Air Force Research Laboratory
Rocket Lab signs on to U.S. military’s ‘rocket cargo’ program
Rocket Lab has signed a cooperative agreement with the U.S. military to explore the possibility of using its space launch vehicles to transport cargo around the world.
SpaceX gets $1.9 million Air Force contract for Starlink services in Europe and Africa
The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command awarded SpaceX a $1.9 million one-year contract to provide Starlink internet services in Europe and Africa starting this month.
Hughes and OneWeb deploy high-speed internet for U.S. military at remote Arctic base
A Hughes-OneWeb prototype network at Thule, Greenland, is fast enough to enable video conferencing, streaming video and interactive games.
BlueHalo wins $11 million Air Force contract for laser communications terminals
BlueHalo won an $11 million contract from AFRL to develop a pair of optical laser communications terminals and a ground station.
Air Force scientist takes over as director of Space Force rapid procurement agency
Former AFRL directed energy director Kelly Hammett on June 6, 2022, took over as head of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office
Air Force’s rocket propulsion arm looking to invest in technologies for ‘responsive launch’
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s rocket propulsion arm is asking space companies to help identify technologies and capabilities the military will need to launch missions on short timelines.
Viasat to begin integration of long-delayed Link 16 military communications satellite
The Link 16 spacecraft, funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, has been delayed due to late delivery of the Blue Canyon satellite bus
Air Force space experiment will seek to demonstrate multi-orbit satellite navigation
The Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), an experiment funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory, will broadcast PNT signals from geostationary orbit to supplement GPS satellites in medium Earth orbit
Industry proposals sought for ‘cislunar highway patrol’ satellite
The Air Force Research Laboratory is asking companies to submit ideas on how they would design a spacecraft to monitor outer space beyond Earth’s orbit.
U.S. Air Force to fund demonstrations of space internet services that integrate multiple constellations
The U.S. Air Force will fund demonstrations of space internet services where military aircraft, ships or ground vehicles can access broadband services from commercial constellations in different orbits.
SpaceX wins $102 million Air Force contract to demonstrate technologies for point-to-point space transportation
The U.S. Air Force awarded SpaceX a $102 million five-year contract to demonstrate technologies and capabilities to transport military cargo and humanitarian aid around the world on a heavy rocket.
Space Force taps Air Force Research Lab leader for key acquisition post
Col. Eric Felt, director of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, will be moving to a new post this summer as deputy executive director of the Space Force’s architecture, science and technology directorate at the Pentagon.
AFRL and Northrop Grumman test key hardware for space-based solar power experiment
A satellite solar panel designed by Northrop Grumman to harvest energy in space to be beamed back to Earth performed successfully in lab tests, AFRL announced Dec. 21
Three startups win prize money from U.S. Space Force accelerator
Varda Space Industries, Scout and Neutron Star Systems were the top three startups in the Hyperspace Challenge
Blue Canyon wins $14 million contract for deep-space inspector satellite
Blue Canyon Technologies won a $14.6 million contract to produce a small inspector satellite for operations beyond geosynchronous Earth orbit.
New report calls for U.S. strategy to boost space economy
U.S. national security space organizations released a report Nov. 18 proposing ways to boost the nation’s space economy and technology base.
Tyvak wins $8.4 million military contract for experiment in very low Earth orbit
The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate awarded an $8.4 million contract to Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems for an experiment in very low Earth orbit projected to launch in 2024.
Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory wins $1 billion contract from AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory a $1 billion five-year contract for “space and nuclear advanced prototypes, experiments and technology."
Space startups selected for accelerator program in New Mexico
A new accelerator program funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the U.S. Space Force announced Oct. 27 it has selected six U.S. and international startups for its first cohort.
Startups and universities selected for Space Force prize competition
A business accelerator funded by the U.S. Space Force announced it has selected 13 startups and 11 university teams to compete for $100,000 awards.
