Challenges facing Space Force and commercial industry: Gen. Guetlein’s candid take
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Challenges facing Space Force and commercial industry: Gen. Guetlein’s candid take

Top Stories Tamfitronics WASHINGTON — At a time when space is more congested and contested, Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, delivered a blunt assessment of the hurdles facing the military’s youngest branch.Speaking Oct. 23 via video from the Pentagon to the MilSat Symposium in Mountain View, California, Guetlein laid out the Space Force’s top concerns, from rival powers developing anti-satellite weapons to the difficulties of working with private companies in an increasingly militarized space environment.Guetlein emphasized that space is evolving into a central domain of warfare, with threats from adversaries like China and Russia mounting. This shift means that the Space Force can no longer act alone and needs to establish closer ties with allies and commercial firms. “We’d better start figuring out how to partner better...
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NRO readies open call for satellite remote sensing
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NRO readies open call for satellite remote sensing

Top Stories Tamfitronics Canadian Forces Station in northern Canada. Capella Space spotlight mode image acquired on Aug. 21, 2024. Credit: Capella SpaceMOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – The National Reconnaissance Office will invite companies to propose remote sensing capabilities on an ongoing basis.In the past, the agency responsible for designing, building and operating U.S. spy satellites has solicited proposals through Broad Area Announcements, which have defined timelines for submission and contract award.Next year, the NRO will seek proposals through a contracting mechanism called Commercial Solutions Opportunity (CSO). Through CSO, the NRO will invite companies to submit proposals for electro-optical, radar, hyperspectral and other remote sensing modalities the agency has investigated through BAAs. The NRO also is looking for new capabilities like space-based LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), Pete Muend, head of the NRO’s commercial space office,...
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NASA delays decision on Chandra and Hubble cuts
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NASA delays decision on Chandra and Hubble cuts

Top Stories Tamfitronics The Chandra X-Ray Observatory (above) and Hubble Space Telescope could face budget cuts as NASA deals with overall spending reductions. Credit: NASA/CXC & J. VaughanWASHINGTON — NASA has deferred any plans to reduce operations of two major space telescopes as a cost-cutting move until after the agency receives its final appropriations for fiscal year 2025.At an online town hall session Oct. 23, Mark Clampin, director of NASA’s astrophysics division, said the agency was holding off on any changes in the operations of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope while awaiting Congress to finalize appropriations for the fiscal year that started Oct. 1.“That means we’re taking no further steps forward with Chandra or Hubble at this time,” he said.NASA, in its fiscal year 2025 budget proposal released in March, proposed a...
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America is at risk of high impact GPS jamming and spoofing from space
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America is at risk of high impact GPS jamming and spoofing from space

Top Stories Tamfitronics “There is every reason to believe China’s BeiDou global navigation satellite system has the ability to imitate American GPS signals and those of Europe’s Galileo,” said Professor Todd Humphreys of the University of Texas Radionavigation Lab. Humphreys was speaking at The Department of Transportation’s annual Civil GPS Service Interface Committee meeting, held for the public this September in Baltimore. He also discussed a long-term Russian project to put a nuclear-powered electronic warfare weapon in orbit that could do the same thing. Broad adoption of GPS signals over the last forty years for use in everything from weapons systems to electrical grids and industrial controls have made them prime targets in conflict zones. By preventing reception (jamming) or sending false GPS signals (spoofing), belligerents can degrade or disable munitions, redirect drones and missiles and...
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