DARPA contracts 4 firms for DRIFT radar imagery experiments

DARPA contracts 4 firms for DRIFT radar imagery experiments
DARPA contracts 4 firms for DRIFT radar imagery experiments

Todd Master, Umbra’s chief operating officer and a former DARPA official, told Breaking Defense on May 22 that DRIFT “is a legitimately great example of how government can actually advance capability using commercial investments instead of just saying ‘leverage commercial’ over and over.”

At GEOINT, Space Force and NGA lean into the metaverse, whatever that means

At GEOINT, Space Force and NGA lean into the metaverse, whatever that means
At GEOINT, Space Force and NGA lean into the metaverse, whatever that means

“I would probably even argue that metaverse in itself is overplayed. It’s a construct. It really is distracting in many cases from what we’re trying to achieve,” said Michael Torres, chief of digital infrastructure and SpaceVerse at the Space Force’s Chief Technology and Innovation Office

Space Force polar-orbiting missile warning sats move toward production

Space Force polar-orbiting missile warning sats move toward production
Space Force polar-orbiting missile warning sats move toward production

The Space Force in May 2020 awarded Northrop Grumman a $2.37 billion contract for the development of the two satellites, which will travel in a highly elliptical orbit crossing over the Earth’s poles.

NGA making ‘significant advances’ months into AI-focused Project Maven takeover

NGA making ‘significant advances’ months into AI-focused Project Maven takeover
NGA making ‘significant advances’ months into AI-focused Project Maven takeover

“The bottom line here is that under NGA’s watch, Maven… has made some of its most significant technological strides and has already contributed to some of our nation’s most important operations,” Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth said.

NRO seeking new electro-optical imagery from private sector

NRO seeking new electro-optical imagery from private sector
NRO seeking new electro-optical imagery from private sector

The NRO is planning to award new contracts for commercial satellite imagery, perhaps including that of other satellites, the spy-sat agency’s head of commercial operations, Pete Muend, said today.

NGA emphasizing space GEOINT mission, developing lunar model for operators: Director

NGA emphasizing space GEOINT mission, developing lunar model for operators: Director
NGA emphasizing space GEOINT mission, developing lunar model for operators: Director

“And make no mistake, distinguishing friendly from unfriendly behavior and space has become particularly important to us,” NGA Director Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth told the GEOINT 2023 conference today.

AFRL taps Ursa Major for hypersonic, space launch engines

AFRL taps Ursa Major for hypersonic, space launch engines
AFRL taps Ursa Major for hypersonic, space launch engines

Responsive launch is enabled by the fact that Draper’s hydrogen peroxide fuel is easily storable, Ursa Major CEO Joe Laurienti told Breaking Defense, which cuts down prelaunch logistics — whereas other highly toxic liquid fuels often used to provide the high thrust needed for a missile to reach hypersonic speeds (Mach 5 and above) require special handling.

EXCLUSIVE: Space Force, IC warily approach agreement on commercial intel imagery buys

EXCLUSIVE: Space Force, IC warily approach agreement on commercial intel imagery buys
EXCLUSIVE: Space Force, IC warily approach agreement on commercial intel imagery buys

While there is no formal agreement, NRO and the Space Force have reached an informal accord to each use commercial imagery the other has acquired, and are in discussions about a potential DoD-IC “marketplace” to ease sharing.