Space Defense & Militarization News

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Space Development Agency restarts Falcon 9 launch campaign, placing 21 data-transport satellites into low Earth orbit

SpaceX launched 21 satellites for the Space Development Agency (SDA) aboard a Falcon 9 on July 16, resuming the Pentagon’s first operational low-Earth-orbit military data network after a months-long pause. SDA cited software and hardware issues discovered on in-orbit units and delayed launches to address known problems.

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

U.S. defense budget fight sharpens: Air Force chief seeks supplemental as procurement shifts, while Air Force and Space Force pu

4 Sources

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

SpaceNews.com

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

2 Sources

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

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 Falcon 9 launch campaign, placing 21 data-transport satellites into low Earth orbit SpaceX launched 21 satellites for the Space Development Agency (SDA) aboard a Falcon 9 on July 16, resuming the Pentagon’s first operational low-Earth-orbit military data network after a months-long pause. SDA cited software and hardware issues discovered on in-orbit units and delayed launches to address known problems.

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

Space Development Agency restarts Falcon 9 launch campaign, placing 21 data-transport satellites into low Earth orbit

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

U.S. defense budget fight sharpens: Air Force chief seeks supplemental as procurement shifts, while Air Force and Space Force pu As Congress debates overall U.S. defense spending, U.S. Air Force leadership is urging a supplemental request this year tied to “Epic Fury” costs, alongside calls to accelerate major weapon procurement. Separately, reports say the Air Force may more than triple its JASSM/LRASM buy over the FYDP, while a Space Force nominee backs a $71.1 billion request to more than double the service’s budget to counter China’s space-enabled capabilities.

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

U.S. defense budget fight sharpens: Air Force chief seeks supplemental as procurement shifts, while Air Force and Space Force pu

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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