Mike Snead’s Post

The U.S. Space Force head, General B. Chance Saltzman has effectively admitted that it is not a real "force" in space—but a "force" in name only. "Saltzman described the pace as “mind-boggling,” highlighting that China is launching hundreds of satellites that could be used for military targeting." "[T]he U.S. Space Force has requested $29.4 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, heavily relying on private companies, such as SpaceX, for space defense." What type of military force relies on private companies for meeting their national security obligations? The Spacefaring Institute is preparing to launch a LinkedIn newsletter, Spaceward, to address such important American space policy issues. Please follow the Spacefaring Institute to help get this newsletter rolling. #China #USSF #spaceforce #USAF #DOD #spacewarfare #airforce

US Space Force to perform world’s first military exercise in orbit - The US Space Force on April 11 announced that it is partnering with private space companies Rocket Lab and True Anomaly for a military on-orbit demonstration. - The Victus Haze Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission will demonstrate how the military would counter “on-orbit aggression.” It is a first-of-its-kind mission that reflects ongoing military escalation in the space domain. - https://lnkd.in/en_67P79

How 2 satellites will reshape civilian and military #Communications: 2 satellites are being prepared for launch in 2024 as part of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) to provide mobile broadband coverage to the Arctic region for civilian and military users.  The satellites will carry various payloads, including: - Viasat Ka-band payloads - X-Band payloads for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense - Payloads for the U.S. Space Force.  Learn why this mission is crucial for the U.S. military:

From the United States to Europe, the state has re-entered the space sector: – In 2019, the US established Space Force, its first new independent military service since the U.S. Air Force in 1947. – In May 2024, the European Space Agency launched an initiative to develop a European counterpart to SpaceX, selecting two companies to pioneer commercial cargo services to the International Space Station. – In the Ukraine War, satellite technology has assumed a crucial role. Russia has successfully jammed Starlink and is rumored to have developed a nuclear-powered anti-satellite weapon that could be launched into orbit. Visit our website to read the full-length version of our Horizon 'The state is stepping back into space': https://lnkd.in/erWCYweT Original publication date: June 4, 2024 #Dasym #Space #Geopolitics

U.S. Space Force launches first unit in Japan The U.S. military’s Space Force has launched its first-ever unit in Japan, part of an effort to boost coordination and interoperability with its ally, including the Air Self-Defense Force’s own Space Operations Group. Activated on Wednesday, U.S. Space Forces Japan — a component similar to the one established at South Korea’s Osan Air Base in 2022 — will operate out of Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo with a staff of about 10 and be subordinate to U.S. Forces Japan, which is set to be reconstituted into a joint force headquarters next year. Part of a larger U.S. push to increase collaboration with allies in the space domain, the unit is expected to help boost deterrence and improve coordination in responding to challenges amid shared concerns about the increasingly advanced space technologies of rivals such as China, Russia and North Korea. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last month in Australia that this will also include cooperation on low-Earth orbit satellite constellations to deal with advanced missiles carrying hypersonic glide vehicles and “other threats.” Speaking in Washington in October, the U.S. Space Force’s Indo-Pacific commander, Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, said that having units in both South Korea and Japan would help drive integration not just with other U.S. military components, but also with host nation militaries. James Schoff, an expert on the alliance at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, said the U.S. unit will be working closely together with its Japanese counterparts to build out a bilateral cooperation agenda and exploring ways to connect with other partners. “There will be information sharing, collaborative planning, getting to know each other’s organizational culture, capabilities and how decisions are made,” he said, adding that the unit will also facilitate personnel exchanges, improve communication and help overcome technical barriers such as incompatibility of software or systems. Tokyo and Washington already collaborate in activities such as space domain awareness (SDA) — the tracking of man-made and natural space debris that can damage existing satellites — as well as allowing for “hosted payloads” or sensors to be placed on each other’s satellites to expand coverage more cost-effectively.

The People’s Liberation Army is working comprehensively on the technology and training tools for on-orbit satellite refueling for both peacetime and wartime scenarios. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is already integrating lessons learned into military doctrine and training tools, while a defense contractor has already demonstrated what it calls a space fuel tanker in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO), according to a report published by the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) March 18. The report underlines that the PLA has a strategic focus on enhancing its on-orbit logistics capabilities and is integrating commercial enterprises into the space sector. These developments have potential implications for international space operations norms and should prompt action by the U.S. Space Force to attain similar capabilities and readiness. #satellitetechnology #satelliteconnectivity #satelliteinnovation #spacetech #spaceinnovation

https://lnkd.in/ggVZa2Y3 Absolutely wrong description: "While Japan has long been considered one of the world’s most advanced spacefaring nations, its accomplishments have occurred largely in civil space exploration and science." Japan has never been considered as one of most advanced spacefaring nation, and its most distinct accomplishment was space exploration by Hayabusa and Hayabusa2, which was conducted by Japan's public sector. And, there is very, very bad chemistry between JAXA's projects and Ministry of Defense's military-use projects. Military use of space gravely hampers scientific space projects. Military use of space is nonsense at all! Stop #OVERSECURITIZATION of space!

#worldpoliticalcommentary #china #chinesemilitary #usspaceforce #spacemilitarization #spacemilitarizationchina #spacemilitarisation #spacemilitarisationchina #spaceweapons #militaryspacegear - China is sending military gear into orbit at a 'mind-boggling' pace, says US Space Force chief https://lnkd.in/gTc78HRC

The U.S. Space Force is focusing on preparing for potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region over the next few years. Follow us for the latest news updates ➡️ Global Defense Online https://lnkd.in/e4NvsBEr

News Pick-up: Japan to Take Part in AsterX Space Defense Drill with NATO Members By Madoka Kitamatsu and Yusuke Takeuchi URL: https://lnkd.in/gpWF9Tur Summary: The AsterX 2024 exercise on countering threats in space will be held between March 4-15 at the French National Centre for Space Studies in Toulouse. Including Japan, there will be participation from 16 other countries. The exercise aims to enhance training in a simulated space environment to address evolving threats. With a scenario inspired by current and future space warfare challenges, the drills will involve 140 participants, including foreign observers, and simulate diverse threat types across various orbits. #YCAPS #space #NATO #AsterX