Air Force Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com Covering the business and politics of space Sat, 01 Mar 2025 12:19:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-SN_forza_star-32x32.png Air Force Archives - SpaceNews https://spacenews.com 32 32 80681979 Two senators question Air Force nominee’s SpaceX connections https://spacenews.com/two-senators-question-air-force-nominees-spacex-connections/ https://spacenews.com/two-senators-question-air-force-nominees-spacex-connections/#respond Fri, 28 Feb 2025 23:22:32 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=513714

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Meink seeking clarity on his relationship with SpaceX and its chief executive, Elon Musk

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Trump taps former Space Force commander for senior Air Force post https://spacenews.com/trump-taps-former-space-force-commander-for-senior-air-force-post/ https://spacenews.com/trump-taps-former-space-force-commander-for-senior-air-force-post/#respond Sat, 18 Jan 2025 23:58:07 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=511685

Matthew Lohmeier, a former Space Force commander who was removed from his post over his public criticism of military diversity initiatives, is Trump’s pick to be undersecretary of the Air Force

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Trump taps space and intelligence veteran Troy Meink as Air Force secretary https://spacenews.com/trump-taps-space-and-intelligence-veteran-troy-meink-as-air-force-secretary/ https://spacenews.com/trump-taps-space-and-intelligence-veteran-troy-meink-as-air-force-secretary/#respond Thu, 16 Jan 2025 21:52:31 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=511604

Meink currently serves as principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office

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Muon Space climate-monitoring satellites eyed for military applications https://spacenews.com/muon-space-climate-monitoring-satellites-eyed-for-military-applications/ https://spacenews.com/muon-space-climate-monitoring-satellites-eyed-for-military-applications/#respond Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:28:30 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=509742

The company won a $2.9M Space Force contract to study the company’s capabilities to image clouds and theater weather

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SES wins $46 million U.S. Air Force contract for satellite services https://spacenews.com/ses-wins-46-million-u-s-air-force-contract-for-satellite-services/ https://spacenews.com/ses-wins-46-million-u-s-air-force-contract-for-satellite-services/#respond Wed, 31 Jul 2024 08:15:30 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=497879

The multi-year agreement is for geostationary satellite communications services for the Air Force’s remotely piloted aircraft training and testing program

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Advancing defense: the GovCon impact on Air and Space Force reoptimization  https://spacenews.com/advancing-defense-govcon-impact-air-space-force-reoptimization/ https://spacenews.com/advancing-defense-govcon-impact-air-space-force-reoptimization/#respond Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:30:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=364523 Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisitions and integration, center, meets with U.S. Space Force officials at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. Credit: U.S. Space Force photo by Tiana Williams

The United States Air Force and Space Force's latest strategic pivot marks a transformative phase in defense readiness and competitive positioning, shaping a new landscape for government contractors.

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Startup pitches AI tool to prevent Pentagon procurement blunders https://spacenews.com/startup-pitches-ai-tool-to-prevent-pentagon-procurement-blunders/ https://spacenews.com/startup-pitches-ai-tool-to-prevent-pentagon-procurement-blunders/#respond Wed, 14 Feb 2024 22:55:49 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=346615

Company says AI can flag risks in procurements by analyzing historical data

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U.S. Air Force and Space Force to realign priorities https://spacenews.com/u-s-air-force-and-space-force-to-realign-priorities/ https://spacenews.com/u-s-air-force-and-space-force-to-realign-priorities/#respond Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:47:02 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=345847

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall: Changes are needed for the era of "great power competition"

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New rocket motor for U.S. Air Force ICBM completes ground test  https://spacenews.com/new-rocket-motor-for-u-s-air-force-icbm-completes-ground-test/ https://spacenews.com/new-rocket-motor-for-u-s-air-force-icbm-completes-ground-test/#respond Tue, 16 Jan 2024 16:47:16 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=228589

Northrop Grumman announced Jan. 16 it conducted a successful static fire test of the second-stage solid rocket motor for a new intercontinental ballistic missile the company is developing for the U.S. Air Force.

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Muon Space tapped by Air Force for cloud characterization from space https://spacenews.com/muon-space-tapped-by-air-force-for-cloud-characterization-from-space/ https://spacenews.com/muon-space-tapped-by-air-force-for-cloud-characterization-from-space/#respond Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=226500

The startup Muon Space announced Jan. 9 it will explore the use of climate-monitoring satellites to capture cloud characterization data for the U.S. Air Force.

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Umbra selected to demonstrate space-based radar to track moving targets https://spacenews.com/umbra-selected-to-demonstrate-space-based-radar-to-track-moving-targets/ https://spacenews.com/umbra-selected-to-demonstrate-space-based-radar-to-track-moving-targets/#respond Tue, 22 Aug 2023 16:33:33 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=176346

The U.S. Air Force awarded Umbra a $1.25 million contract to demonstrate the capabilities of space-based radar sensors to track moving targets on the ground.

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Starfish Space wins Air Force contract to develop satellite guidance software https://spacenews.com/starfish-space-wins-air-force-contract-to-develop-satellite-guidance-software/ https://spacenews.com/starfish-space-wins-air-force-contract-to-develop-satellite-guidance-software/#respond Tue, 08 Aug 2023 18:41:28 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=174094

Starfish Space has secured $1.8 million from the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX technology accelerator to develop its satellite guidance software, the in-orbit servicing startup announced Aug. 8.

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CesiumAstro to develop satcom terminal for U.S. Air Force drone https://spacenews.com/cesiumastro-to-develop-satcom-terminal-for-u-s-air-force-reaper-drone/ https://spacenews.com/cesiumastro-to-develop-satcom-terminal-for-u-s-air-force-reaper-drone/#respond Fri, 16 Jun 2023 11:22:24 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=163820 A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper sits on the runway at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 1, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Chris Jacobs/Released)

CesiumAstro won a U.S. Air Force contract to develop a phased array antenna for military drones.

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Zeno Power gets $30 million to build radioisotope-powered satellite for U.S. military https://spacenews.com/zeno-power-gets-30-million-to-build-radioisotope-powered-satellite-for-u-s-military/ https://spacenews.com/zeno-power-gets-30-million-to-build-radioisotope-powered-satellite-for-u-s-military/#respond Thu, 18 May 2023 13:11:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=157800

Zeno Power Systems, a startup developing a propulsion system that uses radioisotopes, was awarded a $30 million contract to demonstrate the technology on a U.S. military satellite.

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Raytheon to develop planning software for military cargo missions that would fly on space rockets https://spacenews.com/raytheon-to-develop-planning-software-for-military-cargo-missions-that-would-fly-on-space-rockets/ https://spacenews.com/raytheon-to-develop-planning-software-for-military-cargo-missions-that-would-fly-on-space-rockets/#respond Tue, 17 Jan 2023 20:27:22 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=136185

Raytheon won a $8.7 million contract to develop mission planning software for the U.S. Air Force rocket cargo program.

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DIU selects startups for U.S. military weather modeling project https://spacenews.com/diu-selects-startups-for-u-s-military-weather-modeling-project/ Wed, 26 Oct 2022 20:43:06 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=133455

The Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Air Force announced Oct. 26 they selected five companies to help build weather models using data from satellites, aerial and terrestrial sensors. 

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Lawmakers press Air Force for final decision on U.S. Space Command https://spacenews.com/lawmakers-press-air-force-for-final-decision-on-u-s-space-command/ Tue, 27 Sep 2022 10:00:33 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=132330

Colorado’s senators in a Sept. 27 to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall argue that a final basing decision on U.S. Space Command needs to be made as soon as possible in light of the Ukraine conflict and China’s expansion in the Pacific  

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SpaceX gets $1.9 million Air Force contract for Starlink services in Europe and Africa https://spacenews.com/spacex-gets-1-9-million-air-force-contract-for-starlink-services-in-europe-and-africa/ Mon, 15 Aug 2022 15:29:26 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=130629

The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command awarded SpaceX a $1.9 million one-year contract to provide Starlink internet services in Europe and Africa starting this month.

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Air Force completes draft environmental review of U.S. Space Command candidate locations https://spacenews.com/air-force-completes-draft-environmental-review-of-u-s-space-command-candidate-locations/ Wed, 13 Jul 2022 19:08:16 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=129549

A draft environmental assessment said the proposed relocation of U.S. Space Command to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, would have “no significant impacts on the human or natural environment.”

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U.S. Space Force sees future demand for surveillance beyond Earth orbit https://spacenews.com/u-s-space-force-sees-future-demand-for-surveillance-beyond-earth-orbit/ Mon, 16 May 2022 15:42:07 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=127749

Space Force Lt. Gen. Whiting said the U.S. military will likely have to pay more attention to what’s happening in cislunar space

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Air Force looking at next steps on Space Command basing decision https://spacenews.com/air-force-looking-at-next-steps-on-space-command-basing-decision/ Sat, 14 May 2022 16:43:02 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=127737

“We're all hoping to move forward with a final decision as quickly as we can," Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said regarding the relocation of U.S. Space Command

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Calvelli to assume duties as U.S. Air Force’s space acquisition executive https://spacenews.com/calvelli-to-assume-duties-as-u-s-air-forces-space-acquisition-executive/ Mon, 02 May 2022 20:20:27 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=127228

After being confirmed by the Senate, Frank Calvelli will be sworn in as assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration

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Kendall: Space ‘order of battle’ a top priority in U.S. defense budget and strategy https://spacenews.com/kendall-space-order-of-battle-a-top-priority-in-u-s-defense-budget-and-strategy/ Thu, 03 Mar 2022 21:00:13 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=124844

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said the ‘space order of battle’ is driving budget discussions in preparation for the 2024 request. 

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Space acquisition nominee: Satellites must be defended, ‘the economy depends on space’ https://spacenews.com/space-acquisitions-nominee-satellites-must-be-defended-the-economy-depends-on-space/ Thu, 17 Feb 2022 19:36:12 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=124225

Frank Calvelli, nominated by President Biden to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, said Feb. 17 that the United States needs to move quickly to protect satellites so they can be “counted on during times of crisis and conflict.”

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