Space Defense & Militarization News

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Space Development Agency restarts: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 21 LEO data-transport satellites for first operational SDA military

The Space Development Agency (SDA) resumed its launch campaign after a months-long pause, with a SpaceX Falcon 9 putting 21 data-transport satellites into low-Earth orbit for Space Force operations. SDA cited known software and hardware issues on in-orbit satellites as the reason for the delay and the subsequent restart.

8 Sources

2026-07-16T09:14:01.263011-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Nature Astronomy study proposes satellite method to detect thermonuclear warheads in orbit

1 Source

2026-07-16T13:44:27.071907-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Air Force seeks supplemental funding as Space Force nominee backs a budget more than doubling request

4 Sources

2026-07-16T08:14:50.576553-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX Starship Flight 13: launches 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for U.S. military and deploys first Starlink V3

4 Sources

2026-07-16T03:17:02.860166-07:00

Space Defense & Militarization News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

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Nature Astronomy study proposes satellite method to detect thermonuclear warheads in orbit A study published in *Nature Astronomy* outlines a new satellite design and detection technique intended to identify thermonuclear warheads while they are in space. The work focuses on improving observational capability for nuclear-weapons monitoring beyond ground-based approaches.

2026-07-16T13:44:27.071907-07:00

Nature Astronomy study proposes satellite method to detect thermonuclear warheads in orbit

SpaceNews.com

None source

Nature study identifies a new way to spot nuclear weapons in orbit

2026-07-16T13:44:27.071907-07:00

Nature study identifies a new

Via Satellite

8 sources

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Space Development Agency restarts: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 21 LEO data-transport satellites for first operational SDA military The Space Development Agency (SDA) resumed its launch campaign after a months-long pause, with a SpaceX Falcon 9 putting 21 data-transport satellites into low-Earth orbit for Space Force operations. SDA cited known software and hardware issues on in-orbit satellites as the reason for the delay and the subsequent restart.

2026-07-16T09:14:01.263011-07:00

Space Development Agency restarts: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 21 LEO data-transport satellites for first operational SDA military

SpaceNews.com

2 sources

DIU seeks commercial proposals for space-based power-beaming demonstration within two years The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is soliciting commercial proposals for space-based “utility” power solutions—producing electricity in space and beaming it to spacecraft and, potentially, from orbit to Earth. DIU aims for a demonstration within two years and an operationally relevant transition by the end of the decade.

2026-07-16T08:44:48.269276-07:00

DIU seeks commercial proposals for space-based power-beaming demonstration within two years

SpaceNews.com

4 sources

Air Force seeks supplemental funding as Space Force nominee backs a budget more than doubling request U.S. Air Force leadership is pressing for a supplemental to cover costs tied to “Epic Fury” amid GOP defense budget debates, while indicating major expansion in long-range strike missile procurement, including JASSM and LRASM buys. Separately, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Space Force defended a $71.1 billion request to more than double the service’s budget for China-focused competition.

2026-07-16T08:14:50.576553-07:00

Air Force seeks supplemental funding as Space Force nominee backs a budget more than doubling request

Space.com

4 sources

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SpaceX Starship Flight 13: launches 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for U.S. military and deploys first Starlink V3 SpaceX carried out a Starship Flight 13 mission launching 21 U.S. military “Tranche 1 Transport Layer” satellites from California and said it would deploy the first Starlink V3 satellites for the first time. The mission also comes as SpaceX approaches 10,839 working satellites across its Starlink fleet.

2026-07-16T03:17:02.860166-07:00

SpaceX Starship Flight 13: launches 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for U.S. military and deploys first Starlink V3

SpaceNews.com

10 sources

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SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a SWISSto12 closed a $70M Series C to scale “sovereign hardware” for small GEO satellite development. Apex said it raised over $200M and nearly doubled its valuation to $2.3B to ramp productized, configurable satellite bus production. Space Pioneer raised $29M (200M CNY) and Impulse Space secured $500M in a Series D to build in-space mobility infrastructure.

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a

SpaceNews.com

1 source

Space Force awards Slingshot Aerospace a $69.2M contract for AI-enabled mission rehearsal training environments Slingshot Aerospace has won a $69.2 million U.S. Space Force contract to deliver AI-powered mission rehearsal and operational training capabilities for Space Force Guardians. The effort is tied to the service’s Operational Test and Training Infrastructure and will simulate satellite-defense scenarios and adversary actions in orbit.

2026-07-15T12:24:48.342197-07:00

Space Force awards Slingshot Aerospace a $69.2M contract for AI-enabled mission rehearsal training environments

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