National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)’s Post

By the second year, SDA started to pick up speed. We were able to: • Release the first public version of SDA’s industry-leading Optical Communication Terminal Standard (then known as OISL Standard). • Announce the first contract awards for Tranche 0 data Transport Layer of the agency’s architecture (known initially as the National Defense Space Architecture or NDSA). • Award the first Tracking Layer contracts to build 8 Tranche 0 missile warning/missile tracking demonstration space vehicles. • Deliver first two experimental satellites to launch provider just nine months after receiving the agency’s initial appropriated funds. #SemperCitius #PWSA #Satellites #Defense #Space #SDAturns5

🚨 NEW RESEARCH PAPER 📰 🚀 The #space sector is evolving fast with the start of many small launcher programmes. What does it mean in terms of missile proliferation? The link between space launchers and ballistic missiles, in connection with the risk of ballistic proliferation, is a recurring theme that has become more acute in recent years. The number of small launcher projects and programmes has grown dramatically, and many countries now have the industrial capacity to develop the required technologies. Read our latest #researchpaper, by Christian Maire FRS | Fondation pour la recherche stratégique ⤵ https://lnkd.in/e7wfGBcY

𝗘𝗗𝗔 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 The European Defence Agency (EDA) has partnered with the Netherlands and Austria to launch the LEO2VLEO project, aiming to develop, launch, and operate a constellation of between two and four satellites. These satellites will have the unique capability to manoeuvre from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) - and back again. This €10 million project, signed on 19 January 2024, represents a collaborative effort to enhance military crisis-response capabilities through cutting-edge space technology. With VLEO offering advantages like higher resolution imaging and improved communications due to its proximity to Earth, the LEO2VLEO project showcases the potential for cost-effective, agile satellite systems. As part of EDA's commitment to promoting innovation in European defence, this initiative could pave the way for future operational systems supporting military missions.

🛰️Traditional #Geostationary #orbit (#GEO) #satellite operators are adopting multi-orbit strategies making them more competitive among Non Geostationary Orbit (#NGSO) players. 📡 Novaspace Consultant Alix Rousselière discusses this market evolution in detail in the latest APSCC quarterly newsletter. Partnerships like Telkomsat with SpaceX’s #Starlink, aim to offer integrated services across different orbits. These multi-orbit services, using either separate or advanced single antennas, provide lower latency, resiliency, and critical communication capabilities. 📈 There remains some challenges as the current high cost of these advanced antennas limits their use in sectors like #government, #military, #aviation, and #maritime, but broader adoption is expected as prices decrease over time. 👉 Learn more about how the advance of multi-orbits will revolutionize the #SATCOM industry in APSCC: https://lnkd.in/dV8W76EN

New in Breaking Media from Theresa Hitchens: COMSPOC’s new study looks at risks from unannounced rendezvous and proximity operations and the risks to U.S. military satellites cause by mis-plotting the trajectories of adversaries. Included in the study is a “mismatch between where the satellite actually was after it moved to where the military trackers said it should be differed by more than 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles)."  According to COMSPOC Chief Scientist, Dan Oltrogge: “The bottom line of this is: You can throw as much data as you want at this problem, but people who are working on space traffic management, also need to have better inputs into modeling and better modeling.” s https://bit.ly/3sSvrTZ

SDA will host a TS/SCI-level industry presentation ahead of the anticipated Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) Gamma solicitation. The industry days will be held Feb. 7-8, 2024 beginning at 9 a.m. ET in Chantilly, Virginia. The presentations will focus on the anticipated T2TL Gamma Other Transaction (OT) solicitation for payload development for space systems to provide fire control solutions. Under the T2TL Gamma solicitation, SDA expects to procure approximately twenty (20) space vehicles carrying the Warlock payload to demonstrate an operational capability for proliferation in future tranches. The draft solicitation released on December 4, 2023, is for the development, manufacture, testing, and launch integration of Warlock payloads and deployment of space vehicles and mission-enabling ground systems. A final solicitation will be forthcoming after the industry day events. Industry day registration is open now and closes January 30th. For more information on the upcoming T2TL Gamma Industry Days, check out the link on Sam.gov here: https://lnkd.in/eeAuAT7m #SemperCitius #Satellites #Space #Defense #PWSA

The Pentagon has made a significant stride in its mission to integrate tactical data networks with space systems by successfully testing the Link 16 data link with satellites. These tests, conducted outside the U.S. due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions, showcased the ability to transmit data from ground radios via satellites in low Earth orbit. Despite FAA concerns about potential interference with civilian aircraft signals, the Space Development Agency (SDA) managed to demonstrate the technology's feasibility in collaboration with a Five Eyes partner nation and over international waters. This initiative is a crucial part of the SDA's broader plan to develop the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a satellite constellation aimed at forming the military's "space backbone." The recent tests, involving satellites built by York Space Systems, not only proved the technical viability of broadcasting Link 16 from space but also marked a step towards transforming the U.S. military into a fully connected, beyond line-of-sight joint force. The SDA now seeks FAA approval to conduct tests over U.S. territory, which would further validate the system's capabilities and reinforce the Pentagon's vision of linking military assets across various domains. #pentagon #tacticaldatalink #link16 #space #sda #faa #lowearthorbit #pwsa #jadc2 #militarytechnology Source- https://lnkd.in/gahDEPzN

TODAY’S ANALYSIS October 3, 1985: STS 51-J Payload "Atlantis Maiden Flight" Space Shuttle Atlantis made its Maiden Flight on Oct. 3, 1985 carrying a classified Department of Defense payload managed by the Air Force. This payload was kept secret but subsequently it was revealed that the payload was a pair of Defense Satellite Communications Systems (DSCS-III) satellites carried on a single IUS. #Vajirao #vajiraoinstitute #VajiraoandReddyInstitute #upsc #upscexam #civilservicespreparation #upscpreparation #iascoachinginstitute #iascoaching #iasinstitute

U.S. Military Satellite Market Size to Reach USD 7.19 Billion by 2032 The global military satellite market size was valued at USD 14.14 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach around USD 27.67 billion by 2032, progressing at a CAGR of 6.95% between 2023 and 2032. The military satellite market is a specialized sector within the broader satellite industry that focuses on the development and deployment of satellites tailored to the unique needs of national defense and security. It plays a crucial role in enabling communication, surveillance, and other essential functions for military and intelligence agencies. Governments and military organizations often collaborate with private aerospace companies to design, build, and launch military satellites. 💡 For instance, in September 2023, Falcon 9 rocket launched 13 demonstration satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for a U.S. military mega-constellation. 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 👉 https://bit.ly/3ZCuFXD #militarysatellitemarket #militarysatellite #precedenceresearch

🇪🇸 #SpainSat NG is a Spanish communication satellite program aiming at developing next-generation #satellites 🛰️ to meet Spanish government and military secure COMMS needs. This program consists of two telecommunications satellites, SpainSat NG I and SpainSat NG II, and is under the responsibility of Hisdesat Servicios Estrategicos S.A. partnering with the European Space Agency - ESA. The two satellites are manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space leading a consortium of many Spanish and European industries. The SpainSat NG programme is perhaps the most advanced there is currently in secure satellite communications in #Europe. Therefore, the future #SATCOM capability SpainSat NG (perhaps) should be considered one of the most advanced among NATO members countries. SpainSat NG 1 satellite is in its final testing phase with most critical components already integrated on the spacecraft and major systems having been validated in preparation for launch this year #2024. #spacepower #strategicautonomy #MILSATCOM #GOVSATCOM #GEO #SpanishAirandSpaceForce #SpanishDefenceIndustry #MINISDEF #MICIN #MINTUR ARQUIMEA  GMV Indra Sener Aerospace & Defence  Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía Thales Alenia Space