Sirotin Intelligence Briefing: Apr 26 - May 3, 2025: Special Ops Space Command Emerges, Trump's NASA Reshaping, and Golden Dome Defense Accelerates

Budget battles intensify in Washington this week as President Trump's administration proposes significant cuts to NASA's budget while simultaneously seeking $24.7 billion to accelerate the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. The Space Force expands its operational reach, announcing plans for its own Special Operations Command and facing data-sharing challenges as it tracks 46,000 objects generating a million daily observations. Meanwhile, China's Shenzhou-19 crew returns after setting a new record for longest spacewalk, as international space competition heats up with Iran advancing its domestic space program despite sanctions. On Thursday, we'll be joined by Douglas Ellsworth of the Secure the Grid Coalition to discuss how space-based threats to America's electrical infrastructure represent what he calls "our civilization's most urgent national security threat."

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• U.S. Space Force Awards $237M for Small Satellite Development: The Space Force has selected 12 companies for a 10-year, $237 million contract to develop and deploy small satellites under its Space Test Experiments Platform (STEP) 2.0 initiative. The contract will allow vendors like Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, Blue Canyon Technologies, and others to compete for task orders to build satellite buses that can host experimental military payloads. Lt. Col. Brian Shimek, director of the DoD Space Test Program, noted that this approach will leverage commercial capabilities to provide proven spacecraft for next-generation space technologies. The first STEP 2.0 Delivery Order is scheduled to start in January 2026.
• Space Force to Establish Special Operations Command: The Space Force will have its own dedicated special operations component, as revealed in recent testimony before Congress. U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Commander Gen. Bryan Fenton stated that SOCOM "established the Space Force Special Operations Command to deliver specialized space personnel and capabilities" to theater special operations commands. While technically established in 2025, the command has not yet been fully stood up or manned. This development aligns with the Space Force's strategy to integrate its capabilities across all major commands and acknowledges the importance of the "SOF-space-cyber triad" in modern warfare.
• Pentagon Officials Testify on "Golden Dome" Missile Defense Shield: Senior Defense Department officials testified before the House Armed Services Committee regarding progress on developing the country's next-generation missile defense shield. The system, known as "Golden Dome," results from a January 27, 2025 executive order signed by President Trump that calls for a missile defense shield to protect the U.S. from any foreign aerial attack. Officials described how their organizations are contributing to the shield's development, with Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot emphasizing that a layered domain awareness network "remains our top priority because you can't defeat what you can't see."
• True Anomaly Raises $260M for Defense Space Capabilities: Colorado-based True Anomaly has secured $260 million in fresh capital to fund multiple space missions and scale its operations in the defense space sector. The company, founded in 2022, designs spacecraft that can maneuver near other satellites in orbit for space domain awareness and reconnaissance. With the new funding, True Anomaly plans to support four space missions over the next 18 months and increase its workforce from 170 to over 250 employees by year-end. Upcoming missions include their third test flight of the Jackal spacecraft to low Earth orbit, missions to geostationary orbit and cislunar space, and the Victus Haze mission with the U.S. Space Force.
• Karman Space & Defense Opens New Alabama Facility: Karman Space & Defense has opened a new 30,000-square-foot facility in Decatur, Alabama, designed to support the full lifecycle of defense and space systems. The facility will handle design, engineering, manufacturing, integration, and testing of mission-critical systems for both Department of Defense and commercial space partners. CEO Tony Koblinski stated that the cutting-edge facility enhances the company's ability to "deliver mission-critical systems that strengthen U.S. defense capabilities and expand the boundaries of space innovation."
• US and South Korea Conduct First Space Defense Exercise: U.S. Space Forces Korea recently participated in its first space-defense tabletop exercise alongside South Korean government and military space experts. The exercise, named Polaris Lynx, brought together 40 participants to simulate responses to threats targeting satellites, including GPS jamming and close-up threatening maneuvers. Air Force Maj. Rachel Buitrago described the exercise as "a fantastic success story" that enhanced the allies' combined ability to respond to threats in space. The exercise comes amid growing concerns over space security in the region, with North Korea continuing attempts to expand its satellite fleet.
• French Startup Developing Space Defense System: Dark, a French startup founded by former missile engineers, is developing an air-launched spacecraft designed to intercept, capture, and dispose of objects in orbit. The Paris-based company has attracted approximately $11 million in venture funding and expanded to 40 employees since its establishment in 2022. Their flagship product, called Interceptor, represents a new approach to space defense that mimics how military aircraft respond to aerial threats. The company claims its system could respond to a threat within 24 hours of detection and plans its first test flight for 2027.
• New Zealand Air Force to Establish Space Squadron: The New Zealand Air Force will create a small space squadron to signal its growing commitment to space-based defense and international security. Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb announced that Squadron Number 62 will be established on July 1 with 15 personnel. The unit is named in tribute to a radar squadron that served during World War Two. This development comes as New Zealand recently released a defense capability plan to boost spending to 2% of GDP over the next eight years and joined the U.S.-led Operation Olympic Defender, a seven-nation multinational space defense initiative.
• Army Creates New Space Military Occupation Specialty: The U.S. Army is establishing a new enlisted military occupation specialty (MOS 40D) focused on space operations. According to Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, the new career field will comprise "a couple of hundred" non-commissioned officers who will provide space-based capabilities on the battlefield. These specialists will be trained to support conventional and special operations forces, protecting them from space-enabled attacks while the Space Force focuses on "the on-orbit fight." The occupation specialty will officially begin on October 1, 2026, but recruitment from existing Army personnel with applicable skillsets is already underway.
• International Partnerships Critical for Space Resilience: International partnerships are increasingly vital for space superiority, according to Royal Air Force Group Captain Jonathan Farrow, who serves as deputy director of strategy, futures, partnerships and requirements at U.S. Space Force headquarters. Speaking at AFCEA NOVA's Space Force IT Day on May 1, Farrow emphasized that "no single nation, not even the United States, has the resources needed to dominate this contested domain." He highlighted several successful multinational programs, including the recently established Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender (MNF OOD), which includes seven nations and achieved initial operating capability in April 2025.
• Lohmeier Defends Qualifications for Air Force Post: Matthew Lohmeier, President Trump's nominee for undersecretary of the Department of the Air Force, faced questioning during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 1. The former Space Force lieutenant colonel, who was removed from command in 2021 after publicly criticizing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, told senators he would push for a politically neutral military. Committee members appeared divided along party lines, with Republicans supporting the nomination while Democrats questioned his suitability based on past statements. If confirmed, Lohmeier would help shape policy for approximately 700,000 active-duty, National Guard, reserves, and civilian personnel.
• KBR Names New Defense, Intelligence and Space President: KBR has promoted Mark Kavanaugh to president of defense, intelligence and space, as announced on May 2. In this role, he will oversee the company's science and space, national security solutions, and defense and technology solutions portfolios under KBR's Mission Technology Solutions business segment. Kavanaugh, who has been with KBR since December 2016, previously served as senior vice president of defense and technology solutions. His background includes service as a U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal officer and major program manager for Naval Sea Systems Command.

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• Trump Administration Proposes NASA Budget Cuts: President Trump's administration is seeking to cut key elements of NASA's moon program in favor of commercial alternatives and his emerging Mars-focused agenda. The proposal includes approximately $6 billion in cuts to the space agency's overall budget for next year, reducing it from the current $24.8 billion to about $18.8 billion. The plan would cancel NASA's over-budget Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule after their third mission in 2027, while introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs. The budget also ends the Gateway Program and would reduce the International Space Station's crew size and onboard research in preparation for transitioning to commercial replacements in 2030.
• China's Shenzhou-19 Crew Returns After Six-Month Mission: The Shenzhou-19 astronaut crew has successfully returned to Earth, landing in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after spending six months aboard the Tiangong space station. Commander Cai Xuzhe and his crewmates completed multiple significant milestones during their mission, including setting a new record for the longest spacewalk at over nine hours while installing space debris shielding. The landing was delayed by one day due to windy conditions at the Dongfeng landing site. During their mission, the crew conducted 86 scientific experiments, including testing a brick made from lunar soil simulant placed on the station's exterior to support China's plans for a moon base in the 2030s.
• NASA Astronauts Complete Fifth All-Female Spacewalk: NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers conducted the fifth all-female spacewalk in history on May 1, completing a 5-hour, 44-minute extravehicular activity to prepare the International Space Station for new solar arrays. The astronauts assembled attachment hardware for the seventh pair of International Space Station Rollout Solar Arrays (IROSA), which will increase the station's power generation capability by up to 30% when installed later this year. They also relocated an antenna used by Northrop Grumman's Cygnus cargo vehicles. This milestone spacewalk contributes to extending the ISS's operational lifespan through 2030 while supporting NASA's broader objectives for lunar and Mars exploration.
• Soviet Venus Probe Re-Entry Imminent: Satellite trackers have captured new images of the Soviet Union's Cosmos 482 spacecraft, which is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere around May 10 (±2.2 days). Originally launched in 1972 as a Venus probe, the mission failed, leaving the spacecraft's lander module stranded in Earth orbit. The high-resolution images obtained by Dutch satellite tracker Ralf Vandebergh reveal what appears to be a "compact ball" with a possible elongated structure that might be a deployed parachute. Since the lander was designed to survive passage through Venus's dense atmosphere, experts suggest it could potentially survive Earth re-entry intact. The situation has attracted increased attention from the space tracking community as the re-entry date approaches.
• Europe Urged to Adopt SDA Model for Space Defense: In a recent analysis, European space industry leaders have urged European defense entities to adopt the U.S. Space Development Agency's procurement model to accelerate space defense capabilities. The SDA model, founded in 2019, emphasizes "proliferation" through deploying large numbers of small, replaceable satellites in low Earth orbit and "spiral development" by rapidly deploying initial versions of systems that can be iteratively improved. This approach prioritizes resilience, speed, and adaptability—qualities that traditional European defense procurement processes often lack. As geopolitical tensions rise, this model could help Europe respond more effectively to evolving space threats while stimulating its aerospace and technology sectors.

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• JWST Reveals Methanol on Trans-Neptunian Objects: Recent observations by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have provided new insights into surface ice methanol on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) in the distant Kuiper Belt. The research, led by scientists from the University of Central Florida, identified two distinct groups of TNOs: those with depleted surface methanol and those with subsurface methanol reservoirs. Former UCF professor Noemí Pinilla-Alonso explained that methanol, a key building block for organic compounds necessary for life, acts as a "chemical time capsule" that reveals how these icy worlds have evolved over billions of years. The findings enhance our understanding of these ancient bodies that date back to the formation of our solar system and provide clues about early solar system chemistry.
• Space Industry Faces Critical Talent Challenge: The space sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, with startups bringing in $8.6 billion in funding in 2024 alone, but faces a critical shortage of skilled professionals. An industry analysis highlights that companies must think beyond traditional engineering roles and create interdisciplinary teams that include welders, policy experts, systems integrators, AI specialists, and partnership builders. The report suggests that companies should recruit from adjacent sectors like aerospace contracting, enterprise software, telecom, or defense technology while developing internal career paths and learning opportunities. This workforce development approach is particularly crucial for the space industry, which operates on longer timelines than typical tech sectors and requires specialized expertise to navigate complex regulatory environments.

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

The White House released a so-called "skinny budget" with major cuts in science, pending congressional review of a complete budget proposal. At a time when the Senate Commerce Committee just approved 19-9 NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman, advancing his nomination to a final vote by the Senate, the NASA FY26 Plan would cancel Gateway, and terminate SLS and Orion once Artemis 2 (Moon orbiting) and 3 (human landing) are completed.

Overall, the NASA budget is slashed by 24%, from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. $1B added to Mars human exploration, $2.3B cut to NASA science, no Mars Sample Return, 'streamlined' workforce and centers, $1.2B cut to Earth science, no climate satellites, eliminating 'failing propulsion projects,' ISS crew size and flight reduction, station research focus on Moon and Mars, no green aviation, and $143M cut to STEM.

The US Space Force has a new 20 mn documentary film out: "America's Invisible Front Line"! SecDef Hegseth prioritized missile defense, cyber warfare, and space. And nominee for Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier assured the Senate Armed Services Committee that he understands "the necessity of US superiority in both of those warfighting domains" meaning air and space.

Jim Cooper of COMSPOC attended the UK Military Space Situational Awareness conference. In a new and stunning Real Space Strategy podcast hosted by Christopher Stone, titled 'Rendezvous / Proximity Operations (RPO) and Space Warfighting: What is Going on Up There?', Jim Cooper presented from London a compelling software visualisation that reveals the exact nature of the 'dog fights' currently taking place with Russia and China in orbit.

The 6th Annual State of the Space Industrial Base Conference underscored the current moment as "an inflection point in turning space into a warfighting domain." Its organizer NewSpace Nexus was further certified by the New Mexico Economic Development Department as a business incubator whose companies have generated over $50 million in economic impact through customer contracts and venture capital investment.

The case to follow the Space Development Agency model to beef up European defense in space continues to be made by French space stakeholders Cailabs and CNES. US Space Command chief General Stephen Whiting noted that the US and France recently conducted "our first ever bilateral RPO to demonstrate combined capabilities in space, in the vicinity of a strategic competitor spacecraft." Meanwhile, DARK, another French company, develops dual-use space capabilities to defend satellites and clean up orbital debris.

What's slightly problematic with the NASA cuts is that cancelling Orion and Gateway pulls the rug from under, and in fact pulls the plug on international cooperation: Orion had the ESA service module, and Gateway was a platform for cooperation with Canada, Japan, the UAE, Europe, and potentially others. A lot of science is being cut as well. Thousands of people will be affected, and decades of valuable work will go to the ditch, unless there is a way to salvage and utilise this accumulated research, while also rescuing the concerned researchers.

Pushback has already started, e.g. Planetary Society, with a full statement titled "The Planetary Society condemns deep, damaging 24% cut to NASA's budget - We urge Congress to swiftly reject this destructive proposal."

This bodes well for a "Commercial Space Revolution" in matters of national security and defense.

Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest

Friday, May 9th – Douglas Ellsworth on Securing America's Power Grid from Space Threats

Douglas Ellsworth, Co-Director of the Secure the Grid Coalition and Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Policy, joins us to discuss what he calls "our civilization's most urgent national security threat" - the vulnerability of America's electrical grid to space-based threats.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• How a single solar storm could plunge the entire nation into darkness for years
• Why large power transformers, which take 3-5 years to replace, represent the grid's critical vulnerability
• The troubling discovery of Chinese-manufactured transformers containing hardware that could enable remote disabling
• Why current regulatory standards for grid protection are "transparently defective and dangerously ineffective"
• How proven technologies like Neutral Blocking Devices are already protecting portions of the grid
• The concerning state of governance around grid security, with no single entity taking responsibility
• Local resilience models that communities can implement without waiting for federal action
• The intersection of space security and infrastructure protection in national defense planning

Don't miss this urgent conversation with a leading advocate for protecting our electrical infrastructure against threats from space - both natural and man-made. Ellsworth brings decades of experience from finance and security to illuminate a threat that could become, in his words, "our civilization's death certificate if we don't act."

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

Missed a beat? These groundbreaking conversations are must-reads:

"When AI Designs Components, They Sometimes Defy Textbook Engineering"

Space Force Lt. Colonel Thomas Nix reveals how 3D printing and AI are creating revolutionary spacecraft designs, with parts that are stronger and lighter than what human engineers could develop using traditional methods.

"The Gaps in Our Lunar Knowledge Are Enormous"

Extraterrestrial Mining Company Chief Scientist Dr. Ruby Patterson describes the urgent need for more lunar geological data before making commercial decisions, while offering a balanced view on helium-3 mining and advocating for inclusive international cooperation in cislunar space.

"We're Building the Railroads of the Space Gold Rush"

Space Phoenix Systems CEO Andrew Parlock positions his company as "FedEx for space," creating an infrastructure that helps businesses launch and return payloads from orbit with minimal friction.

"Our Nuclear Shield Was Killed For Political, Not Technological Reasons"

Reagan's SDI Director Ambassador Henry Cooper argues that effective missile defense technology developed during the Reagan-Bush years was abandoned for political reasons when the Clinton administration "took the stars out of Star Wars."

"Every Country Has a Border with Space"

UK Space Agency CEO Dr. Paul Bate is developing Britain's space industry through initiatives like spaceports in Scotland's Shetland Islands to establish the UK as Europe's premier satellite launch destination.

"We're Treating Satellites Like They're Still In The 1990s" 

Niha Agarwalla, Director of Commercial Space, explains why traditional satellites are obsolete and how resilient constellations will transform space economics.

"When People See Space Guardians in Uniform, They Ask If They're Real" 

Colonel Bill Woolf, 25-year space defense veteran, reveals his mission to build public support for the newest military branch defending America's orbital assets.

"One Kilogram of Helium-3 Is Worth $50 Million" 

Jeffrey Max, Magna Petra CEO, explains how lunar resource extraction could revolutionize Earth's energy production and fuel humanity's expansion across the solar system.

"I'm Building a Rocket Engine That Could Reach Alpha Centauri" 

Michael Paluszek, Princeton Satellite Systems President, reveals how fusion propulsion could reduce travel times throughout our solar system and enable humanity's first interstellar missions.

"Space Has a Scottish Accent"

Chris Newlands, CEO of Space Aye, discusses how his company's satellite technology is revolutionizing wildlife conservation and helping to combat illegal fishing and poaching.

"I Learned From the Last Generation of Manhattan Project Veterans”

Patrick McClure, former Kilopower Project Lead at Los Alamos National Laboratory, explains how small nuclear reactors could power future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

"We're Being Attacked Every Day" 

Christopher Stone, Former Pentagon Space Advisor, warns about America's vulnerabilities in orbit and explains why China's "attack to deter" doctrine makes space conflict more likely than many realize.

"I Helped SpaceX Secure Their First Commercial Contracts" 

Serial entrepreneur Robert Feierbach discusses building billion-dollar space ventures across four continents and developing North America's newest spaceport.

"We Can Fly 8,000 Miles In 2 Hours" 

Jess Sponable, Ex-DARPA PM & President of NFA, explains how rocket-powered aircraft will revolutionize global travel through simplified hypersonic technology.​​ 

"This Could Be Our Biggest Economy"

Kevin O'Connell, Former Space Commerce Director, reveals how space is transforming from a government domain to a $1.8 trillion market.

​​"How Do You Win a War in Space?" 

Ram Riojas, Ex-Nuclear Commander and Space Defense Expert, explains why the next war will start in space and how nations are preparing their defenses.

"First Day on the Job, Hubble Was Broken" 

Mike Kaplan, James Webb Space Telescope Pioneer, reveals how early setbacks with Hubble shaped NASA's approach to complex space missions. 

The Future of Human Space Habitation 

Jules Ross reveals how her journey from artist to space visionary is reshaping human adaptation to space through Earth's first artificial gravity station.

Space Law's New Frontier 

Attorney Michael J. Listner unpacks the complex legal challenges facing modern space activities. From resource rights to orbital debris management

Making Oceans Transparent From Space

Navy Legend Guy Thomas, inventor of S-AIS, shares how his invention transformed global maritime surveillance and security.

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