📄Top Stories

The Space Force has adjusted its mission timelines due to Vulcan’s national security launches being postponed to 2025. Meanwhile, Anduril has secured a substantial contract to upgrade the Space Force’s network infrastructure. Additionally, a recent Starship test launch caught the attention of Space Force officials, indicating potential military uses for the spacecraft.

📰Detailed Coverage

Space Force Adapts to Vulcan’s Launch Delays

The United States Space Force has announced a shift in its mission timelines following delays in the Vulcan rocket launches by United Launch Alliance, critical for national security payloads. The missions USSF-106 and USSF-87, with payloads prepared, are now anticipated for 2025 without firm launch dates.

These delays are a significant consideration for satellite tracking and deployment scheduling, underscoring the need for adaptive strategies in space operations planning. Continuous updates on these timelines will be crucial for those tracking these and related objects in orbit through our web app.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Anduril Boosts Space Force with $99.7 Million Network Contract

Anduril has landed a $99.7 million contract to enhance the Space Force’s data processing and distribution capabilities using its Lattice software. This enhancement aims to improve the efficiency of processing information from a network of global military space sensors.

Anduril’s software will autonomously manage data flows, significantly advancing the Space Force’s command and control functions in space operations. This development highlights the growing intersection of software and space capabilities, essential for modern satellite tracking.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Space Force Chief Witnesses Potential in Starship Launch

The Space Force Chief recently attended a SpaceX Starship test launch, signaling robust interest in the spacecraft’s potential military applications. The Starship is lauded for its enormous payload capacity and reusability, aligning well with future Space Force deployment needs.

The observation underscores the military’s strategic interest in leveraging emerging commercial space technology for national defense objectives. Starship’s progress is being closely monitored, indicating its pivotal role in reshaping space logistics and operations.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Vulcan Loses Potential Launches to Timing Concerns

The challenges faced by United Launch Alliance with the Vulcan rocket have exacerbated as the planned Space Force launches are deferred to next year. This delay impacts the National Security Space Launch program, pending congressional budget approval for fiscal 2025.

Such setbacks underline the intricacies of coordinating large-scale space launches and the dependence on legislative timelines affecting national security operations. These issues stress the importance of adaptive scheduling and tracking solutions for aerospace missions.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Pentagon’s Cloud Initiative to Shield Small Enterprises

The Pentagon has unveiled a new secure cloud pilot program aimed at protecting small businesses from cyber threats. Inspired by the NCODE secure enclave, this initiative seeks to fortify cybersecurity defenses within the defense supply chain.

This pilot program represents a concerted effort to strengthen digital safeguards across varied defense contractors, reinforcing national security through robust information security measures.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: FENGYUN 2C
• NORAD ID: 28451
• Launch Date: 2004-09-18
• Mission: Fengyun 2C is a geosynchronous meteorological satellite, part of China’s National Satellite Meteorological Center’s operations.
• Orbit: Inclination: 11.4936°, Period: 1468.12 min, Eccentricity: 0.0002042
• Operator: National Satellite Meteorological Center
• Fun Fact: FENGYUN 2C plays a crucial role in weather forecasting and climate observations.

Current TLE Data:

1 28451U 04042A   24316.92549194 -.00000156  00000-0  00000-0 0 89992
2 28451  11.4936  35.2906 0002042   4.1733 351.9854  0.98084338 35452

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track FENGYUN 2C

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

November 22

• Blue Origin New Shepard:
  • NS-28 from Corn Ranch, Van Horn, TX, USA (15:30 UTC)
    Twenty-eighth flight of New Shepard carrying six passengers.

November 23

• Rocket Lab Electron:
  • HASTE | Leidos-2 from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA (00:45 UTC to 06:00 UTC)
    Second sub-orbital launch of Electron for the HASTE program for Leidos and Dynetics.

November 24

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 9-13 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, USA (03:26 UTC to 07:26 UTC)
    A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
• Rocket Lab Electron:
  • Ice AIS Baby (Kinéis 11-15) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (03:55 UTC)
    Third batch of five satellites for the French Kinéis IoT constellation designed to operate with 25 nanosatellites.
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2C:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (23:26 UTC to 23:59 UTC)
    Details TBD.

November 25

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 12-1 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (09:32 UTC to 13:32 UTC)
    A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

November 26

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 6-76 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (03:31 UTC to 07:31 UTC)
    A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

November 27

• LandSpace Zhuque-2E:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (01:51 UTC to 03:09 UTC)
    Details TBD.

Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.