Starfish Space’s Post

Its time for Australia's space community to think about how we can play a role in supporting both space domain awareness, and space logistics and mobility in 'xGEO' - that vast region from geosyncrohonous orbit (at 36,500km) out to Cislunar Space. My thoughts in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Strategist blog on next steps for Australia in The Expanse beyond near-Earth space.

The landscape of space exploration is on the brink of a transformative shift. Starlab a commercial space station initiative by Airbus Defence and Voyager Space is set to potentially succeed the International Space Station after 2030. This venture promises to blend technological advancements with international collaboration paving the way for the next chapter in space exploration. Delve into the future prospects of space stations:

It's happening again. Remember in early 2000 trying to look for investors to deal with a satellite gov wanted to dispose. I had even scouted sheds to stack it in cape. Those days Navy used to build satellites. A large number of scientists were also let go and India and US 🇺🇸🇮🇳 were trying hard to build a relationship in space cooperation. Remember coming to a conf in India also. Yes we even had a company called MeshNetworks a startup leveraging IP from Lockheed I think in #Orlando. Challenge was lack of launch vehicles. Fundamental issue to launch a gram in space still the same. This is how space adapter concept came in my startup Aximetric breaking the traditional Deltabus config. So smaller pieces could be launched based on space, weight in shuttle, delta and later docked in space. yes there is shelf life on components in A assembled 🛰️ .

"Astroscale U.S., a provider of on-orbit services to extend the life of satellites, has signed an agreement with the U.S. Space Force to co-invest in an on-orbit refueling vehicle." #elaranova #spaceindustry #spacetechnology #SpaceForce #USSF #satellites #innovation #commercialspace #militaryspace #nationalsecurityspace #nationalsecurity #nationaldefense #internationalspace #Pentagon

🚀 Building a Future-Ready Space Force 🌌 🧭 As we navigate the vast expanse of space, it's crucial to envision not just the challenges of today, but those of tomorrow and beyond. 🛰️ This insightful article highlights the imperative need to support our other branches in their traditional roles on the ground while simultaneously forging ahead with the creation of a Space Force capable of addressing the evolving challenges in Earth's orbit and beyond. 📡 The call to action is clear: we must act now to build a Space Force equipped to safeguard our interests not just in the present, but also ten and twenty years down the line. Failure to do so risks sacrificing the long-term vision for short-term gains, putting our future endeavors in jeopardy. 💡 Let's collaborate, innovate, and pave the way for a Space Force that not only meets the demands of today but also lays the foundation for a prosperous and secure future in space exploration. ♟ Together, let's ensure that we're not just playing the game—we're winning it for generations to come. 📰 Article here: https://lnkd.in/gpN82jGy #SpaceExploration #FutureReady #Innovation #SpaceForce

#USSpaceForce #JenniferElzea #SpaceDevelopmentAgency #SDA #ProliferatedWarfighterSpaceArchitecture #PWSA #ChrisWinslett #LockheedMartin #York #SpaceX #L3Harris "Now the U.S. military wants in on the action — thanks in part to inroads made by the likes of Starlink, OneWeb, Planet and more — and it’s spending big, turning to a variety of companies to build a satellite network unlike any the military has built before. Lockheed Martin is one of the major winners so far under the Space Development Agency, or SDA, a part of the U.S. Space Force and one of its three acquisition divisions. SDA is about to launch the second mission of its constellation known as the “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture,” or PWSA. “It’s a mesh network, an internet in space that allows you to [connect] from any point on Earth and [back down to] any point on Earth,” said Chris Winslett, Lockheed’s program director for building Transport satellites.  One key motivator behind the Pentagon building out its own constellation – rather than utilizing commercial networks that are already operational: security. “Any time you’re using an open network, it’s always less secure … the other side is controlling the availability, the quality of service,” Winslett explained. “If you’re just a user, one of many users on another network, you’re subject to whoever owns that network and how they set their priority and the traffic that’s going to be on that network that may not be your traffic.” PWSA is designed to be built out in tranches, with each tranche representing a new generation of satellites with increasingly greater capabilities. Each tranche also consists of two “layers:” Transport, for mesh communications, and Tracking, for targeting locations past the horizon view of assets on the ground (known as “beyond line of sight targeting”) and missile detection and tracking. SDA is currently launching Tranche 0, the “demonstration generation” of PWSA consisting of 28 satellites – built by York, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX and L3Harris. The Transport satellites in Tranche 0 cost about $15 million each, according to Jennifer Elzea, the agency’s chief of strategic engagement.   “SDA’s focus is harnessing commercial development to deliver a proliferated constellation of satellites … to build resilience, and also obviously to harness the tremendous development that’s happened in the space industry over the last number of years,” Elzea told reporters during a recent roundtable.  SDA has already begun awarding manufacturing contracts for satellites in Tranches 1 and 2 – with over $5 billion in total awards to date. In full, PWSA represents the Space Force contribution to the Pentagon’s ambitious Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) project, aimed at creating a unified network across its military branches. Satellites are one piece of that greater puzzle."

"Citing the criticality of space domain awareness for everything the Space Force does, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said today that the service is concentrating on closing two key 'technology gaps' in its capabilities." #elaranova #researchanddevelopment #SpaceForce #USSF #Pentagon #spacetechnology #spaceindustry #commercialspace #militaryspace #internationalspace #aerospace #aerospaceindustry #innovation

Have you ever wondered how Cygnus™, Northrop Grumman's space logistics hero, manages to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) over 200 miles above Earth? Let's embark on a journey through some out-of-this-world facts about this spacecraft! 🌐 Cygnus has been a crucial part of over 18 successful missions, delivering a whopping 58,000 kg of supplies, equipment, and science experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). That's like sending a cosmic care package 200+ miles up! 🎁 🔧 With a design that evolves to meet customer needs, Cygnus has gained reboost capability, improved late-load capability, increased cargo mass capacity, and more. It's not just a delivery service; it's a space innovator! 🌠 🚀 Cygnus is laying the groundwork for the next generation of space exploration. From supporting commercial space stations to venturing into deep space logistics, it's shaping the future of cosmic missions. 🌌 Drop your thoughts below, and let's explore the wonders of space logistics together! #Cygnus #SpaceLogistics #NorthropGrumman #InnovationInSpace #StoriesofSpace Northrop Grumman