📄Top Stories

Today’s space news highlights strategic advancements and shifts in satellite technology and capabilities. Finland has partnered with ICEYE to boost its surveillance systems, while the US Department of Defense discontinues certain satellite programs essential for storm forecasting. The Space Force unveils its plans to outpace orbital threats with maneuverable satellites and advanced control software.

📰Detailed Coverage

US Space Force’s Strategic Satellite Advancements

The United States Space Force is focusing on the development of maneuverable satellites combined with cloud-based control software, aiming to maintain superiority in an increasingly contested orbit. By enhancing satellite mobility, the military seeks to effectively counter and outpace potential threats. Kelly Hammett, director of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, emphasizes the critical role maneuverability plays in modern warfare.

The integration of agile satellite technology within the Space Force is a significant step towards safeguarding and efficiently managing space assets. Such innovations highlight the importance of satellite surveillance, maneuverability, and control as key components of national defense strategies. Our web app offers tools to track these developments in real time, ensuring users remain informed about shifts in orbital dynamics.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Finland Partners with ICEYE for National Surveillance System

In a move to enhance its space-based intelligence capabilities, Finland has signed a Letter of Intent with ICEYE to acquire Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. This partnership will bolster Finland’s national defense by providing advanced satellite surveillance systems, facilitating improved analysis and decision-making.

The initiative outlines a delivery schedule and technical requirements necessary to establish a robust surveillance infrastructure. Such advancements underscore the growing reliance on satellite technology for national security purposes, pointing to a trend where countries enhance their defense dimensions with sophisticated space-based tools.

Read the full story: SpaceWar

Defense Department’s Change in Satellite Data Provision

The Defense Department has announced its decision to halt satellite data programs that are critical for storm forecasts. This change, taking effect at the start of the hurricane season, could potentially impact the accuracy of forecasts, posing challenges for meteorologists relying on this data.

The decision to end the distribution of weather satellite data underscores the ongoing shifts in strategic priorities within the Defense Department. This move may increase the burden on civilian agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fill the gap in crucial meteorological information.

Read the full story: TerraDaily

Sierra Space Opens Solar Tech Center to Boost Defense

Sierra Space has inaugurated a new Solar Tech Center in Colorado to enhance the production of solar power systems, aimed at national defense applications. This facility will focus on producing defense-hardened solar arrays, aligning with the company’s broader strategy to expand its capabilities in space and defense technology.

The Power Station is part of Sierra Space’s commitment to meeting growing demand for high-performance energy solutions, reinforcing the nexus between advanced solar power technologies and defense operations.

Read the full story: SolarDaily

Cybersecurity Alert: Iran’s Potential Threat to US Defense Firms

The Pentagon, along with Homeland Security, has issued a warning about potential cyber threats from Iran targeting US defense firms. This announcement comes amid rising tensions and highlights an increased need for vigilance in cybersecurity practices.

Katie Arrington, a Pentagon cyber official, emphasizes the heightened risk environment and encourages the Defense Industry Base to enhance its cybersecurity measures. This development reflects the ongoing threats faced by defense contractors and the critical importance of robust cyber defense protocols.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: COSMOS 1989 (ETALON 1)
• NORAD ID: 19751
• Launch Date: January 10, 1989
• Mission: This satellite is designed for geodesy, which involves measuring and understanding the Earth’s geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravitational field.
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Operator: NPOPM
• Fun Fact: COSMOS 1989 is part of the Etalon series, which is deployed to provide precise measurements crucial for understanding Earth’s surface and terrestrial dynamics.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track COSMOS 1989 (ETALON 1)

🌌Space Weather

Current space weather shows Enhanced solar wind (527 km/s).

Current

R0 - S0 - G0

Last 24 Hour Maximums

R0 - S0 - G0

Recent Alerts

• Warning: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected (Valid: Jul 01, 0112 UTC - Jul 01, 0900 UTC).

  • Potential Impacts:
    • Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
    • Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
    • Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

• Watch: Geomagnetic Storm Category G1 Predicted.

  • Forecast: G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storming likely on Jul 02 and Jul 03.
  • Potential Impacts:
    • Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
    • Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
    • Aurora may be visible in northern-tier U.S. states.

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 25
  • Major: 5
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 5
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

  • Scale: 0
  • Impact: none
  • Activity: Low

• Impact Summary

  • Next 24 hours: No risk of radio blackouts.
  • No risk of solar radiation storms.
  • G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storming is likely on Jul 02-03 due to the arrival of the 28 Jun CME.
  • No significant active region activity favorable for radiation storm production is forecast.

Long Term Forecast

• Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity (Jun 30 - Jul 26, 2025):
  • Solar activity expected to be low from Jun 30 - Jul 04.
  • Moderate (R1-R2, Minor-Moderate) levels likely from Jul 05 - Jul 26 with the return of old Regions 4114 and 4117.
  • No proton events expected at geosynchronous orbit.
  • Greater than 2 MeV electron flux expected to reach high levels at various times due to recurrent CH HSS influence.
  • Geomagnetic activity expected to be unsettled to active, with G1 (Minor) storming likely on Jul 02-03 and again on Jul 23-24 due to recurrent CH HSS activity.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

July 1

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • MTG-S1 from Kennedy Space Center (21:04 UTC) Second of EUMETSAT’s third generation of weather satellite.

July 2

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 10-25 from Cape Canaveral SFS (05:29 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
• Gilmour Space Technologies Eris-1:
  • Maiden Flight from Bowen Orbital Spaceport (21:30 UTC) Maiden flight of Gilmour Space’s orbital launch vehicle Eris.

July 3

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 4B:
  • Unknown Payload from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (09:26 UTC) Details TBD.
• Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) Soyuz 2.1a:
  • Progress MS-31 (92P) from Baikonur Cosmodrome (19:32 UTC) Progress resupply mission to the International Space Station.

July 8

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 10-28 from Cape Canaveral SFS (05:48 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

July 16

• Indian Space Research Organization GSLV Mk II:
  • NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (11:30 UTC) The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, or NISAR satellite, will use advanced radar imaging to map the elevation of Earth’s land and ice masses multiple times a month.

July 25

• Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) Soyuz 2.1b/Fregat-M:
  • Ionosfera-M 3 & 4 from Vostochny Cosmodrome, Siberia, Russian Federation (05:54 UTC) Ionosfera is a constellation of four ionospheric and magnetospheric research satellites developed for Roscosmos.

July 26

• Arianespace Vega-C:
  • CO3D & MicroCarb from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana (02:03 UTC) CO3D is a CNES-Airbus Defence & Space constellation to map the globe in 3D. Microcarb will map carbon dioxide sources and sinks on a global scale.

July 31

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Bandwagon 4 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare) from Cape Canaveral SFS (00:00 UTC) Dedicated rideshare flight with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.

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