What Happened
New Spaceplane Technology Enhances Satellite Protection Capabilities
MDA has unveiled the MDA Midnight platform, a satellite equipped with a robotic arm capable of refueling other satellites and defending against incoming threats. The platform was showcased at the Space Symposium in Colorado and has been selected to join the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD program. The development comes as the US military expresses concerns over China’s satellite refueling experiments and the need for advanced space domain awareness capabilities. According to Defense One, a protracted conflict with Iran could cost up to $20 billion per month, highlighting the importance of advanced technologies in supporting military operations.