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DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections

The Pentagon is seeking low-cost commercial satellites able to conduct on-orbit surveillance and close-range inspections of other spacecraft, targeting affordable platforms for persistent monitoring and proximity operations. The solicitation formalizes use of commercial providers to augment space-domain awareness and inspection capabilities.

2026-02-17T20:07:19.481560-08:00

Spaceflight Now

Vulcan completes USSF‑87 launch after SRB anomaly; BE‑4 engines compensated, investigation opened

2026-02-12T04:16:00.262575-08:00

Breaking Defense

Project Hecate: Space Force probes LEO comms signals as near‑term GPS alternative to preserve PNT after 2040

2026-02-12T13:03:51.956369-08:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX moves Dragon flights from KSC LC‑39A to Cape Canaveral SLC‑40 as 39A is repurposed for Starship

2026-02-06T13:28:55.259770-08:00

News Timeline

DefenseNews.com

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections The Pentagon is seeking low-cost commercial satellites able to conduct on-orbit surveillance and close-range inspections of other spacecraft, targeting affordable platforms for persistent monitoring and proximity operations. The solicitation formalizes use of commercial providers to augment space-domain awareness and inspection capabilities.

2026-02-17T20:07:19.481560-08:00

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections

Breaking Defense

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Project Hecate: Space Force probes LEO comms signals as near‑term GPS alternative to preserve PNT after 2040 Project Hecate is a Space Force effort, driven by the Space Warfighting Analysis Center, to evaluate signals from low‑Earth‑orbit communications satellites as a near‑term alternative for positioning, navigation and timing — intended to help preserve GPS‑like services beyond 2040.

2026-02-12T13:03:51.956369-08:00

Project Hecate: Space Force probes LEO comms signals as near‑term GPS alternative to preserve PNT after 2040

SpaceNews.com

Integrate targets U.S. defense market after winning Space Force award Integrate, a software startup, is moving into the U.S. defense market after winning a Space Force award. The company will use the award to pursue follow‑on government contracts and partnerships with primes as the Space Force leans on commercial firms to accelerate capability fielding.

2026-02-12T05:53:59.078463-08:00

Integrate targets U.S. defense market after winning Space Force award

Spaceflight Now

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Vulcan completes USSF‑87 launch after SRB anomaly; BE‑4 engines compensated, investigation opened United Launch Alliance's Vulcan successfully delivered the USSF‑87 payload despite a mid‑flight anomaly in one of four solid rocket boosters that produced a visible plume. ULA says the BE‑4 core engines compensated and the vehicle completed its mission; an investigation and review are under way before the next national‑security flight.

2026-02-12T04:16:00.262575-08:00

Vulcan completes USSF‑87 launch after SRB anomaly; BE‑4 engines compensated, investigation opened

SpaceNews.com

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding Several commercial space firms have thrown their weight behind the Pentagon's Golden Dome missile‑defense initiative, positioning for prototypes and long‑term contracts even as the program's technical scope and funding profile remain unresolved. Companies are making investments and staffing bets ahead of clarified government requirements.

2026-02-11T13:37:21.939345-08:00

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding

Spaceflight Now

ULA targets 18–22 launches in 2026 as Vulcan prepares USSF‑87 direct‑to‑GEO mission United Launch Alliance said Feb. 10 it aims to fly 18–22 missions in 2026 as it prepares Vulcan Centaur VC4S to launch the USSF‑87 national‑security satellite directly to geosynchronous orbit on Feb. 12. ULA VP Gary Wentz set the target during a virtual roundtable.

2026-02-10T16:55:49.421135-08:00

ULA targets 18–22 launches in 2026 as Vulcan prepares USSF‑87 direct‑to‑GEO mission

NASA Spaceflight

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Packed launch week: ULA's Vulcan to carry USSF-87 and SpaceX to fly Crew-12 amid eight scheduled missions Eight launches are scheduled this week from multiple sites, led by United Launch Alliance's Vulcan carrying the USSF-87 national-security payload and SpaceX's Crew-12 Dragon bound for the International Space Station. The manifest mixes crewed, government and commercial missions across several providers.

2026-02-09T14:35:59.122500-08:00

Packed launch week: ULA's Vulcan to carry USSF-87 and SpaceX to fly Crew-12 amid eight scheduled missions

Via Satellite

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Momentus, NASA and U.S. Space Force to demo rendezvous, in‑orbit servicing and multispectral sensing on Vigoride 7 in LEO Momentus has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to fly its Vigoride 7 orbital service vehicle on a SpaceX Transporter no earlier than March 2026 to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations, formation flying, in‑orbit servicing and autonomous assembly, including a multispectral sensor test for the U.S. Space Force.

2026-02-09T12:14:06.615952-08:00

Momentus, NASA and U.S. Space Force to demo rendezvous, in‑orbit servicing and multispectral sensing on Vigoride 7 in LEO

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Space Force News

Pentagon seeks low-cost commercial satellites for on-orbit surveillance and close inspections

Vulcan completes USSF‑87 launch after SRB anomaly; BE‑4 engines compensated, investigation opened

Project Hecate: Space Force probes LEO comms signals as near‑term GPS alternative to preserve PNT after 2040

SpaceX moves Dragon flights from KSC LC‑39A to Cape Canaveral SLC‑40 as 39A is repurposed for Starship

News Timeline