit since 2017. This is due to a piece written by the New York Times, which was credited with starting up the UFO curiosity machine for the first time in decades. Since then, the stigma that has notoriously surrounded the topic has finally begun to wane, and various governments have become publically interested in the subject.
Expand Expanding CloseFalcon Heavy flies again; Dual-booster landing from USSF-44 sends sonic booms across the space coast
Three years after its last flight, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy has returned to flight on this cloudy Florida morning. The primary payload of this launch is the classified USSF-44 satellite, with two other satellites co-manifested. The launch occurred on November 1 at 9:41 a.m. Eastern Time, successfully delivering the satellites to their targeted geosynchronous orbit.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX launched four classified payloads on Globalstar mission according to tracking data
Over the weekend, SpaceX conducted its fastest quick fire of rockets from its three Falcon 9 launch sites across the country. The final launch was a mission for Globalstar, however, it wasn’t alone. In total, SpaceX launched five payloads on that mission, but it only talked about one.
Expand Expanding CloseWhite House commits to no more destructive anti-satellite tests
During remarks at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Vice President Kamala Harris said that the US would take a stance and no longer conduct destructive anti-satellite tests and hopes to lead the globe on the “rules and norms” of space.
Expand Expanding CloseVideo shows how to keep Starlink terminals running in Ukraine w/ mobile Tesla Powerwall
On March 9, we learned that in addition to the Starlink terminals SpaceX has been sending to help keep Ukraine online, another Elon Musk company, Tesla, has been fabricating cables and shipping out Tesla Powerwall units to help keep the terminals powered. Now, a video sent to our sister-site Electrek shows how the units can be set up to provide a more mobile power solution.
Expand Expanding CloseElon Musk sends second batch of Starlink terminals to Ukraine, with Tesla Powerwalls and off-the-grid power solutions
Upon request, SpaceX quickly took action to help Ukraine stay online during Russia’s invasion. In late February, SpaceX sent the first batch of Starlink user terminals to help keep the country online through infrastructure outages. The terminals have already helped keep the country connected and emergency services online, but Elon Musk’s company is not done helping in ways that governments around the world cannot.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX Starlink terminals in Ukraine keeping cities, emergency services connected
SpaceX’s Starlink internet service takes a different approach than most other internet services, one that allows it to operate in remote areas, disconnected from the grid, all around the world. That’s why it has so quickly become a part of aid efforts, be it in Fiji after a volcano eruption, Washington state after wildfires, or Ukraine, in the midst of a Russian invasion.
Expand Expanding CloseUkraine Minister pleads for Starlink equipment from Elon Musk to help in fight against Russia [U]
Over the past few days, Ukraine has been under attack by Russian forces, who are now battling to control the nation’s capital. As a result, top government officials have been begging for help from other countries as they fight for their freedom, the most recent is a need for Starlink internet service.
Update: The terminals have arrived in Ukraine.
Expand Expanding CloseWill Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affect its cooperation with NASA on the ISS?
On Wednesday night, Russian forces began their attack on Ukraine, starting what many viewed as an inevitable invasion of the once soviet country. Once again, we find Russia and the United States on the brink of conflict, but their cooperation in space shows hope.
Expand Expanding CloseBiden’s latest Russian sanctions aim to ‘degrade Russia’s space program’
While addressing the nation on Thursday, Biden addressed the latest sanctions being put in place against Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Among the industries being affected will be Russia’s space program.
Expand Expanding CloseULA launches STP-3, carrying a laser communication demo for NASA and more
Early Tuesday morning United Launch Alliance launched its fourth and final Atlas V rocket of 2021. For STP-3, it was ULA’s largest variant with five solid rocket motors.
Expand Expanding CloseRaptor production nightmare, Starship at LC-39A, Neutron rocket details & more top stories
This week we saw new contracts from NASA, Rocket Lab’s groundbreaking design for Neutron, SpaceX pizza, and oh yeah there was an email from Elon Musk about Starship. Catch up on this week’s top stories below.
Expand Expanding ClosePentagon calls for the end of anti-satellite tests from all nations
During Wednesday’s meeting of the National Space Council (NSpC), the Department of Defense officially came out against the use of anti-satellite (ASAT) tests.
Expand Expanding ClosePresident Biden sets new role for National Space Council with five new members
On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris chaired her first meeting of the National Space Council (NSpC) of the new administration. Before this meeting, we were unsure how Biden’s NSpC would work, but it’s clear now it will continue the work President Trump forged – but now also climate change.
Expand Expanding CloseSpace Force detachment opens up at US Air Force Academy
The United States Space Force has slowly begun to grow its presence everywhere space is present in the Department of Defense. This includes the Air Force Academy, which has now added a formal detachment there from the new branch.
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