The Department of Defense (DOD) is a U.S. government agency responsible for military and national security space activities. It acts as a major procurer and operator of space systems, including launch vehicles and satellite systems for reconnaissance, missile launch detection, navigation, and communication. The DOD aims to maintain space superiority, integrate military space power, and ensure space stability, working with commercial firms to integrate space solutions into national security architectures.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Austin’s 2021-07-07 memo directs the Department of Defense to operate in space with due regard to others and in a professional manner.
Ligado received FCC approval to offer 0.005 kg services on a separate band despite warnings from the Department of Defense and other agencies about potential interference with GPS signals.
FAA commercial astronaut wings mirror the astronaut wings awarded by NASA and the Defense Department to personnel who fly above 80.5 km.
The Defense Department has started developing norms for space behavior.
The National Reconnaissance Office is part of the U.S. intelligence community and works with the Department of Defense to develop, acquire, launch, and operate the nation’s intelligence satellites.
On 2021-07-14, the Pentagon acknowledged that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin received Michael Brown’s 2021-07-13 letter withdrawing his nomination.
ESPA rings were originally developed to carry secondary payloads on Pentagon-funded Atlas V and Delta IV launches and have become a standard for accommodating small satellites on EELV-class and commercial launches such as United Launch Alliance vehicles and SpaceX Falcon 9.
In partnership with the Space Development Agency, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is among the first Department of Defense contractors to develop and deploy a 1550 nm Optical Communication Terminal to test increased speed, reliability, distance, and variability of space communications.
Transporter-2 is supporting customers including NASA, the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency, and several companies developing remote sensing and communications constellations.
Ovzon received a $2,000,000 direct order from the U.S. Department of Defense for satellite terminals.
L3Harris Technologies selected NXTCOMM to develop an Electronically Steerable Antenna to support U.S. Department of Defense warfighters.
Saint Louis University (SLU) operates a program to train National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense employees.
SpaceX named Microsoft as a subcontractor on a $149,000,000 contract to build missile-detection satellites for the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency.
SkyWater Technology has been working with the U.S. Department of Defense to create a U.S. foundry for building components that can withstand radiation in space.
The European Space Agency, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Department of Defense have awarded contracts to Hydrosat.
Capella Space won a Department of Defense contract last year to provide airborne synthetic aperture radar data to the U.S. Navy.
The Rocket Systems Launch Program was created by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1972 to convert surplus ICBMs into small launch vehicles.
Momentus signed a national security agreement with the U.S. Defense Department and Treasury Department on 2021-06-09.
The Pentagon requested $15,300,000,000 for investments in space technology in the Biden administration’s 2022 budget proposal.
The Department of Defense awarded United Launch Alliance and SpaceX five-year launch service contracts in August 2020 for approximately 34 launches from 2022 through 2027.