Boeing has completed its formal requalification of the CST-100 Starliner’s flight software. With the qualification, Boeing will prepare for its next test flight. Boeing’s starliner will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) during Orbital Flight Test-2, a second uncrewed flight test, in March 2021. “The work this team put into exhaustively wringing out our software is a defining moment for the program,” said John Vollmer.
Read More »NASA Concludes Final Design Review of Observation Satellite for Space Force
NASA has completed the final design review of an Earth observation satellite designed to fly for the U.S. Space Force, Space Ref reported Monday. The space agency assessed multiple safety aspects of the Landsat-9 Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter or ESPA Flight System and concluded the final design review on Dec. 15.
Read More »NRO Completes Final Launch on SpaceX Falcon 9; Troy Meink Quoted
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has successfully completed its final launch of 2020, NROL-108. During the launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NRO used a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to transport NROL-108. “We are excited to partner with SpaceX again,” NRO principal deputy director Troy Meink said.
Read More »Space Operations Command Assumes Control Authority Over Lockheed-Made AEHF-6 Satellite
The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center handed control authority of the sixth Lockheed Martin-built Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite to Space Operations Command in late October. Space Vehicle 6 completes the AEHF satellite constellation designed to provide military leaders and warfighters jam-resistant communications and command and control capabilities during a nuclear war.
Read More »SMC’s Brig. Gen. D. Jason Cothern on Continuing Partnerships With Heavy-Lift Launch Providers
Brig. Gen. D. Jason Cothern, vice commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), said the U.S. Space Force will continue working with launch providers after selecting two contractors for a national security mission. The Space Force previously awarded contracts to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) to utilize the former’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy vehicles.
Read More »ULA to Launch NROL-44 to Support NRO Missions; Gary Wentz Quoted
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has announced that its Delta IV Heavy rocket has reached final preparations to launch the NROL-44 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to support national security.
Read More »ULA Successfully Launches Sixth Orbital Test Vehicle for the U.S. Space Force; Gary Wentz Quoted
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 501 rocket carrying the USSF-7 mission for the U.S. Space Force launched on May 17, 9:14 a.m. EDT, from Space Launch Complex-41, the agency reported on Monday.
Read More »ULA Schedules Launch of Sixth Orbital Test Vehicle for the U.S. Space Force; Gary Wentz Quoted
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has scheduled the Atlas V 501 rocket to launch the USSF-7 mission for the U.S. Space Force from Space Launch Complex-41 on May 16, 8:24 a.m. EDT, the agency reported on Friday.
Read More »ULA Announces Launch of the First National Security Space Mission for the U.S. Space Force; Gary Wentz Quoted
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket has entered final preparations to launch the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) communications satellite for the U.S. Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Read More »ULA Successfully Launches Atlas V, Solar Orbiter with NASA; Gary Wentz Quoted
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has launched the Atlas V rocket, transporting the Solar Orbiter, from Space Launch Complex-41 on Feb. 9 at 11:03 p.m. EST, the company announced on Monday.
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