Payload
• Victoria Woodburn
The Defense Innovation Unit and Space Systems Command announced GHOST-R, a joint effort to develop low-cost reconnaissance capabilities in geosynchronous orbit under SSC’s RG-XX program. The initiative links DIU’s commercial-technology model with SSC’s acquisition efforts for space-based national security missions.
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The Defense Innovation Unit and Space Systems Command announced GHOST-R, a joint effort to develop low-cost reconnaissance capabilities in geosynchronous orbit under SSC’s RG-XX program. The initiative links DIU’s commercial-technology model with SSC’s acquisition efforts for space-based national security missions.
The U.S. Space Force is soliciting commercial satellites capable of locating and inspecting objects in orbit on short notice while expanding commercial tracking of GPS jamming and other electronic interference. New optical satellites from South Korea’s Satrec Initiative and persistent legacy spacecraft underscore the demand for orbital awareness.
Viasat’s ViaSat-3 F2 satellite is now in service over the Americas, bringing additional capacity to airline connectivity networks and enabling higher inflight Wi-Fi speeds. The activation expands the satellite operator’s ability to support passenger connectivity across one of aviation’s largest markets.
Rocket Lab launched a radar-imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective on Sept. 18, marking the fifth Electron mission in roughly six weeks. The flight underscores the company’s accelerating launch cadence as it supports commercial Earth-observation customers with dedicated small-launch services.
ViaSat said its third and final terabit-class ViaSat-3 broadband satellite has entered service over the Americas. The milestone came days after SpaceX launched the final three satellites for SES’s O3b mPower constellation, marking the completion of both operators’ major network deployment campaigns.
The Defense Innovation Unit selected Northrop Grumman and True Anomaly to develop prototype satellites designed to closely monitor spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit, advancing a U.S. military effort to improve surveillance and awareness in the strategically important geostationary regime.
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