An In-Orbit Game of Cat and Mouse: Close approaches prompt calls for communications and norms

Close approaches between U.S., Chinese, and Russian satellites are prompting calls for norms and better communications.
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House Armed Services chairman calls on Space Force to change how it buys launch services

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) in a draft version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act pushes for changes in military launch services procurement.
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NASA completes critical testing milestone for NOAA's JPSS-2 satellite

The Joint Polar Satellite System-2 satellite, or JPSS-2, has cleared a critical testing milestone, bringing it a step closer to launch. Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's polar-orbiting satellite emerged from the chamber after completing its thermal vacuum testing. This test is meant to show that the spacecraft and all of its instruments will perform successfully when exposed to the harsh environments of space.
"I can absolutely say with 100% certainty that the observatory is working great," said JPSS Flight Project Manager Andre Dress at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "All the instruments are performing great, and we're going to meet all our requirements—and then some."
JPSS-2, the third satellite in the Joint Polar Satellite System series, will provide data that improves weather forecasts and advance our understanding of extreme weather and climate change.
Astronomers want “strong finish” for SOFIA

The organization that operates an airborne astronomical observatory that NASA is shutting down this year wants to end the project on a high note.
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Senate Armed Services Committee proposes $45 billion funding boost for DoD

The Senate Armed Services Committee on June 16 voted 23-3 to advance its version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
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Earth from Space: Glacier Bay, Alaska

Part of the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, which lies along the coast of southeast Alaska, is featured in this image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.
Week in images: 13-17 June 2022

Week in images: 13-17 June 2022
Discover our week through the lens
SCEYE HAPS ascends to stratosphere demonstrates ability to stay over area of operation
Sceye, a manufacturer of High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), announced that it reached the stratosphere with the aim of demonstrating the ability to stay over an area of operation for months at a time using renewable energy sources.
The milestone test launch, which is using patented solar and battery power, puts Sceye on track to expand internet access to remote populations, monitor gr Airbus built MEASAT-3d communications satellite ready for launch
The Airbus built MEASAT-3d telecommunications satellite is in Kourou, French Guiana and is ready for its launch on an Ariane 5 on 22 June 2022.
MEASAT-3d is the 57th E3000 satellite built by Airbus and will be positioned at the 91.5E orbital slot and collocated with MEASAT-3b, also built by Airbus.
This new satellite will significantly enhance broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps in ar Northrop Grumman runs Laser Communication Demonstration for Tranche 1 constellation
Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced the successful ground demonstration of a secure networked laser communications system for proliferated-LEO constellations supporting the U.S. military.
Performed for SDA leadership, the demonstration validated compatibility between commercially developed laser communication and secure U.S. government encryption hardware, providing a baseline for N 