Virgin Orbit will send 9 multinational rideshares to orbit using the LauncherOne small launch platform and a modified Boeing 747 aircraft later in 2022. “Since its inception more than 60 years ago, NRO has been pushing the boundaries – finding ever-more innovative ways to leverage space in order to secure and expand our intelligence advantage, and protect and defend the United States and our allies,” said NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolese. “It’s an honor to join the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence in announcing this historic enterprise. We look forward to this remarkable achievement as the foundation of an even stronger collaboration between our nations.”

This mission—launching UK MOD Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s two Prometheus 2 CubeSats—is the latest example of increased UK and international space cooperation. Not only will this be the first launch from British soil, but it will also be the first commercial launch from Western Europe. Launching from the UK marks a continued expansion of NRO’s overseas launch locations in addition to New Zealand providing NRO with the ability to launch from three continents.

“This is a great example of the power of international collaboration – a key tenet of our Defence Space Strategy,” said UK MOD Director Space Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth. “Prometheus 2 will deliver immense value to the UK MOD’s future space programme and, thanks to our partners in the National Reconnaissance Office, these highly-capable satellites will launch from UK soil this summer. I am hugely proud of what we have achieved together and this is just the beginning!”

LauncherOne expands NRO’s innovative launch capabilities as NRO’s first horizontal launch. A modified Boeing 747 aircraft, Cosmic Girl, with the LauncherOne rocket will take off from Spaceport Cornwall located at Newquay Airport in Cornwall, England. Additional information on launch timing will be made available from the UK Space Agency and UK Civil Aviation Authority.

This launch demonstrates NRO’s latest innovative and streamlined contracting approaches while moving faster with both traditional industry and new entrants into the marketplace. This launch service was acquired from Virgin Orbit National Systems, Virgin Orbit’s U.S. subsidiary, as the first task order on the Streamlined Launch Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Contract.

Source: NRO

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ICS combines an open architecture and a unique set of track management and situational awareness capabilities to facilitate the creation, visualization and distribution of the common operating picture. This picture provides military commanders the information they need to plan, execute and manage military operations.

“Northrop Grumman in the UK has a long history of providing enhanced value and commercial flexibility for the MoD,” said Katharine Sealy, director, National Security Solutions, Northrop Grumman UK. “Our agile approach to C2 software development and open architectural design philosophy helps to ensure that UK forces maintain an information advantage.”

ICS is developed and supported in the UK, and it has continuously evolved to provide the core C2 systems for UK MoD and NATO HQs/ships for over 25 years. It is also fielded by many other nations to power their national C2 systems.

Source: Northrop Grumman

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1Spatial plc, a spatial Big Data company, has been awarded a significant long-term contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) on behalf of the No.1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit (“AIDU”).

AIDU, formed in 1953 to provide the UK’s Royal Air Force with specialist aeronautical cartographic information, is at the forefront of air cartography world-wide. AIDU is part of the Joint Forces Intelligence Group (JFIG) and provides maps, charts and aeronautical data to defense aircrew, air traffic controllers and aerospace battle managers of UK and allied military forces. The information they provide is critical for mission and flight-planning around the globe.

The contract is for the provision of the construction and transition implementation phases of the Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File (DAFIF 8.1) upgrade. This upgrade will enable AIDU to maintain and publish aeronautical charts and en-route bulletins that conform to the international standard for aeronautical data. This runs alongside the on-going contract from AIDU awarded in 2013 to provide support and maintenance of the organization’s spatial data.

Marcus Hanke, chief executive of 1Spatial, said, “1Spatial is proud to have a long and trusted relationship with No.1 AIDU and we are delighted to be awarded this very important and strategic contract that further strengthens and extends our involvement in supporting them to provide such vital data globally. Our team is extremely experienced in managing and servicing large amounts of mission critical spatial data, utilizing our market-leading products from the 1Spatial Management Suite. We are looking forward to collaborating on this exciting project, leveraging our skills and technology on a global basis in the aeronautical information industry. This positions 1Spatial well for future international opportunities in this area.”

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