The AFWERX and Its Relevance to the Space Economy

Since its establishment in 2017, the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX initiative has been a catalyst for innovation within the Department of Defense (DoD). It’s goal is to bring together industry, academia, and military to develop solutions to problems identified by the Air Force and the newly created Space Force. This article provides an overview of AFWERX and its relevance to the emerging space economy.

Paper: LM LINUSS – Lockheed Martin In -Space Upgrade Servicing System (LM 2023)

The document describes the Lockheed Martin In-space Upgrade Servicing System (LM LINUSS), a pair of small satellites designed to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations capabilities for future on-orbit servicing missions. The LM LINUSS satellites are part of Lockheed Martin’s LM50 family of 12U CubeSats, measuring about 8x8x12 inches each. They were launched into geosynchronous orbit in November 2022 as secondary payloads on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Report: The EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence: Towards Strategic Autonomy? (EUNPDC 2023)

The European Union has unveiled its first ever space strategy focused on security and defense. The EU Space Strategy aims to strengthen the bloc’s strategic autonomy in outer space through harmonizing legislation, transforming civilian assets into dual-use, and deepening cooperation with allies.

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SpaceX Starship: Counter-Space “Mother Ship” Application

SpaceX’s Starship, a highly versatile, reusable spacecraft with significant payload capabilities, has elicited much interest within the scientific, commercial, and defense sectors. This article explores the concept of using Starship as a “mother ship” for counter-space weapons and the deployment of defensive measures.

Report: Cross Government Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Requirements Publication (UK GOV 2023)

This document defines a set of cross-government requirements for a UK national space surveillance system to deliver resilient space domain awareness capabilities serving both civil and defence needs across various orbital regimes.