Sandra Erwin, Author at SpaceNews https://spacenews.com Covering the business and politics of space Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:36:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cropped-SN_forza_star-32x32.png Sandra Erwin, Author at SpaceNews https://spacenews.com 32 32 80681979 HawkEye 360 files to go public https://spacenews.com/hawkeye-360-files-to-go-public/ https://spacenews.com/hawkeye-360-files-to-go-public/#respond Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:36:54 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=585732

Based in Herndon, Virginia, the company specializes in space-based radio-frequency signals intelligence for government agencies

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A new kind of arsenal: commercial satellites https://spacenews.com/a-new-kind-of-arsenal-commercial-satellites/ https://spacenews.com/a-new-kind-of-arsenal-commercial-satellites/#respond Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=584604

he Pentagon is no longer asking whether commercial space will matter in future conflicts. It is building a strategy around the assumption that it will.

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Space Force taps 14 firms for $1.8 billion GEO surveillance program https://spacenews.com/space-force-taps-14-firms-for-1-8-billion-geo-surveillance-program/ https://spacenews.com/space-force-taps-14-firms-for-1-8-billion-geo-surveillance-program/#respond Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:26:24 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=585218

The companies will compete for contracts to build ‘neighborhood watch’ satellites

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Lockheed Martin wins $105 million contract for GPS ground control system as OCX winds down https://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-wins-105-million-contract-for-gps-ground-control-system-as-ocx-winds-down/ https://spacenews.com/lockheed-martin-wins-105-million-contract-for-gps-ground-control-system-as-ocx-winds-down/#respond Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:26:44 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=585206

The contract supports next-generation GPS IIIF satellites through 2030

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Vantor to expand imaging satellite fleet, adding smallsats to increase revisit rates https://spacenews.com/vantor-to-expand-imaging-satellite-fleet-adding-smallsats-to-increase-revisit-rates/ https://spacenews.com/vantor-to-expand-imaging-satellite-fleet-adding-smallsats-to-increase-revisit-rates/#respond Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=585103

The new architecture combines high resolution with rapid revisit

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Apex to develop larger satellites for missile defense, space-based computing https://spacenews.com/apex-to-develop-larger-satellites-for-missile-defense-space-based-computing/ https://spacenews.com/apex-to-develop-larger-satellites-for-missile-defense-space-based-computing/#respond Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=585123

‘Comet Mini’ and ‘Comet XL’ target energy-intensive missions

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LeoLabs debuts space monitoring tool for military users https://spacenews.com/leolabs-debuts-space-monitoring-tool-for-military-users/ https://spacenews.com/leolabs-debuts-space-monitoring-tool-for-military-users/#respond Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=584633

LeoLabs ‘Delta’ moves beyond collision warnings to identify potential adversarial activity

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Capella Space wins $49 million contract for military communications satellite demo https://spacenews.com/capella-space-wins-49-million-contract-for-military-communications-satellite-demo/ https://spacenews.com/capella-space-wins-49-million-contract-for-military-communications-satellite-demo/#respond Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:21:52 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=584740

The contract was awarded by the Space Development Agency for 2027 demonstrations

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Space security moves to forefront as threats to satellites spread https://spacenews.com/space-security-moves-to-forefront-as-threats-to-satellites-spread/ https://spacenews.com/space-security-moves-to-forefront-as-threats-to-satellites-spread/#respond Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=584484 LEO objects including satellites, other spacecraft, and debris, tracked by LeoLabs. Credit: LeoLabs

Secure World Foundation report highlights growing reliance on orbiting systems and spread of interference technologies

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Hungary taps Northrop Grumman for first national geostationary communications satellite https://spacenews.com/hungary-taps-northrop-grumman-for-first-national-geostationary-communications-satellite/ https://spacenews.com/hungary-taps-northrop-grumman-for-first-national-geostationary-communications-satellite/#respond Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:48:42 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=584557

Hungary’s defense and space tech contractor 4iG also announced deals with L3Harris and Apex for defense systems and satellite manufacturing

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Military space programs confront hidden supply constraints https://spacenews.com/military-space-confronts-hidden-supplier-constraints/ https://spacenews.com/military-space-confronts-hidden-supplier-constraints/#respond Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:30:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=583621 Lockheed Martin manufactures satellites for the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer program. These satellites enable data-relay communications.

Industry report warns components – from optical links to valves – may become chokepoints

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Space Force budget would more than double in Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense plan https://spacenews.com/space-force-budget-would-more-than-double-in-trumps-1-5-trillion-defense-plan/ https://spacenews.com/space-force-budget-would-more-than-double-in-trumps-1-5-trillion-defense-plan/#respond Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:30:36 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=583997

$71 billion request for the U.S. Space Force for fiscal year 2027 includes more than $60 billion for procurement, research and development

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Former Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice to lead Astrion  https://spacenews.com/former-sierra-space-ceo-tom-vice-to-lead-astrion/ https://spacenews.com/former-sierra-space-ceo-tom-vice-to-lead-astrion/#respond Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:44:39 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=583639

Huntsville-based defense contractor focuses on systems engineering and integration, and space mission assurance

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Optical terminals still a bottleneck in Pentagon’s proliferated constellation https://spacenews.com/optical-terminals-still-a-bottleneck-in-pentagons-proliferated-constellation/ https://spacenews.com/optical-terminals-still-a-bottleneck-in-pentagons-proliferated-constellation/#respond Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:39:49 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=583631

GP Sandhoo: ‘From an optical communications terminal perspective, we’re not there yet on how many we need’

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Pentagon awards Raytheon $45 million for GPS ground system as program future is reassessed https://spacenews.com/pentagon-awards-raytheon-45-million-for-gps-ground-system-as-program-future-is-reassessed/ https://spacenews.com/pentagon-awards-raytheon-45-million-for-gps-ground-system-as-program-future-is-reassessed/#respond Thu, 02 Apr 2026 17:17:43 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=583606

The ‘unpriced change order’ supports satellite launches while officials reassess long-delayed ground system

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Teledyne forms dedicated space unit to capture rising demand https://spacenews.com/teledyne-forms-dedicated-space-unit-to-capture-rising-demand/ https://spacenews.com/teledyne-forms-dedicated-space-unit-to-capture-rising-demand/#respond Wed, 01 Apr 2026 17:29:14 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=583433

The aerospace supplier is combining imaging, electronics and component lines under Teledyne Space

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Saltzman: Space ‘baked into’ modern combat operations https://spacenews.com/saltzman-space-baked-into-modern-combat-operations/ https://spacenews.com/saltzman-space-baked-into-modern-combat-operations/#respond Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:49:47 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=583393

Space Force personnel supporting operations under U.S. Central Command are positioned in the Middle East, at headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina

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Vantor wins intelligence agency contract to monitor space objects https://spacenews.com/vantor-wins-intelligence-agency-contract-to-monitor-space-objects/ https://spacenews.com/vantor-wins-intelligence-agency-contract-to-monitor-space-objects/#respond Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:30:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=582974

Under NGA’s Luno program, the company will provide ‘insights on priority objects in low Earth orbit’

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Europe’s space sector faces power shift as funding grows https://spacenews.com/europes-space-sector-faces-power-shift-as-funding-grows/ https://spacenews.com/europes-space-sector-faces-power-shift-as-funding-grows/#respond Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=582553 A photo of Europe taken January 19, 2024, from aboard the International Space Station by a member of the Expedition 70 crew. Credit: NASA

New report from Aerospace Corp. highlights rising EU funding and defense focus

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Rocket Lab wins German approval for Mynaric deal https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-wins-german-approval-for-mynaric-deal/ https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-wins-german-approval-for-mynaric-deal/#respond Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:19:55 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=582696

Decision clears path for April closing after months of scrutiny over keeping key space technology in domestic hands

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Varda flies navigation payload, heat shield tests on sixth reentry mission https://spacenews.com/varda-flies-navigation-payload-heat-shield-tests-on-sixth-reentry-mission/ https://spacenews.com/varda-flies-navigation-payload-heat-shield-tests-on-sixth-reentry-mission/#respond Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:48:36 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=582653

Rhea Space, Sandia and NASA hardware to gather data during high-speed descent

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Pentagon weighing termination of Raytheon GPS ground control contract after years of delays https://spacenews.com/pentagon-weighing-termination-of-raytheon-gps-ground-control-contract-after-years-of-delays/ https://spacenews.com/pentagon-weighing-termination-of-raytheon-gps-ground-control-contract-after-years-of-delays/#respond Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:43:50 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=582523 Illustration of a lockheed martin GPS IIIF satellite in orbit.

Space Force considers shifting to upgraded legacy ground system

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Satellite imaging industry’s next challenge: getting systems to talk to each other https://spacenews.com/satellite-imaging-industrys-next-challenge-getting-systems-to-talk-to-each-other/ https://spacenews.com/satellite-imaging-industrys-next-challenge-getting-systems-to-talk-to-each-other/#respond Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:31:45 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=582404

Executives say lack of incentives and interoperability slows ‘tipping and cueing’ across vendors

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Space Command begins phased move to Alabama  https://spacenews.com/space-command-begins-phased-move-to-alabama/ https://spacenews.com/space-command-begins-phased-move-to-alabama/#respond Thu, 26 Mar 2026 21:20:42 +0000 https://spacenews.com/?p=581959

The new headquarters building is expected to be completed by 2031

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