Reserved Perceptions in Military Space operations

The United States Air Force (USAF) space operations corps. has a problem. I know, there are several (put your hands down!), but I will be talking about a specific one, one which is insidious. One which military personnel and contractors are somewhat blurring the ethical line. First, let’s talk about the concepts of impartiality and […]

Some space fun with Santa and NORAD

Can NORAD really track Santa using satellites? How do they say they do it? What if your child asks a question? Find out a few of your favorite things in my Clearancejobs.com post, all done in good fun–right here.

Why Space Matters: GEO Satellite operations, Part 1–Going GEO

One of these things is just like the other… In an earlier post regarding the United States Air Force replacement of their Defense Support Program satellites with Space Based Infrared ones, there was a question posed to you: What do both the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) and Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites have in common, […]

Eighteen years after its start, SBIRS still not quite replaces DSP (or, the Air Force gets less by spending more)

Sad but true. According to this post on Spaceflightnow.com’s site, prime contractor Lockheed Martin and its customer, the United States Air Force (USAF), are slowly and expensively achieving a goal. That is, they are replacing older USAF Defense Support Program (DSP–and more DSP info here) satellites with Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) GEO satellites. The SBIRS GEO-2 satellite is officially operating as […]

Surprise Chinese launch places another “experimental” satellite in orbit

Yup, the Chinese decided to surprise everyone with the launch of a Long March 4b, according to this NASASpaceflight.com article. I can’t even imagine the hullabaloo this created on our SBIRS (Space Based Infrared System) operators if this rocket’s intense heat source was really not expected. Imagine seeing something emerge from a not-so-friendly country–something big that […]