Draft House subcommittee NDAA language OKs Pentagon commercial ‘space reserve’ plan

Draft House subcommittee NDAA language OKs Pentagon commercial ‘space reserve’ plan
Draft House subcommittee NDAA language OKs Pentagon commercial ‘space reserve’ plan

The draft FY25 NDAA language would force DoD to create a new pilot project designed to kickstart its nascent plans to create a so-called hybrid space architecture linking national security, commercial, civil and allied satellites into a massive mesh network.

Space Force lays out 8 areas where it wants commercial firms to help out

Space Force lays out 8 areas where it wants commercial firms to help out
Space Force lays out 8 areas where it wants commercial firms to help out

The Space Force’s new Commercial Space Strategy pledges real money towards buying commercial solutions, a long-standing concern from industry.

Time for a cabinet-level Department of Space? Maybe, says new report

Time for a cabinet-level Department of Space? Maybe, says new report
Time for a cabinet-level Department of Space? Maybe, says new report

If a a new department or, alternatively, a “National Space Agency,” were to be established, the DIU-supported report recommends that it be modeled on the Department of Energy (DoE), rather than the Department of Homeland Security that still suffers from an abundance of red tape.

New DoD commercial space strategy opens door to military, financial protection for contractors

New DoD commercial space strategy opens door to military, financial protection for contractors
New DoD commercial space strategy opens door to military, financial protection for contractors

The strategy notes that contracts with commercial space providers could, if deemed necessary, “enable prioritization of Department requirements and capability needs over other commercial clients in specific situations.”

New Space Force ops head pushing ‘aggressive’ moves toward mission ‘integration’

New Space Force ops head pushing ‘aggressive’ moves toward mission ‘integration’
New Space Force ops head pushing ‘aggressive’ moves toward mission ‘integration’

New SpoC head Lt. Gen. David Miller said decisions about new Integrated Mission Deltas are expected “in the coming weeks.”

Growing the Space Force: Is outsourcing operations an answer?

Growing the Space Force: Is outsourcing operations an answer?
Growing the Space Force: Is outsourcing operations an answer?

“This is not only new; it’s astounding. It’s shocking. It’s a huge change (if adopted),” one industry contractor told Breaking Defense of the proposal.

Space Force’s Saltzman hopes to launch new Futures Command centers ‘late this year’

Space Force’s Saltzman hopes to launch new Futures Command centers ‘late this year’
Space Force’s Saltzman hopes to launch new Futures Command centers ‘late this year’

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said the new Futures Command will not just be looking at what new capabilities the Space Force should build, own and operate, but also at how commercial tech, systems and services can fill some needs. 

To kill the kill chains: How Space Force could use AI to avoid ‘operational surprise’ on orbit

To kill the kill chains: How Space Force could use AI to avoid ‘operational surprise’ on orbit
To kill the kill chains: How Space Force could use AI to avoid ‘operational surprise’ on orbit

A new “white paper” from Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman, obtained by Breaking Defense, stresses the foundational role of timely space domain awareness in ensuring that Space Force commanders are not caught flat-footed by adversaries.

For space, two steps forward, one step back: 2023 in review

For space, two steps forward, one step back: 2023 in review
For space, two steps forward, one step back: 2023 in review

The Space Force has made some visible progress in its “pivot” towards resiliency, but acquisition reform remains a hard slog.

White House plan for ‘novel’ space activities faces industry, Hill skepticism

White House plan for ‘novel’ space activities faces industry, Hill skepticism
White House plan for ‘novel’ space activities faces industry, Hill skepticism

“Telling me: ‘I’m creating a monster, but putting it in your closet,’ still means I have a monster in my closet. And I’d really rather not have a monster in my closet,” an industry representative told Breaking Defense.

‘Not enough’: Space Force pauses commercial strategy to flesh out ‘actionable’ plans with industry

‘Not enough’: Space Force pauses commercial strategy to flesh out ‘actionable’ plans with industry
‘Not enough’: Space Force pauses commercial strategy to flesh out ‘actionable’ plans with industry

“It can’t just be a strategy with aspirational platitudes about how we’re going to work together,” Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said. “It has to have more tangible guidance, things that we can take action on.”

At Hawaii space conference, DoD space monitoring challenges in the spotlight

At Hawaii space conference, DoD space monitoring challenges in the spotlight
At Hawaii space conference, DoD space monitoring challenges in the spotlight

“Providing space operators with relevant, timely data can help to prevent operational surprise and support efforts to protect and defend space assets,” a recent report to Congress on Pentagon space policy and strategy says.

As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap

As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap
As DoD readies new commercial space strategies, industry frets funding gap

When it comes to leveraging commercial space tech, one analyst said, “The old adage holds — show me your budget and I’ll show you your priorities.”

Led by US, global spending on military space jumped to $54B in 2022: Space Foundation

Led by US, global spending on military space jumped to $54B in 2022: Space Foundation
Led by US, global spending on military space jumped to $54B in 2022: Space Foundation

The Space Report 2023 Q2 study estimates that US Defense Department classified and unclassified spending in 2022 hit almost $43 billion.