News

Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

SDA awards $3.5B to four firms for 72 Tranche 3 missile-tracking LEO satellites

The Space Development Agency, part of the U.S. Space Force, awarded about $3.5 billion to four suppliers — including a nearly $1 billion award to L3Harris — to build 72 Tranche 3 low‑Earth‑orbit tracking satellites to expand missile‑warning and tracking capabilities as part of the Golden Dome architecture.

2025-12-19T09:09:49.185349-08:00

rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab’s Electron lifts DoD STP‑S30 from Wallops, deploys four DiskSat demonstrators

2025-12-17T22:43:11.938064-08:00

Breaking Defense

Congress uses NDAA to force Space Force acquisition changes, House panel chair says

2025-12-18T12:49:37.169795-08:00

Ars Technica

DiskSat: NASA and the U.S. Space Force test pizza‑shaped smallsat bus for unmatched power‑to‑weight

2025-12-18T19:21:54.283630-08:00

News Timeline

Breaking Defense

❗️

SDA awards $3.5B to four firms for 72 Tranche 3 missile-tracking LEO satellites The Space Development Agency, part of the U.S. Space Force, awarded about $3.5 billion to four suppliers — including a nearly $1 billion award to L3Harris — to build 72 Tranche 3 low‑Earth‑orbit tracking satellites to expand missile‑warning and tracking capabilities as part of the Golden Dome architecture.

2025-12-19T09:09:49.185349-08:00

SDA awards $3.5B to four firms for 72 Tranche 3 missile-tracking LEO satellites

Ars Technica

DiskSat: NASA and the U.S. Space Force test pizza‑shaped smallsat bus for unmatched power‑to‑weight DiskSat is a flat, disk‑shaped smallsat bus that proponents say offers a power‑to‑weight ratio unmatched by traditional aluminum spacecraft. NASA and the U.S. Space Force are testing the design to leverage higher electrical power and surface area for more capable payloads and experiments in low Earth orbit.

2025-12-18T19:21:54.283630-08:00

DiskSat: NASA and the U.S. Space Force test pizza‑shaped smallsat bus for unmatched power‑to‑weight

Breaking Defense

Congress uses NDAA to force Space Force acquisition changes, House panel chair says Congress used the FY2026 NDAA to press the U.S. Space Force to beef up acquisition capabilities and change how the service buys and fields systems. House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers said he looks forward to working with Secretary Meink to ensure the NDAA language is fully implemented.

2025-12-18T12:49:37.169795-08:00

Congress uses NDAA to force Space Force acquisition changes, House panel chair says

rocketlabcorp.com

❗️

Rocket Lab’s Electron lifts DoD STP‑S30 from Wallops, deploys four DiskSat demonstrators Rocket Lab's Electron lifted off from Wallops Island early Thursday carrying the Pentagon's Space Test Program STP‑S30 mission, deploying four disk‑shaped DiskSat demonstrator satellites into a very‑low Earth orbit. Dubbed “Don't Be Such a Square,” the flight was Rocket Lab's 20th Electron launch and first public Wallops mission.

2025-12-17T22:43:11.938064-08:00

Rocket Lab’s Electron lifts DoD STP‑S30 from Wallops, deploys four DiskSat demonstrators

Air & Space Forces Mag

US Space Force Combat Forces Command establishes dedicated space EW and SATCOM operations centers The U.S. Space Force's Combat Forces Command has established dedicated space electronic warfare and satellite communications operations centers. The new organizations create focused operational hubs for space EW and SATCOM tasks, reflecting an institutional effort to elevate and streamline those mission areas.

2025-12-17T19:04:38.892982-08:00

US Space Force Combat Forces Command establishes dedicated space EW and SATCOM operations centers

SpaceNews.com

❗️

Aerospace Corporation's DiskSat to fly on Rocket Lab Electron for USSF STP‑S30 The Aerospace Corporation’s DiskSat — a flat, disk‑shaped smallsat bus built to deliver higher power, surface area and payload volume than a CubeSat for very‑low‑Earth‑orbit experiments — will fly Dec. 18 aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron on the U.S. Space Force STP‑S30 rideshare.

2025-12-16T16:23:39.093380-08:00

Aerospace Corporation's DiskSat to fly on Rocket Lab Electron for USSF STP‑S30

DefenseNews.com

Space Force seeks advanced technologies for space‑based boost‑phase interceptors The U.S. Space Force has asked industry for advanced technologies to enable space‑based interceptors capable of engaging ballistic missiles during their boost phase, seeking systems that can be hosted in orbit and integrated with broader missile‑defense architectures and acquisition pathways.

2025-12-16T11:26:46.101398-08:00

Space Force seeks advanced technologies for space‑based boost‑phase interceptors

Breaking Defense

Space Force acquisition reform: 'Cleanup' rather than remodel Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy said that if he had "a Christmas wish list" for acquisition reform, "funding flexibility" would be at the top of it. He described the intent as a cleanup — targeted fixes to authorities and budget agility — rather than a wholesale procurement remodel.

2025-12-16T09:48:15.781276-08:00

Space Force acquisition reform: 'Cleanup' rather than remodel

Menu

Space Force News

SDA awards $3.5B to four firms for 72 Tranche 3 missile-tracking LEO satellites

Rocket Lab’s Electron lifts DoD STP‑S30 from Wallops, deploys four DiskSat demonstrators

Congress uses NDAA to force Space Force acquisition changes, House panel chair says

DiskSat: NASA and the U.S. Space Force test pizza‑shaped smallsat bus for unmatched power‑to‑weight

News Timeline