Todd Feinman
Dogs are angels that poop in your yard.
Tribal selfish apes in spaaaaaaace...
Beam me up now Scotty, you bastard! Or you'll be court-martialed!
Beam me up now Scotty, you bastard! Or you'll be court-martialed!
nivek
As Above So Below
In major step, Space Force takes over all military satellite communications
The Space Force has taken over all of the Department of Defense's military satellite communication functions, a major step in building the new service.The Navy and the Army have transferred major satellite communication operations to the Space Force in an effort to consolidate training, operations, acquisition and other activities, according to a news release. The transfer marks the first time all military satellite communication functions have been consolidated under a single military service.
The Army's transfers were expected to include $78 million in operations, maintenance and 500 positions, the release said. As part of the consolidation, the Army transferred the Wideband Global SATCOM and Defense Satellite Communications System to the Space Force in August. The Wideband Global SATCOM system is considered the "backbone of the U.S. military's global satellite communications," according to the Space Force.
The Colorado Springs area did not see a net gain in jobs although some people did transfer from Fort Carson to Schriever Space Force Base, said Col. David Pheasant, commander of Delta 8. His delta focuses on satellite communications as well as position, navigation and timing, and represents about 10% of the Space Force.
As part of the overall consolidation, Pheasant said he expects those trained in space operations will be able to spend their entire career working on space missions. "They can build on that knowledge and be able to share it with others," he said. Previously, a soldier in the Army might spend just a few years working as a satellite operator before moving on to a new job, he said.
The transfer of all new Space Force members as part of the consolidation is still underway and is expected to last through December, he said. However, those people are already working for the Space Force, even though they may still officially be members of other military branches.
As part of growing Space Force capabilities, Pheasant said he expects the service to grow its partnerships with other countries. For example, the service could put payloads on some of Denmark's satellites, he said.
Expanding capability in space is important because the military is seeing demand for satellite connectivity in the field proliferate, just as demand for data connections has risen in homes. Any resident likely has five devices or more in their home requiring a connection. Similarly one military vehicle in the field likely has five different pieces of equipment that need satellite connectivity.
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nivek
As Above So Below
China has launched hundreds of satellites to target US: Space Force chief says Beijing is developing anti-satellite missiles, electronic jammers, lasers and technology that can MOVE rival orbiting platforms
China has launched dozens of satellites in the past six months and the People's Liberation Army now has 347 orbiting craft that can gather intelligence on American armed forces, according to the head of the U.S. Space Force.Gen. Chance Saltzman told senators that Beijing was the 'most immediate threat' to U.S. operations as it develops lasers to disrupt satellite sensors, electronic warfare jammers and even builds craft that could grab and move rival orbiting platforms out of position.
It is all part of its plan for a fully modernized, world-class military designed to achieve China's 'Space Dream' of being the most powerful nation in space by 2045, he said.
'Over the last six months, China conducted 35 launches adding advanced communications and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites to their orbital architecture,' he said in a written statement to the Senate Armed Service Subcommittee on Strategic Forces on Tuesday.
'Of China's over 700 operational satellites in orbit, 347 are People's Liberation Army ISR platforms providing optical, radar, and radio-frequency capabilities which track the Joint Force worldwide.'
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nivek
As Above So Below
US Space Force Releases Photo From Its Mysterious Orbiting X-37B Space Plane
The US Space Force has released an image taken from its mysterious X-37B space plane in orbit around the Earth.Since 2010, when the first X-37B spacecraft was launched, the Earth has been orbited by the top secret craft for over 4,000 days, spread across seven missions. The latest mission launched in December 2023, and has seen the spacecraft orbit high above the Earth for over a year.
While the ultimate purpose of the plane and its mission remain classified, the Space Force has revealed a few details about its activity, as well as releasing a photograph. In October 2024, Space Force announced that the spaceplane would be attempting a first-of-its-kind maneuver while in high-Earth orbit (HEO) in order to alter its orbit as well as safely dispose of components in order to comply with space debris mitigation agreements.
"The use of the aerobraking maneuver- a series of passes using the drag of Earth's atmosphere- enables the spacecraft to change orbits while expending minimal fuel," Space Force explained in a statement. "Once the aerobrake maneuver is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives until they are accomplished, at which time the vehicle will de-orbit and execute a safe return as it has during its six previous missions."
In an update on X on February 21, Space Force posted a photo showing a portion of the plane in orbit, as well as a reasonable view of the Earth.
"An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in HEO in 2024," Space Force wrote of the photo. "The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel."
The mission objectives of the space plane – similar in design to NASA's space shuttles – have remained a closely guarded secret. The Air Force is tight-lipped about the plane, leaving people to speculate it's doing anything from putting spy satellites into orbit to testing out an EmDrive in space.
When the craft launched, conspiracy theorists suggested it could be a "space bomber", a full seven years before Trump even created Space Force. The theory was quickly quashed by experts, who pointed out how changing a spacecraft's orbital plane requires a lot of thrust that would eat up its limited fuel supply extremely quickly. Essentially it would be useless at hitting any targets that didn't happen to already be on its flight path.
The Air Force's official explanation doesn't give away too much.
"The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, or OTV, is an experimental test program to demonstrate technologies for a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the US Air Force," the Air Force said in one statement.
"The primary objectives of the X-37B are twofold; reusable spacecraft technologies for America’s future in space and operating experiments which can be returned to, and examined, on Earth. Technologies being tested in the program include advanced guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems, avionics, high temperature structures and seals, conformal reusable insulation, lightweight electromechanical flight systems, advanced propulsion systems, advanced materials and autonomous orbital flight, reentry and landing."
For now, you'll either have to accept the official explanation, or just get comfortable with the knowledge that there's a mysterious space plane flying high above our heads, and only the US military knows why.
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The shadow
The shadow knows!
nivek
As Above So Below
China's Satellites Seen 'Dogfighting' in Space: US Space Force
Chinese satellites have been observed carrying out advanced "dogfighting" joint maneuvers in orbit, according to a senior U.S. military official. While not inherently aggressive, the exercise has fueled concerns over Beijing's potential to disrupt or damage satellites—and with them, the communications billions of people depend on.Why It Matters
The exercise also hammers home the fast-closing technology gap between China and the U.S. The East Asian power has ascended to the level of space power in recent years on the back of massive government investment in research and development. China has constructed a space station; was the first to land a probe on the dark side of the moon; and is in a race with the NASA-led Artemis program to send a manned mission to Earth's natural satellite, with plans for an eventual permanent base there. China is also building a communications satellite network to rival SpaceX's Starlink. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese embassy in the U.S. by email with a request for comment.
What To Know
"With our commercial assets, we have observed five different objects in space maneuvering in and out around each other in synchronicity and in control. That's what we call 'dogfighting' in space," Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of Space Operations in the U.S. Space Force, said Tuesday at a talk hosted by defense consulting and strategy firm McAleese. "They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on orbit space operations from one satellite to another."
Guetlein stressed the U.S. must maintain its edge in space, particularly when it comes to safeguarding the Pacific Fleet and Joint Force Command. "What keeps me up at night is the pace that the adversary—or the threat—is changing every single day. It is an eye-watering pace. It requires our guardians to be on their A-game every single day."
The Chinese maneuvers in question were carried out by five experimental satellites—three Shiyan-24Cs and a Shjian-605 A and B, Defense News cited a Space Force spokesperson as saying. The growing capabilities of U.S. strategic adversaries are a source of anxiety in Washington. Officials have also accused Russia of jamming signals from U.S. military satellites and deploying "nesting doll" satellites capable of firing projectiles to stalk their U.S. counterparts, suggesting they could be used to disable the space assets.
While Russia, a long-established space power, has been the focal point of these concerns, the longer-term threat is widely considered to be China—a rising military force that is by some measures outpacing the U.S. in the competition for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The technically complex maneuvers carried out by China last year, can only add to the perception of China as a threat.
What's Been Said
Lin Jian, spokesperson, Chinese Foreign Ministry, said during an October press briefing: "China stays committed to the peaceful use of outer space, and opposes arms race in outer space or weaponizing outer space. China has no intention to engage in a race with other countries in space and doesn't seek to gain an edge in space." Gen. Chance Saltzman, Space Force chief, was quoted by Politico: "The number of different categories of space weapons that [China has] created and [ …] the speed with which they're doing it is very threatening."
What's Next
President Donald Trump, who established the Space Force in 2019, has signaled his intent to prioritize space-based defense initiatives. The agency has been tasked with determining how to move forward on the "Golden Dome" missile defense system program Trump established by executive order shortly after taking office.
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nivek
As Above So Below
Space Force commander fired after sending mass email to staff about VP Vance
The Pentagon fired the commander at the U.S. Space Force base in Greenland after she distanced herself from Vice President J.D. Vance, who recently visited the headquarters.After the vice president’s visit, Col. Susannah Meyers emailed base personnel on March 31, writing, "I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base. She added that she had "spent the weekend thinking about Friday's visit – the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you." The email was first reported by Military.com.
The Space Force said in a public statement Meyers had been relieved of command "due to loss of confidence in her ability to lead."
"Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties," the statement read. Col. Shawn Lee has now assumed the command, Space Force said.
"Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense," Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell posted on X. Meyers became commander of the 821st Space Base Group in July, according to a Facebook post about the change-of-command ceremony.
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