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DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Agency) has initiated a project to incentivise operators with large numbers of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to gain situational awareness throughout LEO, Breaking Defense said.

Raytheon BBN has won a contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop a rocket cargo mission planning and Command and Control, or C2, system for the U.S. Air Force. The contract has a potential value of $8.7 million over four years and is part of the U.S. Air Force 2030 Science & Technology Strategy’s transformational science and technology portfolio.

Global satellite communications firm, GapSat has newly acquired British consulting firm, QBX. This move will expand the frequency range at which they will be able to operate.

Active phased array communications technology company, CesiumAstro has acquired United Kingdom-based communications company TXMission. Founded in 2018, TXMission develops software-defined radios and modems for satellites, ground stations, HAPS (high-altitude platform systems), and airborne platforms.

Sidus Space, Inc., a Space-as-a-Service company, has signed an agreement with SkyWatch to use its TerraStream data-management platform. The parties expect the agreement to accelerate the expansion of Sidus’ commercial data distribution strategy, which includes white labeling data for the Company’s existing customers and driving growth of new data customers. Furthermore, Sidus Space expects the agreement to generate additional revenue for it and engage customers who otherwise may not have connected with Sidus. 

Kevin O'Connell is a former Director of the Office of Space Commerce at the U.S Department of Commerce. He is now the founder of Space Economy Rising LLC, a company that works with clients and partners worldwide on all aspects of the space economy. He is an expert in the field of space commerce and has been involved in space issues for over 30 years. In this episode, he talks about the commercial potential of space and takes unexpected turns. It seems space is looking for any talent out there.

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket has launched two U.S. military satellites into geosynchronous orbit from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the fifth successful flight of the rocket. Intended to launch on Saturday, January 14, the mission was delayed for a day, eventually launching on Sunday, January 15.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order adopting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s plan to establish a Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs. The reorganization will better support the needs of the growing satellite industry, the FCC said.

SpiderOak raised $16.4 million in an investment round led by Empyrean Technology Solutions, a space technology platform connected to Madison Dearborn Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm. 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and SpaceX reached an agreement to reduce the impact of Starlink Gen2 satellites on astronomy. SpaceX was granted a licence from the Federal Communications Commission in December to deploy a quarter of its planned 30,000-satellite Gen2 system.