📄Top Stories

The National Security Space Association (NSSA) is calling for a significant budget increase for the U.S. Space Force to counteract threats from China and Russia. Meanwhile, ESA’s upcoming Ramses mission is gaining momentum with its first CubeSat onboard for the Asteroid Apophis mission. SpaceX faces a tough challenge with another scrubbed launch attempt for the Starlink 12-21. Additionally, Apex’s Aries SN1 celebrates a successful year in space.

📰Detailed Coverage

NSSA Advocates for Space Force Budget Boost

The National Security Space Association (NSSA) has issued a compelling position paper urging Congress to double the U.S. Space Force budget to $60 billion over the next five years. This recommendation is aimed at bolstering national security in space and maintaining a competitive edge over China and Russia, which are seen as increasing threats in the domain.

The initiative reflects ongoing discussions about space militarization and the critical role of satellites in modern defense strategies. Observers are keenly watching the Congressional response, as a budget increase could significantly enhance space tracking capabilities and other assets vital for national defense.

Read the full story: Spacewar

ESA Prepares for Asteroid Apophis with First CubeSat

ESA’s Ramses mission to the asteroid Apophis marks a pivotal moment in planetary defense strategy, with the selection of its first CubeSat. Leveraging technologies developed during the Hera mission, this CubeSat will provide critical data on the asteroid’s structure and trajectory, contributing significantly to understanding and potentially deflecting future space threats.

As CubeSats continue to gain prominence, their role in satellite tracking becomes more vital. Our web app facilitates real-time tracking of these smaller satellites, allowing users to explore their contributions to space missions like the Ramses project.

Read the full story: Space Daily

SpaceX Scrubs Starlink Launch Once Again

SpaceX has scrubbed the Starlink 12-21 launch for the second consecutive night, postponing the deployment of 21 new Starlink satellites. This delay follows the longest hiatus since 2023 for Florida-based launches, attributable to technical challenges encountered with the Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage.

Such setbacks highlight the intricacies involved in sustainable satellite launches, an area that enthusiasts can delve into through our satellite tracking platform, offering insights into launch schedules and their potential impacts on satellite constellations.

Read the full story: Spaceflight Now

Celebrating One Year of Aries SN1 in Orbit

Apex proudly announces that its inaugural Aries Serial Number One (SN1) satellite has successfully completed one year in orbit. As a testament to Apex’s innovative satellite bus manufacturing, Aries SN1 has outperformed expectations in both durability and utility, setting a new standard in the space industrial sector.

The success of Aries SN1 enhances its commercial appeal and demonstrates the robustness of its design and performance, making it a model for future satellite deployments and contributing to the growing reliability of space-based infrastructure.

Read the full story: Space Daily

Leonardo Sees Economic Opportunities in European Defense

Italian defense firm Leonardo projects a $6.6 billion increase in revenue as a result of escalating European defense spending in response to geopolitical tensions. The company is advocating for stronger alliances and industrial synergies to capitalize on this opportunity and enhance its market position.

This forecast underscores a broader trend of defense-related investments, including space technology, recognizing the strategic importance of satellite-based systems in modern defense frameworks.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Army’s Unified Network Plan 2.0 Elevates Satellite Use

The U.S. Army’s release of the Unified Network Plan 2.0 signifies a renewed focus on leveraging satellite technologies within a multi-domain fighting strategy emphasizing zero trust. This evolution reflects ongoing adaptations to maintain superiority in complex, contested environments.

By enhancing satellite-based communication networks, the Army aims to strengthen operational security and resilience, crucial for maintaining an edge in future combat scenarios that require seamless integration with other domains, including space.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: FLOCK 4X 6
• NORAD ID: 51043
• Launch Date: 2022 Jan 13
• Mission: Technology
• Orbit: Inclination 97.3525, Period 16.46, Eccentricity 0.0011587
• Operator: PLAN
• Fun Fact: FLOCK 4X 6 is part of a constellation providing high-resolution imagery for environmental monitoring and disaster response.

Current TLE Data:

1 51043U 22002BM  24294.75207047  .18312446  25506-5  40402-3 0  9997
2 51043  97.3525  16.0949 0011587 269.3646  90.6329 16.45795999154602

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

🚀 Upcoming Space Launches

March 12

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Crew-10 from Kennedy Space Center (23:48 UTC)
    SpaceX Crew-10 is the tenth crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

March 13

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 12-21 from Cape Canaveral (02:20 UTC)
    A batch of 21 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

March 14

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 12-16 from Cape Canaveral (10:56 UTC)
    A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

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)
    Synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.
• Long March 2D:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (04:03 UTC)
    Details TBD.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Transporter 13 from Vandenberg SFB (06:39 UTC)
    Dedicated rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.
• Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center Angara 1.2:
  • Kosmos from Plesetsk Cosmodrome (10:30 UTC)
    Russian military payloads of unknown purposes.
• Firefly Aerospace Alpha:
  • FLTA006 (Message in a Booster) from Vandenberg SFB (13:25 UTC)
    Sixth flight of the Firefly Alpha small satellite launcher, launching the demonstration mission for Lockheed Martin’s new LM400 satellite bus, which will carry a communications payload. The satellite bus is customizable to support different missions, including remote sensing, communications, imagery, and radar Earth observations. It can also support different kinds of orbits and launch configurations.

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