Short Takes – 12-16-24 – Space Geek Edition

The US military is now talking openly about going on the attack in space. ArsTechnica.com article. Pull quote: ““Space is a war-fighting domain," Saltzman said at the Space Force Association's Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Florida. "Ten years ago, I couldn’t say that. That’s the starting point. Think about that. In 2014, we had senior leaders start to talk about space and war in the same sentence. They got kind of berated by the senior leadership. So this is still a relatively new condition when we’re talking about war-fighting in space. I don't think we should underestimate the power of that."”

3D Printed Aerospike Engine Tested on MIRA II Spaceplane. 3dPrintingIndustry.com article. Pull quote: ““Hasteloy X”, a high-strength nickel-based superalloy, was additively manufactured using selective laser melting (SLM) on an EOS M280 3D metal printer. According to project leader Graham Bell, 3D printing allowed the team to achieve unique design features such as the “nozzle geometry” and “embedded cooling network.” Additive manufacturing allowed the team to create and 3D print complex designs which could be tested, tweaked and re-printed in days instead of the months required for conventional production methods.”

LeoLabs expands space-monitoring network with radar site in Arizona. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “The radar employs a phased array antenna operating in the UHF band, allowing it to detect, locate, and track space debris, satellites, and highly maneuverable objects in orbit. LeoLabs CEO Tony Frazier highlighted the radar’s advanced capabilities, describing it as a testbed for cutting-edge space domain awareness technologies aimed at addressing military and intelligence needs.”

Space Force to test modular satellite technology in upcoming mission. SpaceNews.com article. Pull quote: “Speaking at the Spacepower Conference, McClain said more flexibility and speed is needed in satellite development. Traditional satellite development timelines are too slow to meet modern threats, he said. “The whole idea behind the TacRS program is to build an acquisition culture that can move faster than adversaries,” he said.”