SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
The U.S. Space Force is moving to acquire its first military capabilities for the region between Earth and the moon, with an initial system targeted for fielding by late 2029. Pentagon leaders have described cislunar space as a future battlefield.
Space Defense & Militarization
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Washington says a Russian military satellite with an undisclosed mission moved close to a U.S.-registered satellite linked to Ukraine last week, describing the approach as deliberate. The episode highlights the growing strategic stakes around satellites supporting Ukraine and the risks posed by close approaches in orbit.
The U.S. Space Force is moving to acquire its first military capabilities for the region between Earth and the moon, with an initial system targeted for fielding by late 2029. Pentagon leaders have described cislunar space as a future battlefield.
A roundup reports SpaceX’s decision not to pursue military launches, a Spanish rocket nearing readiness and a call for Canada to reach orbit on its own terms. The available details do not specify the rocket programs, timelines or the military launch opportunity involved.
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal has opened an inquiry into Ukraine’s loss of access to the Pentagon’s Starshield satellite communications service. He says the resulting disruption has degraded Kyiv’s ability to defend itself against Russian attacks, putting military connectivity and access to commercial space-enabled services under scrutiny.
HawkEye 360 launched six radio-frequency intelligence satellites this week on SpaceX and Rocket Lab rockets, including its first spacecraft to reserve collection capacity for customers under multiyear agreements. Separately, ICEYE and Nokia signed a letter of intent with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry to explore sovereign satellite communications capabilities.
A US official said a Russian satellite that has been following other spacecraft “sure looks like an orbital weapon.” The comments come after a Russian official described commercial satellites as legitimate targets, while now saying concerns about the satellite are unfounded.
High activity
The U.S. Space Force is creating routes for commercial space companies to obtain security clearances and compete for classified military programs, addressing an established barrier for startups. The effort sits alongside the service’s selection of six space-domain-awareness firms for its Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve; a separate UK strategy emphasizes space-based defense capabilities.
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