📄Top Stories

The US Space Force steps up its preparations with their largest-ever training event aimed at orbital warfare. Meanwhile, pivotal changes in control over the Blue UAS drone list signal significant scaling efforts in secure drone fleets. On the orbital front, Space Traffic Report highlights upcoming Falcon 9 and Kuiper launches, adding excitement to this relatively quiet launch period.

📰Detailed Coverage

US Space Force Conducts Largest-Ever Orbital Warfare Training

The United States Space Force is ramping up for potential future conflicts in space by organizing its largest training exercise to date. This ambitious initiative showcases their preparedness to “fight and win” in an increasingly contested domain. Such expansive exercises highlight the strategic importance of achieving dominance in orbital maneuvers and satellite operations.

Technical experts are noting that these drills simulate realistic scenarios where space assets could face hostile interference. As the exercises proceed, they emphasize the necessity for robust satellite communication and tracking capabilities, echoing sentiments for advanced space situational awareness. This development directly ties into our web app’s enhanced tracking features, enabling real-time monitoring of orbital assets.

Read the full story: Space.com

Pentagon Transitioning Control for Blue UAS List to DCMA

In an effort to scale its secure drone fleet, the Pentagon has shifted the control of the Blue UAS List to the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). This move aims to streamline the process and encourage alignment between drone vendors and evolving security requirements. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) will still play a critical role in advisory capacities.

The transition is expected to foster a more cohesive ecosystem for managing secure unmanned aerial systems. This strategic pivot highlights the growing need for ensuring robust control over these technologies, which are becoming increasingly pivotal on the modern battlefield.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Hegseth’s Directive on Military Drone Utilization

A new directive from Pete Hegseth calls for the military to expand the use of small drones, previously hampered by bureaucratic red tape. This memo signifies a shift towards boosting operational flexibility and efficiency, highlighting drones’ critical role in contemporary military operations.

This initiative echoes a broader trend of removing barriers to innovation within defense operations, enabling the military to capitalize on cutting-edge technologies. Observers suggest this will likely result in a rapid integration of drones across various sectors of military strategy.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Key Developments in the Space Traffic Report

The latest Space Traffic Report notes a lull in orbital launches but calls attention to upcoming Falcon 9 and Kuiper missions. These launches are set to reinvigorate the space agenda, as Starlink and ISS docking activities continue to capture attention.

Particularly, Falcon 9 launches are crucial for maintaining constellations that enhance global connectivity, a cornerstone of modern communication infrastructure. The Kuiper project further illustrates commercial advancements in providing widespread internet access.

Read the full story: NASASpaceFlight

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: SWOT
• NORAD ID: 54754
• Launch Date: December 16, 2022
• Mission: SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) is designed to measure the height of water in rivers, lakes, and oceans to improve our understanding of water resources and climate change impacts.
• Orbit: LEO (Low Earth Orbit)
• Operator: CNES/JPL
• Fun Fact: SWOT is the first satellite to provide global measurements of water levels across the world’s rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, using advanced radar altimetry technology.

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

🌌Space Weather

Space weather conditions are currently quiet.

Current

R0 - S0 - G0

Last 24 Hour Maximums

R1 - S0 - G0

Recent Alerts

• WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected from 11 Jul 2040 to 12 Jul 1200 UTC (G1 - Minor)
  • Impacts: Weak power grid fluctuations and minor satellite operations impact possible. Aurora may be visible at northern tier U.S. locations.
• EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 valid until 12 Jul 0900 UTC
  • Impacts: Similar to G1 alert; primarily affecting areas poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
• ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 confirmed at 11 Jul 1104 UTC
  • Impacts: As above, with potential aurora visibility in Canada and Alaska.

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 50
  • Major: 5
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 1
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

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

• Impact Summary

  • Next 24 hours: No risk of radio blackouts or solar radiation storms.
  • G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms likely on 13 Jul due to a positive polarity coronal hole.
  • No significant active region activity favorable for radiation storm production expected.

Long Term Forecast

• Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 07 July - 02 August 2025
  • Solar activity at low levels from 07-11 July; no major groups expected to return.
  • Moderate conditions could arise from returning regions after 12 July through 25 July.
  • No proton events expected at geosynchronous orbit.
  • Increased greater than 2 MeV electron flux expected from 20-29 Jul due to recurrent CH HSS influence.
  • G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) storm levels expected early on 07 Jul; quiet to unsettled conditions from 08-21 Jul.
  • Isolated active periods possible on 15-16 Jul.
  • From 22-27 Jul, unsettled to active conditions anticipated, with isolated G1 (Minor) storm periods on 23 Jul.
  • Mostly quiet levels expected from 28-31 Jul, followed by unsettled to active levels from 01 Aug through 02 Aug.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

July 12

• Rocket Lab:
  • Rocket: HASTE
  • Mission: JAKE 4
  • Launch Site: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (Launch Area 0 C), Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA
  • Launch Time: 23:45 UTC Sub-orbital launch under Rocket Lab’s Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) program.

July 13

• SpaceX:
  • Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5
  • Mission: Dror-1 (“Commercial GTO 1”)
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
  • Launch Time: 05:04 UTC Dror-1 is a geostationary communication satellite built by Israel Aerospace Industries to meet Israel’s communication needs for the next 15 years.

July 14

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation:
  • Rocket: Long March 7
  • Mission: Tianzhou-9
  • Launch Site: 201, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China
  • Launch Time: 21:30 UTC Eighth cargo delivery mission to the Chinese space station.

July 15

• SpaceX:

  • Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5
  • Mission: Starlink Group 15-2
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
  • Launch Time: 02:13 UTC A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

• Gilmour Space Technologies:

  • Rocket: Eris-1
  • Mission: Maiden Flight
  • Launch Site: Eris Pad, Bowen Orbital Spaceport
  • Launch Time: 21:30 UTC Maiden flight of Gilmour Space’s orbital launch vehicle Eris.

July 16

• SpaceX:
  • Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5
  • Mission: Project Kuiper (KF-01)
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
  • Launch Time: 06:10 UTC First of a three-launch contract for Amazon’s Kuiper low Earth orbit satellite internet constellation.

July 17

• SpaceX:
  • Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5
  • Mission: Starlink Group 17-3
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
  • Launch Time: 02:08 UTC A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

July 21

• SpaceX:
  • Rocket: Falcon 9 Block 5
  • Mission: Starlink Group 17-2
  • Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
  • Launch Time: 02:09 UTC A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

July 25

• Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS):
  • Rocket: Soyuz 2.1b/Fregat-M
  • Mission: Ionosfera-M 3 & 4
  • Launch Site: Cosmodrome Site 1S, Vostochny Cosmodrome, Siberia, Russian Federation
  • Launch Time: 05:54 UTC Ionosfera is a constellation of four research satellites for ionospheric and magnetospheric studies.

July 26

• Arianespace:
  • Rocket: Vega-C
  • Mission: CO3D & MicroCarb
  • Launch Site: Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
  • Launch Time: 02:03 UTC CO3D is designed to map the globe in 3D; MicroCarb will track carbon dioxide sources and sinks globally.

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