space domain awareness Archives

A network diagram of Slingshot Agatha data depicting the relationships among satellites within multiple, real-world, foreign constellations (Slingshot Aerospace image)

DARPA harnesses AI to keep tabs on space weapons, spy satellites on orbit

The system — dubbed Agatha — uses AI to identify nefarious satellites in large constellations and determine their intent.

Jun 5, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

Powered by 27 Merlin engines, generating more than five million pounds of combined thrust, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from Launch Complex (LC)-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Dec. 28, 2023 at 8:07 p.m. EST, carrying the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-52 mission into Earth orbit. (SpaceX photo)

Space Force launches X-37B robotic space plane for new round of classified experiments

The X-37B will conduct tests on space domain awareness technologies, operations in new orbital regimes and radiation effects on NASA materials.

Dec 29, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

The Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System is responsible for tracking thousands of objects in space. The telescope is positioned at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force, Tech. Sgt. David Salanitri)

Space Force taking ‘cautious approach’ to AI, cyber officer says

“There are all kinds of uses for AI and machine learning that we tackle, we’re just taking a little more cautious approach right now,” said Col. Zachary…

Nov 16, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

Space Force taps L3Harris to continue upgrades, maintenance work for ground-based sensor systems

L3Harris was awarded two contracts worth $134 million for the Maintenance of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities (MOSSAIC) program.

Oct 20, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

U.S. Army Maj. Mitchell Daugherty, mission director for the National Space Defense Center, points to a screen in front of U.S. Space Force 1st Lt. Tia Scoggan, weapons and tactics section chief for the 18th Space Defense Squadron Det. 1, at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, Oct. 5, 2022. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tiana Williams)

Space Force opens second collaboration hub, looks to advance space domain awareness

The lab plans to launch its first technology accelerator program — dubbed “Project Apollo" — on Oct. 26.

Sep 25, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket with the SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and United States Space Force rolls from the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (United Launch Alliance photo)

Silentbarker ‘watchdog’ satellites successfully launched for Space Force-NRO spy missions

Silentbarker is a joint NRO-Space Force program designed to monitor objects in geosynchronous orbit.

Sep 10, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

Artist rendering of the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (Northrop Grumman image)

Space Force’s next-gen deep-space radar passes critical design review

The DARC is a ground-based radar system able to detect and track objects moving through geosynchronous orbit, and it's expected to be a key technology for the…

May 31, 2023 By Mikayla Easley