TYB
Happy V-Day to all the lovely patriots
I'd still like to see a batch of 8kun 8chan silver rounds.
It might be a bitch to get off the ground though.
>The 51st state
https://www.nasa.gov/general/nasa-tests-drones-to-provide-micrometeorology-aid-in-fire-response/
https://www.nasa.gov/gallery/firesense-missoula-deployment-photo-gallery/
NASA Tests Drones to Provide Micrometeorology, Aid in Fire Response
Feb 13, 2025
In Aug. 2024, a team of NASA researchers and partners gathered in Missoula, to test new drone-based technology for localized forecasting, or micrometeorology.
Researchers attached wind sensors to a drone, NASA’s Alta X quadcopter, aiming to provide precise and sustainable meteorological data to help predict fire behavior.
Wildfires are increasing in number and severity around the world, including the United States, and wind is a major factor.
It leads to unexpected and unpredictable fire growth, public threats, and fire fatalities, making micrometeorology a very effective tool to combat fire.
The campaign was run by NASA’s FireSense project, focused on addressing challenges in wildland fire management by putting NASA science and technology in the hands of operational agencies.
“Ensuring that the new technology will be easily adoptable by operational agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the National Weather Service was another primary goal of the campaign,” said Jacquelyn Shuman, FireSense project scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.
The FireSense team chose the Alta X drone because the U.S. Forest Service already has a fleet of the quadcopters and trained drone pilots, which could make integrating the needed sensors – and the accompanying infrastructure – much easier and more cost-effective for the agency.
The choice of the two sensors for the drone’s payload was also driven by their adoptability.
The first, called a radiosonde, measures wind direction and speed, humidity, temperature, and pressure, and is used daily by the National Weather Service.
The other sensor, an anemometer, measures wind speed and direction, and is used at weather stations and airports around the world.
“Anemometers are everywhere, but are usually stationary,” said Robert McSwain, the FireSense uncrewed aerial system (UAS) lead, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
“We are taking a sensor type that is already used all over the world, and giving it wings.”
Both sensors create datasets that are already familiar to meteorologists worldwide, which opens up the potential applications of the platform.
Current Forecasting Methods: Weather Balloons
Traditionally, global weather forecasting data is gathered by attaching a radiosonde to a weather balloon and releasing it into the air.
This system works well for regional weather forecasts. But the rapidly changing environment of wildland fire requires more recurrent, pinpointed forecasts to accurately predict fire behavior. It’s the perfect niche for a drone.
“These drones are not meant to replace the weather balloons,” said Jennifer Fowler, FireSense’s project manager at Langley.
“The goal is to create a drop-in solution to get more frequent, localized data for wildfires – not to replace all weather forecasting.”
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Provide Control, Repeat Testing, Sustainability
Drones can be piloted to keep making measurements over a precise location – an on-site forecaster could fly one every couple of hours as conditions change – and gather timely data to help determine how weather will impact the direction and speed of a fire.
Fire crews on the ground may need this information to make quick decisions about where to deploy firefighters and resources, draw fire lines, and protect nearby communities.
A reusable platform, like a drone, also reduces the financial and environmental impact of forecasting flights.
“A weather balloon is going to be a one-off, and the attached sensor won’t be recovered,” Fowler said. “The instrumented drone, on the other hand, can be flown repeatedly.”
The Missoula Campaign
Before such technology can be sent out to a fire, it needs to be tested. That’s what the FireSense team did this summer.
McSwain described the conditions in Missoula as an “alignment of stars” for the research: the complex mountain terrain produces erratic, historically unpredictable winds, and the sparsity of monitoring instruments on the ground makes weather forecasting very difficult.
During the three-day campaign, several fires burned nearby, which allowed researchers to test how the drones performed in smokey conditions.
A drone team out of NASA Langley conducted eight data-collection flights in Missoula. Before each drone flight, student teams from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, and Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana, launched a weather balloon carrying the same type of radiometer.
Once those data sets were created, they needed to be transformed into a usable format. Meteorologists are used to the numbers, but incident commanders on an active fire need to see the data in a form that allows them to quickly understand which conditions are changing, and how. That’s where data visualization partners come in. For the Missoula campaign, teams from MITRE, NVIDIA, and Esri joined NASA in the field.
Measurements from both the balloon and the drone platforms were immediately sent to the on-site data teams.
The MITRE team, together with NVIDIA, tested high-resolution artificial intelligence meteorological models, while the Esri team created comprehensive visualizations of flight paths, temperatures, and wind speed and direction.
These visual representations of the data make conclusions more immediately apparent to non-meteorologists.
What’s Next?
Development of drone capabilities for fire monitoring didn’t begin in Missoula, and it won’t end there.
“This campaign leveraged almost a decade of research, development, engineering, and testing,” said McSwain. “We have built up a UAS flight capability that can now be used across NASA.”
The NASA Alta X and its sensor payload will head to Alabama and Florida in spring 2025, incorporating improvements identified in Montana.
There, the team will perform another technology demonstration with wildland fire managers from a different region.
To view more photos from the FireSense campaign visit: https://nasa.gov/firesense
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Space Norway launches “Arctic Way”: the world’s northernmost subsea cable system
Feb 14 2025 at 10:40 AM
Space Norway is set to establish new high-speed connection from the Norwegian mainland to Jan Mayen and Svalbard.
Space Norway has signed a contract with SubCom for the full system supply of the Arctic Way Cable System, including survey, design, manufacturing, and installation.
Scheduled to commence service in 2028, this new system will become a critical asset for transmitting data traffic between the mainland, Jan Mayen, and Svalbard archipelago.
"Space Norway owns, develops and manages critical space infrastructure and subsea cable systems.
Establishing this new cable system is imperative to ensure uninterrupted connectivity for the Arctic community and to support Norway's strategic interests.
With SubCom’s proven track record in managing Arctic projects, they are the optimal partner for this significant program," says Morten Tengs, CEO of Space Norway.
"SubCom has maintained a successful relationship with Space Norway for decades, including our participation in the supply of the original Svalbard cable system," said David Coughlan, CEO of SubCom.
"Our experience with the customer and our expertise in the region - one of the most unique marine environments on the planet - will enable SubCom to efficiently produce and deploy this critical subsea cable infrastructure on behalf of Space Norway."
"While establishing new fibre infrastructure, we will continue to utilise the two existing cables to Svalbard as long as they remain functional, serving as a backup for Arctic Way.
Although these cables are approaching the end of their 25-year service lifespan, we expect them to remain operational for several years past 2028," explains Rune Jensen, Director of Subsea Cable Systems at Space Norway.
https://www.ajot.com/news/space-norway-launches-arctic-way-the-worlds-northernmost-subsea-cable-system
https://spacenorway.com/
First astronaut with disability prepares to launch into space for ISS mission
February 14, 2025
The first-ever astronaut with a physical disability is ready to launch into space after receiving a green light for a mission onboard the International Space Station (ISS), the European Space Agency (ESA) announced on Friday.
John McFall is a British surgeon and former Paralympian who lost a leg in a motorbike accident when he was 19-years-old, says he is "hugely proud" of clearing the hurdle.
Since the ESA announced McFall as a member of its astronaut reserve in 2022, it has been assessing the feasibility of someone with a prosthesis becoming a crew member on a space mission.
On Friday, the ESA announced that McFall had received medical clearance for a long-duration mission onboard the ISS.
McFall emphasised that he was "relatively passive" in the process, and just had to be medically healthy and carry out the required tasks.
"This is way bigger than me — this is a cultural shift," he told an online press conference.
There is no date yet for when McFall will get his chance to become what the ESA has dubbed the first "parastronaut".
"Now he's an astronaut like everybody else who wants to fly to the space station, waiting for a mission assignment," the ESA's director of human and robotic exploration, Daniel Neuenschwander, said.
The ESA's announcement comes as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have come under attack from the new US administration of Donald Trump.
"We are now entering a world which is changing a bit from a DEI perspective from one of our partners of the International Space Station," Neuenschwander said.
"We will continue with our European values," he emphasised, adding that all ISS partners — which includes the United States — had given McFall medical clearance.
The next phase of the feasibility study will look at some of the hardware needed, including prosthetics, so that McFall can best overcome any additional challenges in space.
McFall said that technologies they are working on "are going to trickle down and have benefits for prosthetic users in wider society as well".
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1282789-first-disable-astronaut-prepares-to-launch-into-space-for-iss-mission
Tom Hanks brings immersive film ‘The Moonwalkers’ to Space Center Houston
February 14, 2025
A Tom Hanks-narrated film about humanity’s past and future on the moon is now playing at Space Center Houston.
“The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks” takes viewers on an immersive lunar experience, linking NASA’s Apollo Program that landed men on the moon between 1969 and 1972 with the agency’s Artemis Program that’s striving to return humans to the moon this decade.
The film shows actual footage from Apollo missions and conducts interviews with the Artemis II astronauts who are slated to circle the moon next year.
These are projected on the front and side walls, as well as the floor.
“It is an immersive experience,” said Space Center Houston CEO William Harris. “It gives you that sense as if you are on the lunar surface.”
Hanks — who previously spent time in Houston to film “Apollo 13” — co-wrote the film with Christopher Riley, a documentary film director and writer who specializes in science, engineering and history.
The film includes images from Andy Saunders’ "Apollo Remastered," where images from Apollo flight film have been digitally remastered to produce high-quality photos.
“The Moonwalkers” debuted in London and became available to visitors at Space Center Houston on Friday.
The film is about 50 minutes long and will run multiple times a day. It’s included in the ticket when visiting Space Center Houston.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/tom-hanks-brings-immersive-film-the-moonwalkers-to-space-center-houston/ar-AA1z2KBA
https://spacecenter.org/exhibits-and-experiences/moonwalkers/
Elon Musk’s ‘space relic’ gift to PM Modi during US visit
Feb 14, 2025, 11:49 IST
During his two-day visit to the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, where their discussions covered key areas like space, technology, and innovation.
However, what grabbed attention online was Musk’s unique gift to the PM.
The world’s richest man presented PM Modi with a gift, speculated to be a heat shield tile that flew on SpaceX’s Starship flight test 5 which took place October last year.
The object was engraved with the words: "Starship flight test 5, October 12, 2024."
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/elon-musks-space-relic-gift-to-pm-modi-during-us-visit/articleshow/118236109.cms
https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1890269134103146712
Pierogi in space
14/02/2025
In a first for space cuisine, ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will bring pierogi, the traditional Polish dumplings, to the International Space Station during the upcoming Axiom Mission 4.
Sławosz is bringing a taste of home to space with a special menu created together with a celebrity chef and a family-owned company in Poland.
The food selection includes pierogi stuffed with cabbage and mushrooms, tomato soup with noodles, Polish “leczo” stew with buckwheat, and apple crumble for dessert.
Taste of Poland in space
Any food delivered to the International Space Station must be crumb-free, lightweight and keep for at least 24 months.
Most of the space menu consists of canned or freeze-dried meals in plastic packages. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a luxury, only available when a spacecraft arrives with new supplies.
Bonus food catered for specific crew members makes up around 10 percent of their menu.
Astronauts say this bonus food adds variety to their dishes, boosts their mental wellbeing and helps them bond with the crew in orbit.
“I wanted a truly Polish menu that I could share with my fellow astronauts. Food brings psychological comfort, and I instantly thought it would be worth taking some Polish delicacies into orbit,” says Sławosz.
The pierogi challenge
Pierogi have been part of Polish cuisine since the 13th century. These dumplings remain a staple of Polish home cooking and an essential part of Christmas Eve celebrations.
“When I heard about the possibility of choosing my bonus food menu, pierogi were always at the top of my list! I like to make them myself,” explains Sławosz.
The Polish astronaut, who will be conducting over a dozen technological and scientific experiments during the Ignis mission, met an unexpected challenge with his beloved pierogi.
“The first batches kept bursting! It was not only about cooking the food, it was also the technological process behind.
It took us a while to master freeze-drying, to remove moisture from the stuffing through the dough and to dispose of the water left after rehydration,” he admits.
Freeze-drying is a long process that completely removes any water from the food, maintaining its properties and structure for years.
Sławosz partnered with Polish family business LYOFOOD, a small company with over three decades of experience with freeze-drying technology that helped to find a solution for pierogi to be enjoyed after adding hot water from the dispensers on the Space Station.
Renowned Polish chef and restaurateur Mateusz Gessler created the main three dishes, while the apple crumble dessert is part of LYOFOOD’s menu.
Ignis menu
Pierogi with cabbage and mushrooms
Tomato soup with noodles
Polish “leczo” stew with buckwheat
Apple crumble
Food in space
Microgravity has an impact on bone density, muscle tone and nutrients, and it becomes vital that Sławosz's diet contains the fuel he needs.
An astronaut’s space menu comprises a range of food designed to meet nutritional and operational requirements on board.
Teams on the ground start selecting meals months in advance because food must be sent to the lab for safety and nutritional testing after being freeze-dried, thermostabilised or vacuum-packed.
Before his Ignis mission takes off, Sławosz participated in several space food tasting sessions and rated food and drinks.
This helped determine what dishes will be included in their basic food supply throughout the mission.
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Pierogi_in_space
Moon or Mars? Why not both, acting NASA head Janet Petro says
February 13, 2025
NASA still has the moon in its crosshairs.
The agency has been working to return astronauts to the moon via its Artemis program, which was established in late 2017 in response to a directive from then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Establishing a sustainable human presence on and around our natural satellite will help us make the next giant leap — the one to Mars, NASA officials have long said.
Recent statements by Trump — who was just elected to his second term, and his close adviser Elon Musk have called this "stepping stone" approach into question — however.
In his inaugural address last month, for example, Trump focused on the Red Planet, saying that the United States "will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars."
And Musk — the SpaceX founder and CEO whose "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) is currently auditing (and slashing) the federal bureaucracy — deemed the moon "a distraction" in a December 2024 X post, saying, "we're going straight to Mars."
(That was apparently a reference to SpaceX's internal plans, not those of NASA. But Musk seems to have Trump's ear on many issues, and SpaceX and NASA are key partners on the Artemis program.)
Nothing has officially changed with Artemis yet, however. Indeed, the moon is still a big part of NASA's human spaceflight plans, according to acting NASA administrator Janet Petro.
Petro spoke here on Wednesday (Feb. 12) at the 27th annual Commercial Space Conference in a "fireside chat" with Dave Cavossa, president of the Commercial Space Federation.
Among other questions, Cavossa asked Petro what she would regard as a "defining success" of NASA's collaborations with commercial partners 10 to 20 years from now.
Petro cited a robust network of private space stations in low Earth orbit, as well as "boots on Mars," which she described as a "super exciting" prospect.
But she also gave some love to Earth's nearest neighbor: "Many, many, many boots on the moon — that, to me, would be incredible to see."
Petro — the first woman to ever lead NASA — steered clear of politics during the 25-minute chat.
She didn't discuss DOGE's plans for NASA, for example, or how the Trump administration's anti-DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) push is affecting the agency.
It's unclear how long Petro will direct the agency.
Trump has nominated billionaire tech entrepreneur, philanthropist and private astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead NASA on a permanent basis.
Isaacman still needs to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, however.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/moon/moon-or-mars-why-not-both-acting-nasa-head-janet-petro-says
BlackSky to support India’s first private Earth observation constellation
February 13, 2025
U.S.-based Earth observation company BlackSky has been tapped to supply satellite imagery, analytics services, and a high-resolution optical satellite as part of a broader effort led by European aerospace firm Thales Alenia Space to develop a sovereign remote sensing constellation for India’s Nibe Ltd., a growing player in the country’s aerospace and defense industry.
The deal, announced last week by Thales Alenia Space, marks a significant step in India’s ambitions to develop its first private Earth observation satellite network.
Under the agreement, Thales Alenia will produce a high-resolution optical satellite, the first of what is expected to be a larger constellation designed to provide critical intelligence for India’s national security and defense agencies.
Nibe, a defense conglomerate with a strong foothold in India’s security sector, is spearheading the initiative through its subsidiary NIBE Space.
The company aims to establish an independent space-based monitoring system, positioning itself as a key supplier of satellite intelligence to India’s government and military.
The BlackSky-Thales Alenia collaboration in India mirrors a similar agreement the two companies forged last year with the Republic of Indonesia.
As part of the new partnership, BlackSky will assist Thales Alenia in laying the foundation for India’s sovereign Earth observation capabilities, bringing its expertise in geospatial intelligence to the table.
“The customer has taken an innovative two-part adoption approach toward accelerating its space-based monitoring capabilities by first taking advantage of our commercially operated model for on-orbit sensor systems,” Brian O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky, said in a news release Feb. 13.
BlackSky, which operates a fleet of small satellites capable of capturing real-time imagery of the Earth, leverages artificial intelligence to analyze vast amounts of geospatial data.
The company’s satellites can revisit locations multiple times a day, identifying changes and potential security threats with high precision.
In addition to supplying imaging and analytics services, BlackSky will deliver a high-resolution satellite to Thales Alenia for India’s project, along with launch support and on-orbit maintenance.
BlackSky and Thales Alenia were previously joint owners of the satellite manufacturing firm LeoStella, based in Tukwila, Washington, before BlackSky acquired full ownership in November.
The deal reflects a growing trend where nations are turning to commercial space companies not only for imagery and analytics but also to develop domestic satellite capabilities.
This hybrid approach allows countries to access immediate surveillance capabilities while building long-term sovereign space assets.
https://spacenews.com/blacksky-to-support-indias-first-private-earth-observation-constellation/
https://spacenews.com/congress-seeks-nasa-authorization-commercial-space-bills/
https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-appropriations.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/committee-chair-letters.pdf
Congress seeks NASA authorization, commercial space bills
Feb 14, 2025
The chairs of the congressional committees that oversee civil and commercial spaceflight say their priorities for the new Congress include a NASA authorization bill and commercial space legislation.
In back-to-back speeches at the 27th Annual Commercial Space Conference here Feb. 12, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas), chairman of the House Science Committee, outlined similar plans for legislation involving NASA and commercial space activities.
One is a NASA authorization bill. A standalone NASA authorization was last signed into law in 2017, although one was included in the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022. Such bills help define agency policies and programs.
Cruz was one of the sponsors of a Senate NASA authorization bill introduced in December in the final days of the 118th Congress. “I plan to reintroduce this bill very soon and will work vigorously to push it forward and have it signed into law,” he said at the conference.
A priority for him in that bill is managing the transition from the International Space Station to commercial space stations in low Earth orbit.
The bill “would not only ensure that we have no gap in capability after ISS but would enshrine in statute that it is the official position of the United States to maintain a continuous human presence in LEO,” he said.
“Abandoning LEO in some well-intentioned but misguided effort to focus only on the moon or only on Mars would only allow China to fill that void, driving a wedge between the United States and our partners,” he added. “That’s a path that we’re not going to take.”
Babin said a NASA authorization bill is also a priority for his committee, suggesting it would ensure that the agency remains focused on a return to the moon amid speculation that the Trump administration might shift its emphasis to Mars.
“My top priority is ensuring that U.S. astronauts return to the lunar surface and that we do so before the CCP,” or Chinese Communist Party, he said.
“We will use the moon as a proving ground, allowing us to develop and test technologies needed for future deep space missions, including our ultimate goal of landing humans on Mars.”
Like Cruz, Babin said his committee’s bill will examine the ISS transition.
“We must give careful thought to how both the International Space Station and upcoming commercial platforms can play a role in accomplishing the United States’ objectives in low Earth orbit,” he said.
“All of this must be accomplished in a funding environment that does not rely on significant budget increases.”
In the previous Congress, Babin introduced a commercial space bill that addressed, among other issues, the long-standing challenge of “mission authorization,” or how the United States regulates commercial space activities beyond traditional uses like launch, communications and remote sensing.
That bill was approved on a party-line vote by the committee in November 2023 but did not advance further.
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Babin argued that bill offered a “straightforward approach” to mission authorization that would have given that responsibility to the Commerce Department.
By contrast, a proposal by the Biden administration would have split those responsibilities between the Commerce and Transportation Departments.
“If the United States seeks to be the forum of choice for space operations, it’s critical that we facilitate space commerce by establishing appropriate frameworks for commercial space operators,” he said.
Babin said he will reintroduce commercial space legislation “this very year” to address mission authorization and other issues, like the Commerce Department’s implementation of a civil space traffic coordination system.
Cruz said such issues would be a priority for his committee as well.
“It is long past time for Congress not just to debate whether the existing regulatory and governance structures set the commercial space industry up for success but actually take decisive action to ensure that they do,” he said.
That could include, he suggested, moving the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation out of the agency and making it a standalone entity under the Secretary of Transportation, which is how the office was originally established in the mid-1980s before being moved into FAA a decade later.
While NASA authorization and commercial space bills have been introduced in previous Congresses, only to languish in committees or fail to be reconciled with bills from the opposite chamber, there may be a new incentive to get at least a NASA authorization bill passed this year.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, sent letters to chairs of other committees, including Babin, Feb. 6.
In the letters, he noted that appropriators planned to start work on the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process in late April, an early start given that work on 2025 appropriations is not yet complete.
He added in the letter to Babin that both NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have lapsed authorizations.
“As you begin to implement your legislative priorities in the 119th Congress, I know that you will keep these programs in mind,” Cole wrote.
The implication of that language, sources said, is that a lack of an authorization could make those agencies vulnerable to significant spending cuts, either by the committee or by the White House.
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USAF backs space energy grid with Star Catcher SBIR Phase I
February 14, 2025
Star Catcher has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract by AFWERX to further develop space-to-space power beaming technology, aimed at enhancing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft.
The initiative is a response to the US Department of the Air Force’s need to augment satellite power capabilities to address immediate operational demands and counter increasing threats from nations such as China and Russia.
The company is in the process of creating the Star Catcher Network, which is said to be the first space energy grid.
This network’s objective is to overcome the current power constraints faced by satellites and other spacecraft.
Once operational, the Star Catcher Network intends to transmit broad spectrum energy to spacecraft situated in LEO and potentially further afield.
The network is designed to supply on-demand energy to the solar arrays of client spacecraft, providing them energy concentrations that surpass what the Sun can offer.
The company notes that this will enable the spacecraft to generate between five and ten times more power without the need for retrofitting.
The enhanced power supply is expected to support more demanding payloads, increase operational uptime, facilitate real-time data processing, and enable the execution of more complex missions.
This energy grid will simplify designs and reduce initial costs associated with larger satellite buses and solar arrays.
Star Catcher CEO Andrew Rush said: “This contract marks a significant step toward realizing our vision of a space energy grid.
“Space-to-space power beaming is key infrastructure that will fundamentally change how spacecraft access power, enhancing operational capabilities and resilience for both defence and commercial applications.”
The collaboration between the Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX is focused on improving the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer programmes.
Their goal is to expedite the process for small businesses from proposal submission to contract award.
It also aims to broaden the opportunities available to them and reduce administrative burdens by seeking and applying process efficiencies in contract management.
Previously, AFWERX chose Knightscope for a Phase I SBIR contract to enhance and fine-tune security measures at US Air Force installations.
https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/usaf-star-catcher-sbir-phase-i/?cf-view
Space Systems Command advances Tactically Responsive Space capabilities to enable faster, more agile response to on-orbit threats
Feb. 13, 2025
Summary: Launch service contract awarded to Firefly Aerospace for USSF’s newest Tactically Responsive Space mission provides dedicated and primary launch services to the Department of Defense (DoD) and other Government agencies.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – The United States Space Force (USSF)’s Space Systems Command (SSC) took the next step in advancing its ability to deliver fast and more agile in-orbit response capabilities to warfighters.
The Command awarded a launch service contract to Firefly Aerospace for $21.81 million for VICTUS SOL, the USSF’s newest Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission.
SSC’s Space Safari program office is the end-to-end mission lead for the TacRS mission, and SSC’s Small Launch and Targets division within the Assured Access to Space enterprise is responsible for procuring and executing the VICTUS SOL launch service using the Orbital Services Program (OSP)-4 contract.
OSP-4 provides dedicated and primary launch services to the DoD and other Government agencies.
Space Safari will oversee procurement of the VICTUS SOL space and ground segments, end-to-end integration, and operational support.
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force’s field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to protect our nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space.
SSC manages a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, academic and allied organizations to outpace emerging threats.
Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4066907/space-systems-command-advances-tactically-responsive-space-capabilities-to-enab
Third Annual Theater Space Forum boosts collaboration
Feb. 13, 2025
U.S. Space Forces - Central recently hosted the third annual U.S. Central Command Theater Space Forum, February 4-6, bringing together a record number of over 150 space experts from all branches of the U.S. Department of Defense, multiple combatant commands, and partner nations.
Building on the success of previous years, the forum provided a platform for SPACECENT to share its expertise and lessons learned from current operations in the region.
The forum built on the knowledge from the past three iterations and focused on enhancing intel and cyber operations, theater engagement strategy, cross-component integration, and strengthening collaboration between the U.S. and partner nations.
Working groups were formed to leverage the collective expertise of participants and forge new relationships, driving innovation and speed in operations.
U.S. Space Force Col. Christopher S. Putman, SPACECENT Commander, noted the forum demonstrated the importance of integrating space activities into joint operations and the value of collaboration with international partners.
"As we continue to operate in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment, it's crucial that we work together to improve our space-based capabilities through collaborative processes," Putman said.
The success of the third annual Theater Space Forum underscores the growing importance of space operations in maintaining regional stability and the commitment of the U.S. and its partner nations to enhancing space capabilities through collaboration and innovation.
https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/4067354/third-annual-theater-space-forum-boosts-collaboration/
Canadian charged with illegally flying drone over Patrick Space Force, launch sites
Updated 10:20 a.m. Feb 14, 2025
A Canadian man faces several charges after federal prosecutors say he used an unmanned drone to photograph sensitive military sites in Brevard, including Patrick Space Force Base, a submarine wharf and a space launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base.
Xiao Guang Pan — whose Instagram page describes him as photographer and licensed drone pilot — was charged earlier this week with three counts of using an unmanned aircraft to photograph the Brevard-based defense installations without authorization from federal officials. Taking unauthorized photos of defense installations is prohibited by federal law.
Prosecutors said Pan, 71, was in the U.S. on a tourist visa. He was expected to go before a federal judge Friday.
Pan, if convicted in federal court, could face up to one year in federal prison on each county.
Drone sightings in New Jersey
The drone was flown over the sites on three separate days in January. No motives were ascribed to the flyovers in federal court documents filed in the case.
Details of how the drone incursions were tracked and traced back to Pan were not immediately released.
The incidents at Brevard's military installations — investigated by Homeland Security, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the FBI — came after several military bases in the northeast reported mystery drones along with a rash of reported sightings in New Jersey.
In January, the White House issued a statement saying the bulk of the sightings were government-related.
“After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said as questions mounted about the incidents.
In December, federal prosecutors charged a northern California man with flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base, the Justice Department reported.
Yinpiao Zhou, 39, was charged with failure to register an aircraft not providing transportation and violation of national defense airspace.
He was placed into federal custody. In that case, Vandenberg’s drone detection systems tracked a drone that flew for over an hour about one mile above ground, according to the Justice Department.
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/crime/2025/02/14/prosecutors-canadian-drone-photograph-brevard-military-sites-patrick-space-force-base-launch-complex/78573177007/
Not a drone: NJ man charged with aiming laser at federal aircraft
February 14, 2025
A Monmouth County man has been charged with aiming the beam of a laser at an aircraft.
Federal authorities say 27-year-old James M. Pedone of Colts Neck had an initial appearance in Newark federal court on Wednesday.
Authorities allege that on or around December 12th, Pedone pointed the beam of a laser on three separate occasions, striking an aircraft operated by federal law enforcement personnel, erroneously believing the aircraft to be a drone.
Knowingly aiming a laser beam at an aircraft can send someone to prison for up to five years along with a $250,000 fine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna thanked those with the FBI's Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Colts Neck Police Department for their work in this case.
https://wpgtalkradio.com/not-a-drone-nj-man-charged-with-aiming-laser-at-federal-aircraft/
Water main break leads to boil orders in multiple Chicago suburbs
Feb 14, 2025
Multiple boil orders were issued Friday as a water main break in Skokie forced the closures of numerous schools, shut down area roadways and left many without water supply.
Both Skokie and Evanston issued boil orders to residents due to the "significant" break, which began early Friday morning at East Prairie Road and Emerson Street. Photos from the area showed entire streets flooded, with vehicles on roads partially submerged in some spots.
Multiple road closures were in place as crews worked to repair the break, the village said.
It was not immediately clear how long the boil order would last.
In Skokie, officials said it "will remain in effect until laboratory sampling confirms water quality has been fully restored."
In Evanston, residents were warned that "the Village of Skokie has not established a specific timeline for completing repairs related to the recent water main break."
"The Village of Skokie and City of Evanston crews are actively working to address the issue and restore water service to affected areas," an alert to residents stated.
Here's what to know:
What to do during a boil order
"Do not drink tap water without first boiling it," the alert stated, adding that "some community members in Skokie have reported very low water pressure or no water supply."
Here's what the village suggested residents do:
The order suggests residents:
Bring all water to a boil
Let it boil for five minutes
Let it cool before using
Use bottled water where possible
"Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice," the village said.
Evanston officials noted you should "boil your tap water even if you filter it."
"Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering. Consider a sponge bath for babies to reduce the chance of them swallowing water," the city said in its alert.
Where is the water main break and what areas are impacted?
The break occurred at approximately 5:15 a.m. Friday at East Prairie Road and Emerson Street.
Multiple road closures were in place, including closures at McCormick from Dempster to Golf, and East Prairie from Church to Golf.
"Avoid the area," Skokie officials said.
Evanston officials released the following map for impacted areas:
School closures
Skokie-Morton Grove District 69 announced Friday morning that all schools would be closed "due to a water main break impacting our water."
Further details weren't immediately released, but the district already had a "non-attendance day" planned for students.
Other impacts
Endeavor Health noted that its Skokie and Evanston locations were impacted by the water main break, leading them to cancel all appointments for Friday.
"The safety and quality of care for our patients remain our top priorities. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding," the hospital group said in a message on its website.
The Evanston locations impacted include:
1000 Central St.
The COS Building (2500 Ridge Ave.)
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/water-main-break-leads-to-boil-orders-in-multiple-chicago-suburbs/3674782/
https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/1593498