DefenceTalkDefenceTalkChina’s surveying and mapping capabilities will be further boosted with one more high-resolution mapping satellite launched on Saturday. The Ziyuan III 03 satellite was sent into orbit by a Long March-4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province. It will provide data for the country’s land resources investigation, natural disaster […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinas-newly-launched-satellite-to-boost-surveying-mapping-capabilities-76064/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe United States this week accused Russia of having tested an anti-satellite weapon in space, a charge Moscow has denied, saying the device was a “special instrument” for inspecting orbiting Russian equipment. Whatever it was, the incident marks for Washington a rare military escalation in space. The ability of one satellite to attack another was […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mystery-russian-projectile-raises-fears-of-arms-race-in-space-76051/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkThe United States has accused Russia of conducting the test of an anti-satellite weapon in space that Washington fears could be used to threaten critical U.S. and allied satellites. The Russian Defense Ministry said that a small space vehicle on July 15 inspected one of its satellites up close “using special equipment.” However, the United […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-says-russia-tested-anti-satellite-weapon-in-space-76019/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkU.S. Space Command has evidence that Russia conducted a non-destructive test of a space-based anti-satellite weapon. On July 15, Russia injected a new object into orbit from Cosmos 2543, currently Satellite Catalog Number 45915 in Space-Track.org. Russia released this object in proximity to another Russian satellite, which is similar to on-orbit activity conducted by Russia […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-conducts-space-based-anti-satellite-weapons-test-76022/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkJerusalem: Israel launched a new reconnaissance satellite early Monday, the defence ministry said, its latest asset to be deployed against arch-enemy Iran. “The Israel Ministry of Defence and Israel Aerospace Industries have successfully launched the ‘Ofek 16’ reconnaissance satellite” at 4:00 am local time (0100 GMT), the ministry said in a statement. The “electro-optical reconnaissance […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-launches-new-spy-satellite-2-75846/

DefenceTalkDefense contractor Northrop Grumman has received a $2.375 billion contract to build two ballistic missile early warning satellites for the US Space Force. According to the May 18 announcement of contracts by the Pentagon, Northrop Grumman was handed the $2.375 billion contract to build two Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar Space Vehicles, with $70.5 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-space-force-orders-two-new-ballistic-missile-early-warning-satellites-75609/

DefenceTalkKleos Space, a space-powered RF reconnaissance data-as-a-service (DaaS) company, has been awarded a contract to prepare Kleos data to be accessed by the Micro-Satellite Military Utility (MSMU Project) Project Arrangement (PA) which is an agreement under the Responsive Space Capabilities Memorandum of Understanding involving the Departments and Ministries of Defense of Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kleos-space-awarded-contract-on-micro-satellite-military-utility-project-75597/

DefenceTalkThe Boeing [NYSE: BA]-built X-37B autonomous spaceplane today launched on top of a uniquely configured United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Boeing is the prime contractor for the X-37B spaceplane and facilitates the integration of all experiments into the vehicle ensuring they receive the correct power, thermal and data services required. Boeing also works to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-built-x-37b-launches-in-2nd-mission-for-us-space-force-75568/

DefenceTalkLast summer, the Department of the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center Launch Enterprise requested a RAND Corp. study of the heavy lift launch market. The RAND study confirms the heavy lift launch market is unlikely to support more than two U.S. launch providers in the long term, and highlights the short term schedule […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-commissioned-rand-space-launch-market-report-released-75321/

DefenceTalkThe mass building and deployment of commercial satellites is likely to bring about serious threats to the US’ national security and global interests, as fellow countries quickly work to expand their stakes in space, a new study published by researchers with the Institute of Defense Analyses (IDA) has revealed. Published in the National Defense University’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/researchers-warn-commercial-satellite-boom-may-threaten-us-national-security-75127/