Lockheed Martin announced a new initiative, “AI Fight Club,” a virtual battleground designed to test artificial intelligence algorithms intended for military applications. The program, unveiled June 3 by John Clark, Lockheed’s senior vice president of technology and strategic innovation, seeks to create a government-standard digital proving ground spanning air, land, sea, and space operations. Speaking at an AI conference hosted by the nonprofit Special Competitive Studies Project, Clark highlighted the need for a dedicated test and evaluation environment as AI increasingly shapes warfare. “That requires us to have a test and evaluation ground so that all of the algorithms, all…
Author: Jordan Clarke
China successfully launched its ninth orbital mission of the month early Thursday, sending the experimental Shijian-26 spacecraft into orbit aboard a Long March 4B rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The rocket lifted off at 12:12 a.m. Eastern (0412 UTC) May 29, with insulation tiles visibly shedding from the payload fairing during ascent through a cloudy sky. The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), which provided the Long March 4B booster, confirmed mission success within an hour of liftoff. SAST disclosed that the payload was the previously unpublicized Shijian-26 satellite. No images or further technical details…
Chinese commercial satellite manufacturer MinoSpace has won a contract valued at 804 million yuan ($111 million) to construct a remote sensing satellite constellation for Sichuan Province, marking a significant step in the country’s growing use of private firms in national space infrastructure projects. The deal, announced May 18 by the National Public Resources Trading Platform in Sichuan and reported by the Economic Observer, involves the development of a “space satellite constellation” approved by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s top economic planning agency. The project aligns with China’s broader goals of enhancing satellite internet and remote sensing infrastructure.…
Dawn Aerospace announced on Wednesday that it has begun accepting orders for its Aurora spaceplane, a reusable suborbital vehicle designed to carry small payloads into near-space, with first customer deliveries expected in 2027. The New Zealand-based aerospace company is positioning the Aurora as a commercially operated spaceplane, diverging from the conventional model of offering launch services. Instead, Dawn plans to sell the vehicle directly to organizations that will operate it themselves, aiming to scale up access to suborbital spaceflight using a model similar to commercial aviation. “There are many out there who would love to have this capability and be…
Boeing has expressed interest in advancing space-based missile defense systems as part of a broader military strategy to address increasing missile threats. Following President Donald Trump’s executive order on the creation of a U.S. missile defense shield, which includes space-based boost-phase interceptors, critics of the initiative have revived concerns reminiscent of the 1980s. These concerns focus on the high cost, technical challenges, and potential destabilization of global nuclear deterrence. While these issues persist, experts argue that a space-based missile defense system is worth reconsidering in light of evolving technological and geopolitical shifts. The debate surrounding space-based missile defense systems is…
Thales Alenia Space has been awarded a contract valued at nearly $900 million to develop the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Argonaut cargo lander, a key component for upcoming lunar missions set to begin in the 2030s. The contract, announced on January 30, covers mission design and the integration of the LDE, which will be responsible for transporting and safely landing payloads on the Moon. The LDE will be accompanied by an adaptable interface element, capable of supporting a wide range of scientific and cargo payloads. This flexibility is intended to support various missions, including…
President Donald Trump has called on SpaceX to bring two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, back from the International Space Station (ISS) “as soon as possible,” despite plans already being in place for their return in the coming months. Trump’s remarks sparked confusion in the space industry, with questions raised about the timing and accuracy of his statement. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk echoed Trump’s comments on January 28, posting on social media that the president had requested SpaceX to return the astronauts, whom he described as “virtually abandoned” by the Biden administration. “The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to…
Blue Origin announced it is ready to proceed with the inaugural launch of its New Glenn rocket following a successful static-fire test of the rocket’s first stage on December 27. The test, conducted at Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, came shortly after the company secured a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The static-fire test involved igniting all seven BE-4 engines on New Glenn’s first stage for 24 seconds, including 13 seconds at full thrust. The company confirmed that the test met its objectives, validating both vehicle and ground systems and demonstrating readiness…
Airbus Defense and Space has secured a $2.5 billion contract from the German military to develop and deliver next-generation communications satellites, known as SATCOMBw 3, aimed at bolstering the Bundeswehr’s satellite communications system. Announced on July 4, the deal encompasses the development and deployment of two geostationary satellites, along with upgrades to the ground segment, launch services, and 15 years of operational support. These satellites are scheduled to replace the aging SATCOMBw 2 system, originally delivered by Airbus 15 years ago, and are expected to be operational before the end of the decade. According to Airbus, SATCOMBw 3 represents a…
Bulgarian cubesat specialist EnduroSat announced on July 3 its collaboration with Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) to develop Botsat-1, Botswana’s inaugural satellite. The partnership will see engineers from BIUST join EnduroSat’s team in Bulgaria to work on the three-unit (3U) cubesat, scheduled for launch aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-13 rideshare mission in February. “Botsat-1 will be equipped with a hyperspectral sensor to collect ground composition data crucial for Botswana’s mining and agriculture industries,” EnduroSat stated. Botswana, recognized as the world’s leading producer of diamonds by value, faces economic pressures to diversify amidst fluctuations in global diamond markets, which contribute…