📄Top Stories

In today’s briefing, the U.S. Space Force makes notable progress in missile warning systems with a new contract for development. SpaceX announces plans for a Starship launch from Florida, enhancing its operational capabilities on the East Coast. Europe celebrates the successful commercial mission of its new Ariane 6 rocket, and NASA prepares for major upcoming launches from California.

📰Detailed Coverage

Space Force Advances Missile Warning Capabilities

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command is amplifying its missile detection capabilities with the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) system, by awarding a $151 million contract to BAE Systems. This initiative underscores efforts to maintain robust and responsive defense measures in space.

FORGE is designed to enhance command and control operations, integrating the latest technologies for better threat assessment. This development plays a crucial role in securing communications and satellite networks, ensuring US military assets remain protected.

Read the full story: SpaceWar

SpaceX Plans First Florida Starship Launch

During SpaceX’s live coverage of a recent Starship launch, details emerged about the first planned launch of Starship from Florida. This strategy involves significant infrastructure expansion, emphasizing SpaceX’s commitment to amplifying its launch capabilities at Kennedy Space Center.

With Roberts Road’s expansion in progress, SpaceX aims to consolidate its launch operations, enhancing its flexibility and launch cadence. The first Florida Starship launch represents a critical step in SpaceX’s vision of increasing its role in orbital transportation.

Read the full story: Space Explored

European Rocket’s First Commercial Success

Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket has achieved its first commercial victory by launching a French military satellite, marking a pivotal advancement in European space capabilities. This milestone follows years of development, granting Europe greater independence in accessing space.

After overcoming technical delays, the Ariane 6’s successful deployment is set to enhance Europe’s strategic military reconnaissance and communications infrastructure. This achievement solidifies the continent’s presence in the competitive commercial launch market.

Read the full story: Space Daily

NASA and SpaceX Ready for SPHEREx and PUNCH Launch

NASA, in collaboration with SpaceX, is gearing up for the dual launch of the SPHEREx space observatory and the PUNCH heliophysics mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. These missions aim to explore cosmic structures and the dynamics of solar particles, respectively.

SPHEREx will survey the sky in multiple infrared bands to map galaxies, and PUNCH will closely study the solar corona and solar wind. Both missions represent significant collaborations aiming to deepen our understanding of the universe through advanced observational technologies.

Read the full story: NASA Space Flight

Legal Challenges in Space Sovereignty and Property

As space exploration expands, legal questions surrounding property and sovereignty pose potential conflicts. With increased commercial activities and national interests at stake, stakeholders must navigate legal frameworks to prevent disputes in this new frontier.

Existing treaties like the Outer Space Treaty provide a foundation, but the pace of current developments may outstrip these agreements, necessitating discussions on new comprehensive policies to address emerging challenges.

Read the full story: Space.com

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: SKYSAT-C10
• NORAD ID: 42988
• Launch Date: 2017-10-31
• Mission: Earth Observation
• Orbit: Inclination: 97.3892°, Period: ~94 minutes, Eccentricity: 0.0006417
• Operator: Planet Labs Inc.
• Fun Fact: SKYSAT-C10 is part of a constellation providing high-resolution imagery used for a variety of applications, from agriculture to urban mapping.

Current TLE Data:

1 42988U 17068B   25068.93136060  .00021645  00000+0  68470-3 0  9997
2 42988  97.3892 199.8670 0006417  10.7191 349.4187 15.32777148411274

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track SKYSAT-C10

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

March 11

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • SPHEREx & PUNCH from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, USA (03:10 UTC) SPHEREx is a two-year astrophysics mission surveying the sky in near-infrared light to answer cosmic questions and search for water and organic molecules. NASA’s PUNCH mission will track solar eruptions to better predict space weather events.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 12-21 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL, USA (03:15 UTC) A batch of 21 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink project, providing a space-based Internet communication system.

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 8:

  • G60 Group TBD from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (16:31 UTC) Low Earth orbit communication satellites for the G60 constellation, aiming to deploy 1296 satellites by 2027.

March 12

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Transporter 13 (Dedicated SSO Rideshare) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, USA (06:39 UTC) Rideshare flight deploying microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

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

March 15

• Rocket Lab Electron:

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

• Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center Angara 1.2:

  • Kosmos (Unknown Payload) from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation (10:30 UTC) Russian military payloads with undisclosed purposes.

• Firefly Aerospace Alpha:

  • FLTA006 (Message in a Booster) from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, USA (13:25 UTC) Demonstration mission for Lockheed Martin’s LM400 satellite bus, equipped for varied missions in remote sensing, communications, and more.

March 31

• Galactic Energy Ceres-1:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (00:00 UTC)

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