https://spacewatch.global/tag/us-afrl/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:18:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/us-afrl/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/intuitive-machines-secures-afrl-contract-extension-for-in-space-nuclear-power-tech/ Tue, 04 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68744 Intuitive Machines has announced an $8.2 million contract extension from the U.S. AFRL to develop nuclear power systems for spacecraft and lunar infrastructure. The award builds on Intuitive Machines’ earlier $9.5 million progress under a previous AFRL program, an initiative by AFRL to develop compact nuclear power systems for space applications. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/03/varda-space-completes-capsule-return-to-koonibba-test-range/ Mon, 03 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64226 Varda Space Industries has successfully returned its Winnebago-2 (W-2) capsule to Southern Launch’s Koonibba Test Range in South Australia after launching aboard the Transporter-12 rideshare mission with SpaceX on January 14.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/03/viasat-wins-northrop-grumman-contract-to-support-afrl-initiative/ Fri, 01 Mar 2024 07:00:06 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=53899 Viasat, Inc. has won a contract from Northrop Grumman to support the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) initiative, called the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) Call 003 program – better known by its nickname 'Global Lightning.' As a result, the company's high-capacity geostationary satellites will support the program, which is connecting commercial space internet services for military users]]>