📄Top Stories

Today’s top space news includes the disclosure of secret Space Force payloads monitoring China’s satellite surveillance network, and a collaborative initiative to decrease the time required for satellite tracking. These developments reflect the increasing technological interplay between military and commercial space operations.

📰Detailed Coverage

Secret Space Force Payloads Monitor China’s Satellites

The U.S. Space Force is reportedly deploying top-secret payloads with the objective of keeping a close watch on China’s growing satellite surveillance capabilities. According to officials, these payloads are equipped to provide comprehensive monitoring, ensuring that the trajectories and operations of foreign satellites are meticulously scrutinized.

This development underscores the critical role of satellite monitoring in modern defense strategy, bolstering the need for advanced tracking solutions that can offer real-time data—a feature available on our web app.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Groundbreaking Collaboration Reduces Satellite Tracking Times

AST, Kayhan, and LeoLabs have joined forces to demonstrate a new capability that significantly reduces the time lag in satellite tracking for the Space Force. By leveraging commercial radar data, the collaboration aims to quickly update orbital coordinates into the military’s database, thus enhancing tracking efficiency and reducing potential operational gaps.

This initiative is indicative of an emerging trend where commercial data and technology are integral to military operations, demonstrating how private partnerships are reshaping satellite tracking frameworks.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

AI Empowerment in Military Planning with ‘Thunderforge’

The Pentagon’s innovation arm is collaborating with Scale AI to pioneer ‘Thunderforge,’ a prototype aimed at optimizing war plans through AI advancements. This initiative will encompass the management of vast operational data, notably starting in areas of high strategic interest like INDOPACOM and EUCOM.

Such AI-driven platforms are expected to make military operations more efficient and responsive, marking another step towards integrating cutting-edge technologies with defense strategies.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Anduril and Zone 5 Progress in Air Force’s Enterprise Test Vehicle Program

Anduril Industries, alongside Zone 5 Technologies, is advancing efforts in developing the Air Force’s DIU Enterprise Test Vehicle. This vehicle is part of a larger strategy to enhance the military’s tactical capabilities, with potential competition arising from Lockheed Martin’s new air vehicle.

The progress in this area highlights the ongoing innovations in unmanned military technology, potentially impacting how satellite data is used for defense applications.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: FLOCK 4Q-6
• NORAD ID: 58315
• Launch Date: 2023 Nov 11
• Mission: Technology
• Orbit: Inclination 97.4199°, Period ~94.3 minutes, Eccentricity 0.0008620
• Operator: PLAN
• Fun Fact: This CubeSat, part of a large constellation, uses solar cells for power and serves as a testbed for new imaging technologies.

Current TLE Data:

1 58315U 23174BM  25065.16967046  .00013769  00000+0  48036-3 0  9995
2 58315  97.4199 143.9994 0008620  24.0826 336.0816 15.29695869 73636

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track FLOCK 4Q-6

Upcoming Space Launches

March 6

• Arianespace Ariane 62:

  • CSO-3 from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana (16:24 UTC) The CSO-3 is the third of three high-resolution optical imaging satellites for the French military, replacing the Helios 2 spy satellite series.

• SpaceX Starship:

  • Flight 8 from SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA (Window: 23:30–00:30 UTC) Eighth test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.

March 8

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • SPHEREx & PUNCH from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (03:09 UTC) SPHEREx is a two-year astrophysics mission in the near-infrared light to investigate cosmic questions. PUNCH consists of four satellites that will study the Sun’s outer atmosphere and solar wind.

March 9

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 12-21 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (Window: 04:10–08:41 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation for space-based Internet communication.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 12-16 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (Window: 13:13–17:44 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation for space-based Internet communication.

March 10

• Rocket Lab Electron:

  • The Lightning God Reigns (iQPS Launch 1) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (Window: 00:00–02:00 UTC) Synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Transporter 13 (Dedicated SSO Rideshare) from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (Window: 06:39–07:25 UTC) Dedicated rideshare flight to sun-synchronous orbit with multiple small microsatellites and nanosatellites.

March 12

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 12-25 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (Window: 22:00–02:00 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation for space-based Internet communication.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Crew-10 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (23:48 UTC) The tenth crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

March 15

• Gilmour Space Technologies Eris-1:
  • Maiden Flight from Bowen Orbital Spaceport (00:00 UTC) Maiden flight of Gilmour Space’s orbital launch vehicle Eris.

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