The Militarization Of Space Continues

An artist illustration shows the functions of the Space Development Agency’s satellite constellation. Space Development Agency  

CNBC: Pentagon space arm awards $1.5 billion contract to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for communications satellites 

* The Pentagon’s Space Development Agency on Monday awarded $1.5 billion in contracts to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for prototype communications satellites. 

* The 72 satellites will be for a Beta variant in part of SDA’s growing constellation, a network the U.S. military is building to provide encrypted communications through a fleet of hundreds of satellites. 

* Lockheed’s contract is worth $816 million, and Northrop’s is worth $733 million. 

The Pentagon’s Space Development Agency on Monday awarded $1.5 billion in contracts to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for prototype communications satellites. 

SDA said the 72 satellites will be for the Beta variant of its Tranche 2 Transport Layer constellation, a network the U.S. military is building to provide encrypted communications through a fleet of hundreds of satellites, which it calls the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. 

Lockheed and Northrop will each build 36 of the prototype satellites, scheduled to begin launching by September 2026. Lockheed’s contract is worth $816 million, and Northrop’s is worth $733 million. 

An SDA spokesperson told CNBC that the agency received six proposals for the contract.  

Read more .... 

The Militarization Of Space Continues 

Lockheed, Northrop share $1.5 billion contract for new transport satellites -- Defense One  

Space Development Agency awards contracts to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman for 72 satellites -- Space News  

Pentagon awards contracts for next 'swarm' of tiny missile defense satellites -- UPI  

Space Development Agency awards $1.5 billion for transport satellites -- C4ISRNET

Space Force Operations Chief Condemns State "Anti-LGBT" Laws. Says Threaten US Military Readiness

 

Daily Mail: Space Force general gives blistering speech at Pentagon Pride event slamming more than 400 anti-LGBTQ state-level bills she claims are forcing her to hire 'less qualified' candidates 

* Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt made the remarks at a DoD Pride event in Washington DC 

* Said state laws hostile to LGBTQ rights are impacting transfers and promotions 

* Family circumstances could make transfers to some states a problem, she said 

A high-ranking Space Force officer has spoken out slamming a slew of recent anti-LGBTQ state laws, saying they have a negative impact on military families and force readiness. 

Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt made the remarks in a fiery speech at the 12th Annual DoD LGBTQ+ Pride Event in Washington DC, saying that the laws sometimes forced her to choose 'less qualified' candidates for postings in those states. 

'Since January of this year, more than 400 anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been introduced at the state level,' said Burt, the Space Force's deputy chief of space operations. 

Read more .... 

Space Force Operations Chief Condemns State "Anti-LGBT" Laws. Says Threaten US Military Readiness   

Space Force general decries 'anti-LGBTQ+' laws at Pentagon Pride event, claims they affect hiring decisions -- FOX News  

Space Force general shows ‘Pentagon Pride’ by blasting states for being anti-LGBTQ -- Washington Times 

Space Force general rips 'anti-LGBTQ+' laws, claims they stop her from picking most qualified candidates -- NYPost 

Space Force Chief Says State "Anti-LGBT" Laws Threaten US Military Readiness -- Zero Hedge

Top Space Force General China Has Launched Hundreds Of Satellites To Target The US

 

Daily Mail: China has launched hundreds of satellites to target US: Space Force chief says Beijing is developing anti-satellite missiles, electronic jammers, lasers and technology that can MOVE rival orbiting platforms 

* Gen. Chance Saltzman appeared before senators at a hearing on Tuesday 

* He said the People's Liberation Army had 347 satellites gathering intelligence

* And he set out plans to switch to arrays of small US satellites to evade disruption China has launched dozens of satellites in the past six months and the People's Liberation Army now has 347 orbiting craft that can gather intelligence on American armed forces, according to the head of the U.S. Space Force. 

Gen. Chance Saltzman told senators that Beijing was the 'most immediate threat' to U.S. operations as it develops lasers to disrupt satellite sensors, electronic warfare jammers and even builds craft that could grab and move rival orbiting platforms out of position. 

It is all part of its plan for a fully modernized, world-class military designed to achieve China's 'Space Dream' of being the most powerful nation in space by 2045, he said.  

Read more ....  

Update: Space Force: We expect to see ‘interfering, blinding’ of satellites during conflict (Space News)  

WNU Editor: US Space Force has a $30 billion budget .... Head of Space Force testifies before Senate Armed Services panel on $30B budget proposal (UPI). NASA has a $27 billion budget .... NASA Unveils $27B Budget Plan to Support Mars Missions and Beyond (NextGov). You would think that with this type of money the US would be able to counter what China is doing in space.

US Space Force Launches New Recruitment Site

The U.S. Space Force launches an animated United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur to orbit on its new recruiting website. (Image credit: U.S. Space Force)  

Space.com: US Space Force launches new recruitment site with flashy Vulcan Centaur rocket  

'Space is closer than you think.' 

A near-future rocket launch is the keystone of the newest U.S. Space Force recruiting website. 

Space Force launched a fresh website face this week, featuring an interactive animation of a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket sending a GPS satellite into space.  

The Vulcan Centaur rocket's long-awaited first flight is expected in the first quarter of 2023. Curiously, however, the next GPS launch is actually going to be on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than January, the military has said (opens in new tab).  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: US Space Force has the money .... Space Force to Get $26.3 Billion for Communication Satellites and Tracking Missiles in 2023 (Gizmodo). And they have a new website (link here). But it looks they have some (cough cough) personnel problems .... A Space Force director was investigated for wearing a chartreuse mankini around colleagues and keeping a case of sex toys in the office — and kept his job, report says (Insider).

Space Force Takes Over All U.S. Military Satellite Communications

Wideband Satellite Communications Operations Centers, like this one located at Fort Meade, Maryland, have been transferred to the U.S. Space Force. (U.S. Army photo by Carrie David Campbell)  

Military.com: Space Force Takes Over All Military Satellite Communications 

The Army transferred some of its satellite operations to the Space Force on Monday, marking the latest move to reorganize and grow the youngest military branch. 

In addition to control of the communication satellites, 500 people will be transferred from the Army's Space and Missile Defense Command, based in Huntsville, Alabama, and will now answer to Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado as part of the expansion.  

Read more .... 

Update #1: U.S. Army hands over satellite operations to Space Force, but keeps a foothold in space (Space News)  

Update #2: U.S. Military Satellites Will Now Be Operated by the Space Force (Gizmodo)  

WNU Editor: More signs that Space Force is here to stay.

US Space Force Unveils New Recruitment Video

 

Space.com: 'Guardians wanted!' US Space Force unveils new recruitment video 

The video says the space-focused military branch is already planning for the 22nd century. 

The U.S. Space Force is seeking more recruits to address some of the forthcoming military challenges of spaceflight. 

A new recruitment video on YouTube notes that "space is hard" while citing growing challenges, such as foreign actors potentially moving into cislunar space and a growing presence of international companies operating satellites in near-Earth orbit. 

"It's time for another giant leap," the recruitment video says in part, citing an off-quoted line that civilian NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong delivered after stepping onto the surface of the moon for the first time in 1969.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: I expected a better ad.

U.S. Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations Says The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps All Want 'The Ability To Get Information From Space'

U.S. Space Force Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David Thompson. Credit: DoD 

 Space News: U.S. military’s appetite for information fueling demand for space technology  

Thompson: The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps all want “the ability to get information from space." 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army last week announced plans to explore new uses of satellites and other space technology in support of soldiers on the ground. 

This is a clear sign that the demand for space-based capabilities is growing across the U.S. military, said Gen. David Thompson, vice chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force. 

All the military services are looking at ways to use space to their advantage, Thompson said in an interview with Space News.

“Part of this is a recognition of how critical space capabilities and information from space is going to be to the fight,” he said of the Army’s announcement that it plans to invest in space systems.  

Read more ....  

Update: Space Force Finalizing Plans to Absorb Army, Navy Systems (Air Force Magazine)  

WNU Editor: The Pentagon is not the only military in the world that wants a presence in space .... Analysts: China’s space programs are a security concern to the U.S. but not all are nefarious (Space News).