Image Credit: Lockheed MartinMarch 29, 2020 – The final steps to fully-enable the ultra-secure, jam-resistant Military Code (M-Code) signal on the Global Positioning System (GPS) are now underway. As part of the U.S. military’s effort to modernize GPS, the U.S. Space Force has been steadily upgrading its existing GPS Ground Operational Control System (OCS). The Space Force recently announced Operational Acceptance of the GPS Contingency Operations (COps) upgrade, developed by Lockheed Martin. COps enabled control of the operational GPS constellation, now containing 21 M-Code capable ..read more

Space Fence facility – Kwajalein Island. Image Credit: Lockheed MartinMarch 29, 2020 – United States Space Force officials formally declared initial operational capability and operational acceptance of the Space Fence radar system, located on Kwajalein Island in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, March 27, 2020. Space Fence provides significantly improved space surveillance capabilities to detect and track orbiting objects such as commercial and military satellites, depleted rocket boosters and space debris in low, medium, and geosynchronous Earth orbit regimes. “Space Fence is revolu ..read more

The sixth Lockheed Martin-built Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) protected communications satellite launched on March 26. Image Credit: Lockheed Martin March 28, 2020 – The first national security launch for the U.S. Space Force and the final satellite to build out the protected communications constellation is now connected. The sixth Lockheed Martin-built Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) satellite launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida at 2:18 p.m. MT.  AEHF-6 successfully separated from its United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket approximately ..read more

Illustration of the SpaceX Dragon XL as it is deployed from the Falcon Heavy’s second stage in high Earth orbit on its way to the Gateway in lunar orbit. Image Credit: SpaceX March 28, 2020 – NASA has selected SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, as the first U.S. commercial provider under the Gateway Logistics Services contract to deliver cargo, experiments and other supplies to the agency’s Gateway in lunar orbit. The award is a significant step forward for NASA’s Artemis program that will land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024 and build a sustainable human lunar presence. A ..read more

Image Credit: United Launch Alliance March 27, 2020 – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) communications satellite for the U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 on March 26 at 2:18 p.m. MDT. This marks the 83rd successful launch of an Atlas V rocket, 138th launch for ULA and first mission for the U.S. Space Force. “The success of today’s launch is the culmination of years of dedication, hard work and teamwork with several of our mission partners,” said Gen. Jay Raym ..read more

Notional illustration of protected military communications satellite. Image Credit: Lockheed Martin March 28, 2020 – SEAKR Engineering has been selected to join Lockheed Martin’s team to help design and build a prototype payload for the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical Satellite Communications (SATCOM), or PTS, program. PTS is a next-generation capability connecting warfighters with more agile and jam-resistant SATCOM. The complete system will deploy a constellation of dedicated geostationary satellites, commercially hosted payloads, and coalition partner satellites integrated th ..read more

Lockheed Martin’s sixth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) protected communications satellite is encapsulated in its protective fairings ahead of its expected March 26 launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Image Credit: Lockheed Martin March 25, 2020 – The sixth Lockheed Martin-built Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-6) protected communications satellite is encapsulated in its protective fairings and mounted atop its rocket in preparation for its planned March 26 launch. The AEHF-6 satellite will bring additional capabilities and resilience to the constell ..read more

Image Credit: NASA/Marvin SmithMarch 24, 2020 – After four months of rigorous testing in the world’s premier space environments simulation facility at NASA’s Plum Brook Station, the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission is certified and another step toward being ready for flight. The test campaign, which was completed ahead of schedule in mid-March, subjected the spacecraft to the extreme temperatures and electromagnetic conditions it will endure during its uncrewed test flight around the Moon and back to ensure it will perform as designed. The spacecraft will fly back to NASA’s ..read more

March 24, 2020 – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is in 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 launch is on track for March 26 at Space Launch Complex-41 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Launch is planned for 12:57 p.m. MDT at the opening of a two-hour launch window. The live launch broadcast begins at 12:37 p.m. MDT on www.ulalaunch.com. The launch of AEHF-6 will mark the 138th launch for ULA and first National Security Space mission for the U.S ..read more

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