Military
Stories about military and national security missions in orbit.
What’s Next With The Head of Gilat Defense
Israeli satcom firm Gilat Satellite Networks is preparing to move hundreds of employees to the US as part of its new defense division, according to Gilad Landsberg, the head of the new division.
ULA CEO Responds to ‘Inaccurate’ AF Report
“When that was written, it was inaccurate. As we sit here today, it is certainly overtaken by events.”
Industry, VC, DoD on Future of Space Conflict
“If you want private capital flowing into specific sectors, that’s a very good way to encourage it,” Morales said. “Just tell startups that if they build what you want, you’ll buy it and then buy it. It’s that simple.”
Rivada to Fly Outernet Demo Mission in 2026
The company announced plans to fly the first demonstration mission of its 600-sat laser-linked “Outernet” in 2026 and offer connectivity services by 2027.
Satellite Adds Military Track to Expand Scope of Show
The GovMilSpace track will include panels with industry representatives on a number of national security topics, including improving resilience in orbit, driving competition in military launch capabilities, and addressing threats in space.
Astranis Notches Key Demo for USSF’s GPS Backup
“We have shown that our satellites will be fully compatible with legacy GPS receivers,” Astranis CEO John Gedmark told Payload.
Nations Lock Down EO Capabilities As Ukraine War Continues
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago this week catapulted EO tech into the spotlight, providing a bird’s eye view of everything from Russia’s build up of military equipment along the border to the theft of Ukrainian grain. Seeing the benefits of EO before and during the conflict, industry officials said other countries have been…
New Bill Would Classify Space as Critical Infrastructure
The Space Infrastructure Act seeks to codify in statute that space assets are so vital to the nation’s economy and security that their disruption would have a debilitating impact.
How to Build the Iron Dome For America
Trump directed the US to rapidly beef up its space-based missile defense capabilities to keep pace with advancing space-based missile tech from adversaries.
DoD’s Former Top Space Buyer Joins True Anomaly Board
“I really like the speed the company is going at,” he told Payload. “And I really like their approach.”
Lieber Institute: How to Stop Space Nukes
Laying out the legal and geopolitical options available to the US government to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons and other WMDs in orbit.
The Hottest Trend in Space Is A Defense Pivot
“If I had a nickel for every space company that pivoted to national security, well, I wouldn’t need to raise another round,” one spacetech founder mulling that exact strategy told Payload this week.
US Launches 122 Defense Payloads in 2024, Europe Launches 1
The US launched 122 defense payloads in 2024, surging 184% YoY, according to data compiled by astronomer Jonathan McDowell. The upswing was driven by the National Reconnaissance Office’s deployment of 106 SpaceX and Northrop-built Starshield remote sensing recon satellites.
