Space

Northrop Grumman expands Arizona space campus with 120,000-square-foot facility for national security and commercial missions

Northrop Grumman opened a 120,000-square-foot facility at its Gilbert, Arizona, space campus to expand capacity for national-security, civil and commercial space programmes. The A1 building adds office space, classified work areas, integration and test facilities, and broader mission-support capacity. The company presented the opening as part of its long-term investment in Arizona's advanced manufacturing and space-engineering base and said the facility expands workforce capacity. Northrop Grumman did not disclose the investment amount, specific programmes assigned to the building or a separate hiring target tied to the opening.

militarytimes.comOct 1

Japan satellite maker Synspective lands 20-launch deal with Rocket Lab

Japanese synthetic-aperture-radar satellite operator Synspective signed a 20-launch agreement with Rocket Lab for dedicated Electron missions from New Zealand between 2028 and 2031. The deal is Rocket Lab’s largest commercial Electron order and raises the total number of missions booked for Synspective to 47, with 13 completed since 2020. Dedicated launches will allow the customer to place StriX imaging satellites into tailored sun-synchronous orbits and build revisit capacity. Financial terms, satellite deployment cadence within the launch window, and detailed commercial contingency provisions were not disclosed.

Defence BlogOct 1

Skyrora hot fires scaled-down orbital rocket in Scotland

Skyrora conducted a 45-second static firing of a scaled-down XL orbital rocket at the Machrihanish test site in Scotland. The test exercised propulsion, pressurization, thermal behavior, fluid flows and other subsystems together, generating data for a subsequent campaign and the full-size launch vehicle. Skyrora XL is planned as a 23-meter, three-stage rocket able to place about 315 kilograms into low Earth or sun-synchronous orbit, with the company targeting launches from SaxaVord once technical, regulatory and range preparations are complete. The firing did not constitute an orbital launch attempt.

ukdefencejournal.org.ukSep 30

Miller Tapped to Head SPACECOM, Oversee Move To Huntsville

The White House nominated Space Force Lieutenant General David Miller for promotion to general and command of U.S. Space Command, succeeding General Stephen Whiting if confirmed by the Senate. Miller currently serves as deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs and requirements, giving him a central role in force design and investment decisions. As commander, he would oversee military space operations and the planned headquarters move from Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. The relocation remains politically contested and operationally complex to execute.

Defense DailySep 30

New Zealand renews participation in US-led defence space initiative

New Zealand renewed its participation in the US-led Operation Olympic Defender for two years, extending the arrangement through August 2028. The multinational initiative improves space-domain awareness, information sharing, and protection of military space services alongside Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Wellington's decision maintains access to allied expertise and coordinated activities, but no new satellite purchase, permanent force commitment, or separately funded capability package accompanied the renewal. Renewal preserves New Zealand's role in an established coalition without creating a separate national military-space command or constellation.

JanesSep 29

Can China's new satellite coordination standards speed up PLA targeting?

A Chinese expert panel approved work on ten voluntary standards intended to improve coordination among satellites, constellations, ground systems, and data users. More consistent interfaces and tasking procedures could shorten the time between collecting imagery or other observations and delivering usable targeting information, while also improving resilience across distributed networks. The standards are still moving through drafting and consultation, however, and their potential military benefit does not prove that the PLA has already fielded the complete architecture. Whether the effort changes real targeting speed will depend on adoption, technical implementation, and integration with command networks.

scmp.comSep 29

Rocket Lab Electron Launches 13th StriX SAR Satellite Serving Japan's MoD

Rocket Lab's Electron launched Synspective's 13th StriX synthetic-aperture-radar satellite from Mahia into a 559-kilometer low-Earth orbit. The mission was Electron's 97th overall and its 18th launch of 2026, continuing a perfect record across thirteen dedicated flights for the Japanese customer. StriX provides day-and-night, all-weather imagery, and the commercial constellation contributes data to a Japanese Ministry of Defense project, but the satellite itself should not be described as Ministry-owned. Synspective ultimately plans a constellation of roughly thirty spacecraft by the end of the decade for more frequent coverage.

defensewarroom.comSep 29

Northrop Grumman delivers first 21 of 150 planned satellites for U.S. military communications and missile defense network

Northrop Grumman has delivered the first 21 satellites of a planned 150-satellite constellation supporting U.S. military communications and missile defense tracking to Vandenberg Space Force Base. The satellites form part of the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer, which is designed to provide low-latency, jam-resistant data relay and missile warning coverage for joint force operations globally. Delivery of the initial tranche represents a significant production milestone for one of the most consequential U.S. military space programs currently underway, with the full constellation intended to provide continuous global coverage.

Defence Industry EuropeSep 28

SpaceX's Starship Reaches Orbit For First Time In Historic Flight 14

SpaceX's Starship vehicle achieved orbital flight for the first time during Flight 14, a milestone with significant implications for both commercial space and U.S. defense launch capabilities. The fully reusable super-heavy launch system has been identified as a potential platform for rapid global payload delivery and large-scale satellite constellation deployment supporting military missions. Reaching orbit confirms the maturation of a vehicle that could transform the cost and frequency of heavy-lift space access for Department of Defense programs, though no defense contract was announced in connection with this flight.

aviationweek.comSep 28

87 companies join U.S. Space Command's third wargame

U.S. Space Command’s third APOLLO INSIGHT Commercial Integration Wargame brought together 217 participants from 87 companies, including 24 firms new to the series. The September 23 event examined how commercial capabilities could support space maneuver warfare in very low Earth orbit, cislunar space and other operating areas beyond familiar satellite regimes. As the third of four planned wargames, it is intended to expose commanders to available private-sector technology, identify integration gaps and translate commercial services into realistic operational planning rather than treating them as stand-alone demonstrations.

Defence BlogSep 27

Japan's spy satellites to ride home-built rocket

Japan’s Synspective has signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to launch two StriX synthetic-aperture-radar satellites on an H3 rocket in 2027. The missions will be the company’s first launches on a Japanese vehicle and will support a growing commercial constellation whose imagery also contributes to services for Japan’s Ministry of Defense. Using the domestically built H3 can strengthen Japan’s end-to-end space industrial base within an increasingly independent launch ecosystem, although the satellites are privately operated Earth-observation assets rather than publicly identified government-owned reconnaissance spacecraft.

Defence BlogSep 27

ICEYE invests more than PLN 120 million in Warsaw satellite technology hub to expand R&D production and constellation operations

ICEYE has opened a Satellite Technology Center in Warsaw and plans to invest more than PLN 120 million between 2026 and 2028. The site expands Polish capacity for synthetic-aperture-radar satellite research, production support, mission operations and constellation control, with later phases expected to add clean-room facilities for assembly, integration and testing. The investment deepens ICEYE’s industrial presence in Poland and could strengthen sovereign access to persistent radar imagery, which can collect through cloud cover and darkness for security, disaster-response, commercial applications and maritime monitoring worldwide.

Defence Industry EuropeSep 26

Laser Weapons Will Be Deployed At Cape Canaveral Spaceport To Take Down Drones

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station plans to add a laser directed-energy system to a broader layered defense against unauthorized drones. Space Launch Delta 45 says the modernization will combine detection, tracking, situational awareness and defensive capabilities to protect personnel, launch complexes and national-security payloads at an increasingly busy spaceport. Hundreds of drone incursions have been reported in the surrounding region, but officials have not identified the laser model, contractor, cost or operational date, so the announcement describes a planned capability rather than a system already in service.

The War ZoneSep 26

SpaceX's Starship Rocket Is Heading To Orbit–With A Lot On The Line

SpaceX is targeting September 28 for Starship Flight 14, pending regulatory clearance, with the vehicle scheduled to enter a full orbit for the first time. Ship 41 and Booster 21 are planned to reach roughly 275 kilometres, complete about six circuits over ten hours and deploy 26 production Starlink V3 satellites. The Super Heavy booster would splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, while Starship would return to the Pacific west of Chile rather than attempt a tower catch. Success would combine an orbital milestone with Starship's first revenue-generating payload deployment after earlier suborbital tests.

forbes.comSep 26

L3Harris says 18 Tranche 3 satellites advance toward orbit to deliver near-continuous global missile warning and tracking for United States

L3Harris has reported that 18 Tranche 3 satellites under the Space Development Agency's missile warning and tracking layer are advancing toward orbit, intended to deliver near-continuous global coverage for US missile defence. The Tranche 3 constellation represents a significant expansion of the SDA's proliferated low-Earth-orbit architecture, building on earlier tranches to close gaps in persistent hypersonic and ballistic missile detection. Baseline designs for the satellites have received programme approval, according to supporting reporting, clearing the path toward production and launch.

Defence Industry EuropeSep 24

China's secretive spaceplane recaptures its own satellite

Tracking data indicate that China's reusable spaceplane released an object and later manoeuvred to rendezvous with and recapture it in orbit. The operation has not been officially confirmed by Chinese authorities but suggests progress in rendezvous, proximity operations and potential payload retrieval. Such capabilities can support satellite servicing while also carrying intelligence and counterspace applications.

Defence BlogSep 24

Saab targets central role in Swedish defence space integration with SSC Space, OHB Sweden and Ericsson for multi-domain operations

Saab is positioning itself as the central integrator of Swedish defence space capabilities, forming a consortium with SSC Space, OHB Sweden and Ericsson to support multi-domain military operations, according to Defence Industry Europe. The partnership aims to combine satellite communications, earth observation, space situational awareness and military command infrastructure into a coherent national defence space architecture. The initiative reflects Sweden's accelerating investment in space as an operational domain following its NATO accession and the increased salience of space-enabled military capabilities in current conflicts.

Defense OneSep 24

Lite Coms to supply satcom terminals for Australian C4 programme

Lite Coms was selected by Boeing Defence Australia to supply more than 100 LITE SAT 1.3A tactical satellite terminals for the Australian Defence Force's LAND 4140 land command-and-control modernization programme. The rugged, lightweight terminals automatically acquire satellite links and are intended to provide deployed users with beyond-line-of-sight connectivity without the setup burden of larger fixed systems. Engineering and early low-rate production units are already being shipped, with the first main batch scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027, although the contract value was not disclosed.

JanesSep 23

Britain puts space at centre of defence buying revolution

Britain placed space among the first portfolios managed through its new National Armaments Group, making satellite and counter-space needs an early test of wider defense-procurement reform. The government plans nearly £13 billion in space spending over the next decade and is creating a more active customer organization intended to connect requirements, acquisition bodies and suppliers more directly. Related measures include an Office for Small Business Growth and roughly £400 million a year for defense innovation, aimed at reducing barriers for smaller firms and moving usable capability into service faster.

ukdefencejournal.org.ukSep 23

Indra Space wins ESA backing for two IRIS2 Low LEO projects targeting future government and defence communications services

The European Space Agency selected Indra Space's ATLAS and SELENE concepts for a four-month consolidation phase within the secure IRIS2 Low LEO program. ATLAS addresses space-based communications and surveillance for air-traffic management, while SELENE combines government and defense connectivity with 5G non-terrestrial-network and direct-to-device services. The studies may lead to a limited in-orbit mission demonstration procurement, with any selected spacecraft expected to launch near the end of the decade as part of the European Union's broader €15.6 billion IRIS2 sovereign connectivity architecture and associated services.

Defence Industry EuropeSep 23

North AmericaSpace◆ Space Domain Awareness

Official: Russia's satellite constellation nears 400 spacecraft

Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov told Russia's prime minister that the national orbital constellation is approaching 400 spacecraft, including nearly 60 launched during 2026. He linked near-term expansion to new Soyuz-5 launches, hydrometeorological satellites and additional GLONASS spacecraft intended to improve positioning accuracy to about 2.8 meters by 2027. Russia also plans 32 serial Rassvet satellites by the end of September as an early step toward a much larger 2035 communications constellation, although these figures are official program claims rather than an independent external inventory assessment.

Defence BlogSep 23

Impulse Space Nabs $28 Million Award For Domain Awareness Mission

Impulse Space has received a $28 million US Space Force award for a future space-domain awareness mission scheduled to launch no earlier than 2029. A government-provided launch will place the company’s Mira spacecraft in low Earth orbit, carrying an optical payload supplied by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Mira will maneuver to observe and track objects in geosynchronous orbit, demonstrating responsive monitoring from a different orbital regime. Part of the funding comes through the fiscal 2026 Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies program, reflecting military interest in commercially built, highly maneuverable spacecraft for improved orbital awareness.

Defense DailySep 23

UK RAF Establishes Space Effects Unit To Counter Orbital Threats

The Royal Air Force has established a dedicated Space Effects Unit to develop and deliver capabilities for countering orbital threats, according to Aviation Week. The unit will focus on both defensive and offensive space operations, including the ability to respond to adversary satellite activities that threaten UK and allied military systems. The formation of the unit formalizes the RAF's role as the lead UK military service for space domain operations and aligns with the broader NATO recognition of space as a contested and warfighting domain.

Defence Industry EuropeSep 23

GlobalSpace

NATO In 'Overdue' Move To Include Space In Defense Planning Process

NATO plans to incorporate space into the NATO Defense Planning Process, the alliance mechanism that translates collective requirements into capability targets for member states. Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Air Chief Marshal Johnny Stringer described the step as overdue, because satellites and space services now underpin communications, navigation, intelligence, warning, and targeting across every operational domain. Formal inclusion means allies can be assessed against agreed space needs, creating clearer procurement and investment signals for resilient communications, surveillance, command systems, launch access, and protection of orbital services.

militarytimes.comSep 23

Terma secures MDA AURORA supply agreement for satellite testing systems supporting high volume manufacturing

Terma secured a supply agreement with MDA's AURORA program for satellite testing systems. The equipment supports high-volume satellite manufacturing. It enables production-line qualification of spacecraft. The deal strengthens European space supply chains.

JanesSep 22

ArcticSpace

Kongsberg expands Canadian defence and space partnerships with MDA Space and Telesat to strengthen Arctic security and connectivity

Kongsberg expanded Canadian defence and space partnerships with MDA Space and Telesat. The collaboration strengthens Arctic security and connectivity. It links satellite communications and surveillance assets. The move supports northern domain awareness.

Defence Industry EuropeSep 22

SSC Space secures prime ground segment role for Airbus Pléiades Neo and next generation Earth observation missions

SSC Space secured the prime ground segment role for Airbus Pléiades Neo and next-generation Earth observation missions. The ground segment handles satellite tasking and data downlink. It supports high-resolution imaging services. The deal strengthens European space infrastructure.

Army TechnologySep 22

Space Force Looking to Future for RPO-Docking to Counter Space Threats

The U.S. Space Force is examining rendezvous and proximity operations with docking capability to counter emerging orbital threats. Such maneuvers enable inspection, servicing and potential defensive actions against adversary satellites. The initiative addresses growing on-orbit counterspace challenges. Development supports space domain awareness and control.

Defense DailySep 21

BAE Systems clears design review for $1.2 billion U.S. Space Force MEO Epoch 2 missile-warning constellation of 10 spacecraft

BAE Systems has passed the critical design review for the U.S. Space Force's $1.2 billion MEO Epoch 2 missile-warning constellation. The program comprises 10 spacecraft in medium Earth orbit to track advanced missile threats including hypersonic vehicles. The milestone clears the path to full production. The constellation augments existing SBIRS and next-generation OPIR assets.

Defence Industry EuropeSep 21

united statesSpace◆ Space Domain Awareness

U.S. Space agency plans global network of missile warning ground sites

The Space Development Agency issued a request for proposals for Ground Entry Points that will receive missile-warning and tracking data from proliferated low-Earth-orbit satellites. The planned global network combines communications shelters, radio-frequency antennas, optical terminals, electronics, networking and software at several undisclosed locations. An indefinite-delivery contract and initial task order are expected to cover work from March 2027 through September 2031, with an option extending support to 2035. The solicitation does not disclose a ceiling and notes that funding is not yet available, so an award remains contingent on future appropriations.

Defence BlogSep 20

U.S. Space Force wants satellites that can hunt objects in orbit

The US Space Force is studying responsive satellites able to rendezvous with, inspect and interact with objects across several orbital regimes. Its request for information envisions spacecraft stored for as long as two years, then launched within fourteen days, with more ambitious goals of 36-hour readiness and a twelve-hour launch window. The vehicles would conduct repeated maneuvers in low, medium or highly elliptical orbits and use an open interface for mission payloads. The notice is market research, not a funded acquisition, although the service identifies fiscal 2029 as a potential first-delivery target.

Defence BlogSep 20

European commercial rocket reaches orbit from Norway

German company Isar Aerospace placed satellites into orbit from Norway's Andøya Spaceport on the second flight of its Spectrum rocket. The September 5 mission, named Onward and Upward, crossed the Kármán line, completed stage separation and second-stage ignition, and deployed its payloads after reaching orbit. NATO Allied Air Command described the flight as the first successful orbital satellite delivery by a European commercial space company. It was a civilian mission rather than a NATO launch, but the alliance highlighted how diverse commercial providers and launch sites improve access to communications, navigation, surveillance, and other space-enabled services.

ukdefencejournal.org.ukSep 19

This Startup Is Building Octopus-Inspired Tow Trucks For Space

Michigan-based KMI Space is developing REACCH, an orbital-servicing spacecraft with flexible appendages and gecko-inspired gripping pads for capturing unprepared objects. The company describes the vehicle as a space tow truck able to reposition active satellites or drive debris into the atmosphere for disposal. A smaller REACCH system reached the International Space Station in 2024 and completed hundreds of microgravity capture tests over roughly 200 days in 2025, validating the company's simulation tools. KMI has raised more than $10 million and targets a full-scale launch in early 2028, followed by in-orbit capture demonstrations later that year.

forbes.comSep 19