News

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Firefly’s Alpha Block 2 targeted for late-summer debut as SciTec wins U.S. Space Force OTA for Golden Dome missile interceptors

Firefly Aerospace says it plans to debut the upgraded Alpha Block 2 late this summer, citing strong demand for the vehicle. Separately, its SciTec unit received an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement from U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to support the Space-Based Interceptor element of the Golden Dome program.

2026-05-04T18:30:33.232070-07:00

Via Satellite

Lockheed Martin teams with Firefly Aerospace and Seagate Space to develop sea-based satellite launch for national security missi

2026-05-04T14:04:28.560841-07:00

Via Satellite

NRO expands commercial Earth sensing pipeline with new SCE contracts for EarthDaily, Iceye and Pixxel

2026-05-04T16:10:27.183632-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Pixxel and Sarvam to launch India’s first orbital data-centre satellite (Pathfinder) by end-2026

2026-05-04T09:57:51.816761-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

❗️

Firefly’s Alpha Block 2 targeted for late-summer debut as SciTec wins U.S. Space Force OTA for Golden Dome missile interceptors Firefly Aerospace says it plans to debut the upgraded Alpha Block 2 late this summer, citing strong demand for the vehicle. Separately, its SciTec unit received an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement from U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to support the Space-Based Interceptor element of the Golden Dome program.

2026-05-04T18:30:33.232070-07:00

Firefly’s Alpha Block 2 targeted for late-summer debut as SciTec wins U.S. Space Force OTA for Golden Dome missile interceptors

SpaceNews.com

NATO calls for updated governance to fuse commercial and national GEOINT NATO deputy assistant secretary general for intelligence Maj. Gen. Paul Lynch said May 4 at the GEOINT Symposium that the alliance must update its policies and strengthen ally relationships to accelerate the fusion of commercial and national geospatial intelligence.

2026-05-04T17:21:20.689860-07:00

NATO calls for updated governance to fuse commercial and national GEOINT

SpaceNews.com

NATO governance policies need updating

2026-05-04T17:21:20.689860-07:00

NATO governance policies need

Via Satellite

NRO expands commercial Earth sensing pipeline with new SCE contracts for EarthDaily, Iceye and Pixxel The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office has awarded new commercial remote-sensing data contracts under its Strategic Commercial Enhancements (SCE) effort to EarthDaily, Iceye and Pixxel, broadening the agency’s use of non-traditional commercial providers. NRO commercial program leadership also signaled vetting of commercial firms’ ability to track airborne targets for the U.S. Space Force.

2026-05-04T16:10:27.183632-07:00

NRO expands commercial Earth sensing pipeline with new SCE contracts for EarthDaily, Iceye and Pixxel

Via Satellite

Lockheed Martin teams with Firefly Aerospace and Seagate Space to develop sea-based satellite launch for national security missi Lockheed Martin said it is joining a strategic collaboration with Firefly Aerospace and Seagate Space to develop sea-based launch capabilities for national security missions. The effort builds on Lockheed’s missile-defense, targets and counter-measures legacy and aligns with prior industry moves to expand offshore launch infrastructure options.

2026-05-04T14:04:28.560841-07:00

Lockheed Martin teams with Firefly Aerospace and Seagate Space to develop sea-based satellite launch for national security missi

SpaceNews.com

Defense tech firms back “Origin” to process commercial satellite/GEOINT closer to the tactical edge when comms fail GRVTY’s Origin platform brings geospatial intelligence processing into a joint defense effort to keep imagery and analytics usable when communications networks are degraded or unavailable. The initiative targets faster, on-demand access to commercial satellite imagery and other GEOINT for military users operating at the edge.

2026-05-04T12:06:00.267158-07:00

Defense tech firms back “Origin” to process commercial satellite/GEOINT closer to the tactical edge when comms fail

SpaceNews.com

Pixxel and Sarvam to launch India’s first orbital data-centre satellite (Pathfinder) by end-2026 Pixxel says it is partnering with Sarvam to design, build and launch India’s first “orbital data centre” satellite, intended to act like a space-based data centre for geospatial intelligence. The Pathfinder mission will bring high-performance remote sensing and India-built AI together to run models and analyse satellite data in near real time.

2026-05-04T09:57:51.816761-07:00

Pixxel and Sarvam to launch India’s first orbital data-centre satellite (Pathfinder) by end-2026

Breaking Defense

Space-BACN optical inter-satellite laser links move from DARPA to DIU on a future on-orbit pathfinder Space-BACN’s optical inter-satellite laser-link program is transitioning from DARPA to the Defense Innovation Unit for a future on-orbit pathfinder, according to industry executives. The shift signals a move from advanced research toward faster, DIU-led proof points for contested space communications and networking.

2026-05-04T08:43:04.302887-07:00

Space-BACN optical inter-satellite laser links move from DARPA to DIU on a future on-orbit pathfinder

Menu

Space Defense & Militarization News

Firefly’s Alpha Block 2 targeted for late-summer debut as SciTec wins U.S. Space Force OTA for Golden Dome missile interceptors

Lockheed Martin teams with Firefly Aerospace and Seagate Space to develop sea-based satellite launch for national security missi

NRO expands commercial Earth sensing pipeline with new SCE contracts for EarthDaily, Iceye and Pixxel

Pixxel and Sarvam to launch India’s first orbital data-centre satellite (Pathfinder) by end-2026

News Timeline