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Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

Lockheed Martin wins up to $105M Space Force contract to modernize GPS ground control network—replacing OCX for future GPS IIIF

The U.S. Space Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $105 million to modernize and sustain the GPS ground control network. The work continues efforts to ensure resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services, as OCX winds down and upgrades move to support future GPS IIIF birds.

2026-04-17T15:37:15.080655-07:00

SpaceNews.com

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests

2026-04-17T10:14:43.420209-07:00

investors.rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab expands electric propulsion for satellites with high-volume electric thruster and new Gauss thruster push

2026-04-16T13:00:46.067125-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Taiwan calls for shared satcom constellation to scale secure communications as Starlink expands

2026-04-17T01:51:27.232531-07:00

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Breaking Defense

Lockheed Martin wins up to $105M Space Force contract to modernize GPS ground control network—replacing OCX for future GPS IIIF The U.S. Space Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $105 million to modernize and sustain the GPS ground control network. The work continues efforts to ensure resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services, as OCX winds down and upgrades move to support future GPS IIIF birds.

2026-04-17T15:37:15.080655-07:00

Lockheed Martin wins up to $105M Space Force contract to modernize GPS ground control network—replacing OCX for future GPS IIIF

Breaking Defense

US Air Force seeks multi-year procurement authority spanning satellites, aircraft and munitions Pentagon officials are asking lawmakers for authorization to buy weapons systems through multi-year deals that cover not only munitions, but also the production of aircraft and spacecraft, per Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. The proposal targets a broader, more stable funding and industrial approach for space- and air-delivered capability.

2026-04-17T15:37:14.693819-07:00

US Air Force seeks multi-year procurement authority spanning satellites, aircraft and munitions

Space Intel Report

French military: IRIS2 won’t be ready by 2030—OneWeb to bridge the secure-connectivity gap; Germany constellation under review France says Europe’s IRIS2 multi-orbit secure connectivity constellation will not be deployed by 2030, and it will use OneWeb in the interim. The French military is also assessing Germany’s parallel secure-satcom constellation plans, aligning near-term service continuity with longer-term sovereign architecture.

2026-04-17T13:22:37.405336-07:00

French military: IRIS2 won’t be ready by 2030—OneWeb to bridge the secure-connectivity gap; Germany constellation under review

SpaceNews.com

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests China has conducted rendezvous and proximity operations tests involving a Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft and a satellite, validating step-by-step capabilities needed for low-cost orbital infrastructure. The on-orbit demonstrations mark another milestone toward autonomous operations for cargo services in space.

2026-04-17T10:14:43.420209-07:00

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests

SpaceNews.com

Taiwan calls for shared satcom constellation to scale secure communications as Starlink expands Taiwan’s space agency chief urged other countries to coordinate on a shared communications constellation to keep pace with the strategic and network scale of providers such as Starlink. The push frames multinational satcom collaboration as a response to rising geopolitical and operational importance of space-based connectivity.

2026-04-17T01:51:27.232531-07:00

Taiwan calls for shared satcom constellation to scale secure communications as Starlink expands

SpaceWatch Global

Astroscale’s ISSA-J1: world-first commercial multi-orbit satellite inspection mission targeting 2027 rendezvous Astroscale Japan has unveiled its ISSA-J1 mission, planned for launch in 2027. The commercial first will inspect two retired satellites located in different orbits, demonstrating multi-orbit proximity operations as the company pushes space sustainability into a scalable service model.

2026-04-17T01:22:18.226332-07:00

Astroscale’s ISSA-J1: world-first commercial multi-orbit satellite inspection mission targeting 2027 rendezvous

politico.eu

Aeroflot seeks free in-flight Wi-Fi by 2028, but Western sanctions could block connectivity access Aeroflot wants to offer free internet on its aircraft by 2028. The plan hinges on securing the inflight-connectivity supply chain, but Western sanctions may make that difficult to realise, creating execution risk for timelines and service reach.

2026-04-16T23:32:04.070831-07:00

Aeroflot seeks free in-flight Wi-Fi by 2028, but Western sanctions could block connectivity access

Via Satellite

Slingshot Aerospace unveils “Portal,” an AI analytics platform for satellite operations and anomaly response Slingshot Aerospace released Portal, an AI-driven platform that fuses Slingshot data flows with external sources to power satellite data monitoring and analysis. Operators can use the analytics engine to track orbital activity and evaluate maneuvering options in response to anomalies and threats.

2026-04-16T16:02:57.917275-07:00

Slingshot Aerospace unveils “Portal,” an AI analytics platform for satellite operations and anomaly response

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Satellite News

Lockheed Martin wins up to $105M Space Force contract to modernize GPS ground control network—replacing OCX for future GPS IIIF

China’s Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft completes orbital rendezvous and proximity tests

Rocket Lab expands electric propulsion for satellites with high-volume electric thruster and new Gauss thruster push

Taiwan calls for shared satcom constellation to scale secure communications as Starlink expands

News Timeline