Space.com
• Brett Tingley
The U.S. military has conducted its first “live fly” exercise simulating orbital dogfighting, testing the ability to maneuver persistently and at scale in space. The exercise reflects a shift toward operationalizing space-based maneuver and contesting control of the orbital environment.
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Cailabs is introducing shared optical ground-station infrastructure, while ICEYE and Arianespace will evaluate Ariane 6 for sovereign SAR missions. Poland’s EYCORE reported first imagery from its inaugural radar satellite, and BAE Systems and the U.S. Space Force completed a critical design review for Epoch 2 missile-warning satellites planned for 2029.
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The U.S. military has conducted its first “live fly” exercise simulating orbital dogfighting, testing the ability to maneuver persistently and at scale in space. The exercise reflects a shift toward operationalizing space-based maneuver and contesting control of the orbital environment.
Gen. Douglas Schiess became chief of space operations on Sept. 3, succeeding Gen. B. Chance Saltzman after nearly four years at the helm of the almost-seven-year-old service. Schiess assumes command as the Space Force confronts workforce shortages and continues building its institutional foundation.
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Five orbital launches are expected this week from sites around the world, including Falcon 9 missions from Florida and California. The launches are set to deploy three O3b mPOWER broadband satellites and the USSF-153 payload, alongside Soyuz and CZ-8A missions.
The U.S. Space Force is investing $50 million in a startup developing a new method to dispatch small spacecraft from a larger vehicle in orbit. The effort could introduce another approach to moving and deploying satellites after launch, with potential implications for future military space operations.
A Rocket Lab spacecraft carrying an optical payload developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory tracked another satellite during a U.S. Space Force “cat-and-mouse” exercise. The demonstration highlights efforts to improve space-domain awareness and the ability to monitor maneuvering objects in orbit.
The U.S. Space Force is starting work on a new ground control architecture for the future GPS constellation, using lessons from the $6.27 billion OCX program. The Pentagon canceled OCX earlier this year after 15 years of development, resetting a critical element of GPS modernization.
Gen. Douglas Schiess assumed command of the U.S. Space Force on Sept. 3 at Joint Base Andrews, succeeding Gen. B. Chance Saltzman. Promoted to four-star general, Schiess takes over as the service prepares for expansion in funding, personnel and missions amid competition with China.
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