Latest news with #USSpaceForce
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Weather still a factor: Last call on Shubhanshu Shukla's Axiom-4 launch early today
CAPE CANAVERAL (FLORIDA): The rescheduled launch of Shubhanshu Shukla-piloted Axiom-4 mission remained unchanged at 5.30pm IST on Wednesday after a 'weather call' taken at Kennedy Space Centre on Tuesday (8pm IST). However, the weather continues to be a key variable as the stakeholders will take a final call after the 'L-8 hour weather briefing ', scheduled around midnight in US (around 10am IST). At the mission readiness review briefing, Jimmy Taeger, launch weather officer with 45th Weather Squadron of US Space Force, said conditions across central Florida is being shaped by a high-pressure system to the southeast. The system is expected to move north in the coming days, which could shift the winds and bring in scattered showers. While wind conditions are projected to improve mid-week, forecasters are keeping a close eye on the risk of passing showers, especially as launch windows approach. "Though winds are likely to improve, Wednesday looks better, and Thursday even better. The one thing we are going to be watching closely is the possibility of showers moving into the area," Taeger said. Liquid oxygen leak detected during fire test on Falcon-9 William Gerstenmaier, SpaceX vice-president, build and flight reliability, stressed on the company's continued focus on safety and precision, noting that "space flight is really hard, and we're learning every day". During a static fire test of the Falcon-9, SpaceX engineers discovered a liquid oxygen leak that had initially gone undetected during the booster's post-flight refurbishment. "We discovered that we had not fully repaired the booster ... we're installing a purge that will essentially mitigate the leak if it continues," he said. In addition, a thrust vector control issue with engine five was also identified. The affected components have since been replaced.
Bloomberg
10-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
How Space Tech Is Shaping US Defense Spending
Spire Global sends satellites, which are about the size of a loaf of bread, into space to track atmospheric data to help drive data-driven decisions. The company has contracts with the Canadian Space Agency and has secured a 10-year contract with the US Space Force last month. Theresa Condor, Spire's CEO joined the C-Suite on Bloomberg Open Interest to talk about the role of tech in defense spending. (Source: Bloomberg)
Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Knowledge Nugget: Golden Dome missile defence system — A must know for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on Golden Dome. (Relevance: Various air defence systems, missiles, fighter jets, and aircraft types are some of the important topics of defence technology that have been asked by UPSC in prelims. In 2018, a question was asked on Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD). As in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, air defence systems have been in the news; it becomes important to know about the Golden Dome and Iron Dome. US President Donald Trump has offered the 'Golden Dome' missile defence system for free to Canada, which had shown interest after the Republican leader announced it but added a rider that Ottawa can have it without paying any charge 'if it becomes part of the US' 51st State'. Notably, on May 20, US President Donald Trump said he has shortlisted a design for the 'Golden Dome' missile defence shield and made General Michael Guetlein of the US Space Force in charge of the project. In this context, let's know about Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome' and what it is inspired by. 1. First floated by Trump this January, the Golden Dome is inspired by Israel's much lauded Iron Dome system — a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system. But it is far more ambitious in scale and scope, and seeks to integrate 'next-generation' technologies across land, sea, and even space. 2. Trump said that the system will comprise, among other things, space-based sensors and interceptors. If this were to be true, this would make the Golden Dome the very first truly space-based weapon system. 3. As of right now, the use of space technology in defence has largely been restricted to reconnaissance. Satellites provide crucial targeting and other data for Earth-based weapon systems such as long-range missiles, guided munitions, etc. 4. The proposed Golden Dome goes one step further, with the introduction of interceptors to be launched from space. Exactly how they will work is still unclear. But according to the initial plans, the system will comprise thousands of small satellites orbiting Earth, which will intercept an enemy missile mere moments after it is launched, NPR reported. 5. Trump said the defense shield would cost some $175 billion, and will be operational by January 2029, when his term ends. But industry experts are skeptical of both this timeline and estimated cost, Reuters reported. 6. Technologically speaking, the idea behind Golden Dome is not far-fetched. But it is untested, and at the moment, more of a 'concept'. 'Right now, Golden Dome is, it's really an idea,' one source had told CNN in March. This also makes projecting timelines and costs very difficult, the article added. 1. Iron Dome is a short-range, ground-to-air, air defence system that includes a radar and Tamir interceptor missiles that track and neutralise any rockets or missiles aimed at Israeli targets. It is used for countering rockets, artillery & mortars (C-RAM) as well as aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. 2. The genesis of the Iron Dome goes back to the 2006 Israeli-Lebanon war, when the Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into Israel. The following year, Israel announced that its state-run Rafael Advance Systems would come up with a new air defence system to protect its cities and people. It was developed with Israel Aerospace Industries. 3. Notably, the idea behind Trump's proposed Golden Dome is inspired by Israel's much lauded Iron Dome system. But the Iron Dome's capabilities pale in comparison to what Trump wants with the Golden Dome. 📌 The Iron Dome does not rely on satellites for any aspect of its functionality, even tracking. It primarily relies on radars to identify and track enemy targets. Although Trump's Golden Dome will likely comprise radar and other ground-based targeting systems as well, its main selling point, thus far, is the deployment of space-based systems. 📌Israel is nearly 400 times smaller than the US, and consists of mostly flat desert terrain, which makes short-range interceptors ideal and cost-efficient for air defence. Moreover, its primary threats come from non-conventional actors like Hezbollah and Hamas. The US requires a far more expansive air defence system. Most notably, the US must be able to defend against Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), technology which both China and Russia — Washington's two main geopolitical rivals — possess. ICBMs can be launched from tens of thousands of kilometres away, and travel to space as a part of their flight trajectory. Tracking ICBMs necessitates the use of satellites. And while they can be neutralised using ground-based interceptors, space-based weapons have long been thought to be more effective for this task given that they re-enter Earth's atmosphere at hypersonic speeds. 1. The United Nations' Outer Space Treaty is an international agreement binding member states to only use outer space for peaceful purposes. It spells out the principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies. 2. The treaty came into force in October, 1967, during the peak of the Cold War, after being ratified by Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. It lays down the following governing principles: 📌 The exploration and use of outer space will be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and will be the province of all mankind. 📌 Outer space will be free for exploration and use by all states. 📌 Outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty. 📌 States will not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner. 📌 The Moon and other celestial bodies will be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. 📌 Astronauts will be regarded as the envoys of mankind. 📌 States will be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental entities. 📌 States will be liable for damage caused by their space objects. 📌 States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies. 1. The Artemis Accords, launched by NASA and the US Department of State in 2020, have 53 signatories, including India. 2. It implements fundamental commitments from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and emphasises commitment to the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, and best practices for responsible behaviour, such as the public distribution of scientific data. 3. The accords are a series of non-binding agreements that establish principles to be respected in outer space. With reference to the Outer Space Treaty, consider the following statements: 1. It entered into force during the peak of World War II and provides the basic framework on international space law that remains in place to date. 2. As per one of the Articles of the treaty the activities of non-governmental entities in outer space shall require authorisation and continuing supervision by the appropriate State Party to the Treaty. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (Sources: What we know about Trump's 'Golden Dome', Trump offers Golden Dome missile shield to Canada 'for free', but 'only if it joins US as 51st state', What is the Outer Space Treaty and why the US and Russia are at odds over it? ) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
British defence giant to make satellites for Trump's missile shield
British defence giant BAE Systems is to build satellites for a new American missile-tracking system that is poised to form part of Donald Trump's 'Golden Dome'. On Thursday, the FTSE 100 company said it had secured a $1.2bn (£880m) contract from the US Space Force to provide 10 satellites for the Pentagon's missile warning and missile tracking programme. The constellation will sit in a medium Earth orbit – between 1,000 miles and 22,000 miles above the planet's surface – and track threats including intercontinental ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles. It is eventually expected to form part of the US president's broader Golden Dome, a $175bn proposal to stitch together a network of land and space-based sensors and interceptors to shoot down missiles aimed at the United States. Lt Col Brandon Castillo, of the US Space Force, said the system being provided by BAE would 'provide accurate real-time information to decision-makers'. He added: 'This allows for additional resiliency in the missile warning and tracking satellite architecture.' The satellites will use infrared sensing technology and, along with another batch commissioned under the same programme, will have 'the ability to track hypersonic missile threats anywhere on the globe', Space Force said. They are planned for delivery from 2029 onwards. Mr Trump announced the Golden Dome plans last month, reviving an idea for a global missile shield that was first mooted by former president Ronald Reagan in the 1980s – dubbed 'Star Wars' at the time. The Reagan proposals have since been credited with kicking off a fresh arms race that piled fresh financial pressures on the Soviet Union before its eventual collapse. However, experts have questioned whether, even today, it is technically and financially feasible. The Trump administration's idea has also been partly inspired by the 'Iron Dome' missile shield used by Israel to defend itself against rocket attacks, over a smaller area. Interest in the system has grown amid fears about the capabilities of new hypersonic missiles developed by China and Russia, which American defence planners fear could slip through their defences in a conflict. Mr Trump has vowed that his system will be able to block all kinds of missiles, including nuclear weapons, using 'super technology'. 'This is very important for the success and even survival of our country. It's a pretty evil world out there,' he said last month. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Mint
03-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Golden Dome Missile Shield Project: Trump seeks Japan's help in developing $175 billion defense plan — Report
US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba discussed potential collaboration on missile defense technology during a recent phone call, with a focus on the development of Trump's proposed Golden Dome missile shield, the Nikkei reported. According to the report, Japan is expected to partner with the United States on systems aimed at detecting and intercepting missile threats. The Golden Dome project, a $175 billion initiative announced by Trump earlier this year, is designed to establish a vast satellite-based defense shield capable of countering threats from countries like China and Russia. The Nikkei, citing unnamed sources, said Tokyo's involvement could also be strategically leveraged in ongoing trade talks, possibly helping Japan secure relief from US tariffs. While the specifics of Japan's role have not been officially confirmed, Trump's administration is slated for completion by the end of Trump's second term in 2029. Trump on May 20 announced the design selection for the Golden Dome missile defense shield, a sweeping $175 billion initiative aimed at countering missile threats from adversaries such as China and Russia. Trump also named US Space Force General Michael Guetlein as the lead program manager for the project. 'This is about protecting our homeland,' Trump said during a White House press conference. First ordered in January, the Golden Dome project envisions a vast constellation of surveillance and interceptor satellites — potentially numbering in the hundreds — designed to detect, track, and destroy enemy missiles shortly after launch. The system is inspired by Israel's Iron Dome, but Trump said the Golden Dome would be 'far more extensive,' covering threats across multiple continents and domains. The president said he expects the Golden Dome to be fully operational by the end of his term in January 2029. The announcement marks the Pentagon's formal launch of procurement and testing efforts to assemble the necessary systems, sensors, and weapons infrastructure. Key defense contractors named at the press conference include L3Harris Technologies, Lockheed Martin, and RTX Corp (formerly Raytheon Technologies), who are expected to provide core components from existing production lines.
