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Col. Timothy Sejba: Space Force Opens Center for On-Orbit Experiment and Prototyping Work
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Col. Timothy Sejba: Space Force Opens Center for On-Orbit Experiment and Prototyping Work

The U.S. Space Force's acquisition and development organization unveiled a 5,930-square-foot facility at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico that will focus on developing and demonstrating warfighting technologies for the USSF mission.

The Space and Missile Systems Center invested $17 million to establish the Rendezvous and Proximity Satellite Operations Center with operations space built to host as many as 50 command-and-control system operators and support personnel, SMC said Wednesday.

SMC added the new facility, which has rooms for mission planning and conferencing use, will operate under Kirtland AFB's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Support Complex.

“The REPR Satellite Operations Center allows us to carry out on-orbit experiments and prototyping efforts, develop innovative concepts of operation, and demonstrate game-changing technology for the United States Space Force and our mission partners," said Col. Timothy Sejba, director of SMC Space Development Corps.

The branch expects to take over operations of narrowband communications satellites currently managed by the Navy and payloads being operated by the Army in October.

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NASA, Northrop Set Launch of Next Cygnus Resupply Mission for Aug. 10th
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NASA, Northrop Set Launch of Next Cygnus Resupply Mission for Aug. 10th

Northrop Grumman is set to deliver another batch of NASA's science investigations, supplies and equipment to the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, Aug. 10th. 

Northrop's Cygnus spacecraft will lift off onboard its Antares rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia as part of the company's 16th commercial resupply mission, NASA said Thursday.

The mission will support research on 3D printing in space, the behavior of slime molds in microgravity, a spacecraft thermal protection system and a carbon dioxide removal technology.

The trip will also carry a new mounting bracket for the planned installation of a new pair of solar arrays outside the orbiting laboratory.

NASA is currently opening applications from U.S.-based media outlets to cover the Antares launch, with the deadline set on July 27th.

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Researchers Develop Magnetic Memory Device for AI Applications Under NSF-Funded Study; Pedram Khalili Quoted
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Researchers Develop Magnetic Memory Device for AI Applications Under NSF-Funded Study; Pedram Khalili Quoted

University researchers working under a National Science Foundation-funded study have created an external magnetic field-resistant memory technology that could potentially be used in artificial intelligence hardware, cryptocurrency mining and space exploration initiatives in the future.

NSF said Tuesday a research team from Northwestern University and Italy's University of Messina used antiferromagnetic materials for the development of a new magnetic memory device.

Pedram Khalili, an electrical and computer engineer at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and the lead for the NSF-backed study, said antiferromagnetic materials present possibilities to address the issues of ferromagnetic, magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM).

Current memory devices are expected to be rendered unsustainable considering AI applications' increasing use of larger datasets to function.

"Antiferromagnets show the potential for scalability, high write speed, and immunity to tampering by external magnetic fields — all necessary components to make faster devices to support the rapid growth of the computing, networking and data storage industries," Khalili explained.

The antiferromagnetic memory device was designed to be compatible with existing semiconductor production approaches and to operate with low electrical current.

"This was a key milestone, as we demonstrated no new capital expenditure needed by companies that would want to adopt antiferromagnetic MRAM technology," Khalili said.

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27 DOE-Backed Projects to Study Earth’s Atmosphere in Face of Climate Crisis; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
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27 DOE-Backed Projects to Study Earth’s Atmosphere in Face of Climate Crisis; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted

Twenty-seven projects have been awarded $15.6 million in Department of Energy (DOE) funds to study the interaction between aerosols and clouds for the DOE's Atmospheric System Research (ASR) program. 

Awardees will conduct studies over a three-year period with the goal of modeling climate systems and developing weather prediction tools to help the federal government tackle climate emergencies, DOE said Thursday.

Funding recipients will use data from the department's ground-based Atmospheric Radiation Measurement facility to look at how aerosol affects the cloud-forming process in the atmosphere and how clouds change the chemistry of aerosols.

"The Earth’s atmosphere holds the answers to how our planet is changing in the face of the climate crisis, as well as how we can predict and mitigate the effects,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

The department issued the competitive grants following a peer review of the projects through the ASR Program backed by its biological and environmental research office.

On Wednesday, DOE opened a $27 million funding opportunity for research into ocean wave energy converters.

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Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage Takes Charge of USMC Cyber Organization
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Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage Takes Charge of USMC Cyber Organization

Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage, formerly commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Western Recruiting Region, officially assumed new duties as head of the Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (MARFORCYBER) at a ceremony held Wednesday at the U.S. Naval Academy, DVIDSHub reported.

He succeeds Lt. Gen. Matthew Glavy, who will transition to a new role as USMC’s deputy commandant for information. In his new capacity, Heritage will lead MARFORCYBER and its operations in the cyber domain to ensure the security of enterprise and joint force networks.

He will also lead the Marine Corps Forces Space Command, a component of the Space Command established to deliver operational assistance to the Fleet Marine Force.

“I am excited to return to the cyber domain and look forward to being part of this command’s legacy of great people, strategy and a culture of winning,” Heritage said.

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Andrew Malloy: DISA Explores Telework Enterprise Identity, Device Management Approaches
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Andrew Malloy: DISA Explores Telework Enterprise Identity, Device Management Approaches

Andrew Malloy, technical director of the Defense Information Systems Agency's (DISA) cyber development directorate, said that DISA is looking at strategies to manage user access and personal mobile devices within remote work environments, Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

The agency is conducting pilot programs to test an enterprise identity management service and determine a bring-your-own-device approach for the Department of Defense (DOD).

"That’s what we need to figure out moving forward is, how we manage that and how we manage that centrally, to where from a cybersecurity perspective, we don’t have as much of a threat surface area,” Malloy told the publication.

He also noted that DISA began migrating its global directory to the cloud-based Defense Enterprise Office Solution (DEOS) infrastructure and worked with the National Security Agency to develop a zero-trust concept.

DISA deployed an initial zero trust reference architecture in May to support military information security efforts.

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Serco Awarded $70M U.S. Navy Contract for C5ISR Electronic System Support; Dave Dacquino Quoted
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Serco Awarded $70M U.S. Navy Contract for C5ISR Electronic System Support; Dave Dacquino Quoted

Serco announced on Thursday that the company landed a potential $70 million U.S. Navy contract to provide engineering and technical support for aviation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) electronic systems. The single-award contract (SAC) has a five-year base period and one two-year option period.

“Serco stands ready to provide rapid response technical support to the U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense Air Traffic Control facilities impacted by natural disasters, war and other mission-critical support events,” commented Dave Dacquino, Serco’s chairman, CEO and 2021 Wash100 Award recipient.

The contract requires Serco to supply engineering and technical support services for a wide range of specialized, complex air traffic control, meteorology and oceanography and aviation command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, C5ISR electronic systems for the Naval Air Systems Command, NAVWAR and other government entities.

Serco will also perform support for modification, upgrade, sustainment, maintenance and emergency repairs of the aforementioned systems.

This recent award builds on the company’s potential $400 million re-compete contracts with the U.S. Navy awarded in July. This award requires Serco to provide engineering and technical support for aviation C5ISR electronic systems. The contract is a seven-year, multiple-award contract (MAC), has a five-year base period and one two-year option period.

The Navy awarded Serco another notable contract in March. This award was a $153 million initial delivery order under a potential $600 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide software, hardware and firmware maintenance services supporting the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) Ashore Sustainment Program.

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Maxar Technologies Providing WorldView Legion Satellite Capacity to International Defense, Intelligence Customers; Tony Frazier Quoted
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Maxar Technologies Providing WorldView Legion Satellite Capacity to International Defense, Intelligence Customers; Tony Frazier Quoted

Maxar Technologies announced on Thursday that the company secured a multi-year $35 million contract for WorldView Legion satellite constellation capacity through an expanded agreement with a key international defense and intelligence customer.

“Maxar is proud to continue our two-decade partnership with this important U.S. ally. Maxar’s commercial satellite imagery and 3D data suite will enhance situational awareness and decision-making for the customer’s critical government missions,” commented Tony Frazier, Maxar Global Field Operations EVP and a five-time Wash100 Award recipient.

The contract will extend the customer’s ability to easily task and download 30 cm-class satellite imagery to its ground station from Maxar’s current constellation under the Direct Access Program.

The Direct Access Program enables defense, intelligence and commercial customers to access highly advanced Earth-imaging satellites with encrypted downlinks, committed availability and data distribution rights that fit mission needs.

The contract also stipulates Maxar will provide direct access to its next-generation WorldView Legion satellites once they enter operations, including Maxar’s 3D data suite, created from the company’s innovative, highly accurate satellite imagery.

Maxar has substantial experience in supporting and providing satellite imagery data to a wide array of customers. In June, the company announced it had provided the Australian defense department with a 3D data suite and satellite imagery intended to inform the military decision-making process and enhance situational awareness supporting national defense and intelligence missions.

The 3D Surface Model for the Australian organizer is designed to show terrain and surface features and textures in high-fidelity, positionally accurate and photorealistic data based on commercial satellite imagery.

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Air Force Puts Hypersonic Missile Warhead Through Detonation Test
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Air Force Puts Hypersonic Missile Warhead Through Detonation Test

The U.S. Air Force set off a hypersonic missile warhead for the first time during a recent Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon test held at Eglin AF Base in Florida.

USAF said Wednesday that its 780th Test Squadron aimed to evaluate the lethality of AGM-183A rocket-powered hypersonic technology via the detonation event.

Lockheed Martin designed the ARRW system prototype under a $480 million contract the military service awarded in August 2018.

The partnership initially tested the weapon on a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft in June 2019 and conducted a second flight test in August 2020.

David Spiker, a test manager at 780th TS, pointed out that the recent test involved various firsts for the program such as the test arena design, novel data collection processes and equipment and new post-test information processing methods.

Biden Administration Mulls Ransomware Attack Response; Press Secretary Jen Psaki Quoted
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Biden Administration Mulls Ransomware Attack Response; Press Secretary Jen Psaki Quoted

President Biden met with his administration's national security team to develop plans addressing the ransomware attacks perceived to be initiated by hackers from Russia, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki did not indicate if the administration is linking the Russian government or criminal actors to the attacks. 

"What they did discuss is the fact that the President reserves the right to respond against any ransomware networks and those that harbor them. That continues to be his policy," Psaki told reporters.

Reuters reported Tuesday that a ransomware incident involving software provider Kaseya affected 800 to 1,500 businesses across the globe and the company's CEO, Fred Voccola, said he was not informed of any critical national organizations affected by the attack.

During the Geneva summit held June 17th, President Biden said he had told Russian President Vladimir Putin that "critical infrastructure," composed of 16 entities, must be forbidden for cyberattacks. Biden noted that responsible countries should deal with criminals within their territory that perform ransomware acts. 

Earlier Tuesday, Psaki said U.S. officials would meet with Russian representatives next week to tackle the emerging cyber threats. "If the Russian government cannot or will not take action against criminal actors residing in Russia, we will take action, or reserve the right to take action, on our own."

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