The University of Arizona is working with the U.S. Space Force to provide training and a new system to track satellites.
The UA says the almost $8.6 million agreement to provide satellite imaging services will last for about three years.
The military branch’s division called Space Forces Southern, which handles operations in South America, says UA will also provide training and technology to counter adversaries.
The Space Force says it will share that training with allies in Latin America.
Col. Brandon Alford, commander of Space Forces Southern, says the UA’s proximity to the division's headquarters at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and robust space research led to partnerships.
“If we're able to train partners to do space domain awareness, that's more opportunities to track and process what's going on in this space environment," Alford said.
Alford says that’s critical in today’s age, where so many military and public activities rely on satellites for communications.
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