Sirotin Intelligence Briefing: August 10–17, 2025: Vulcan Centaur’s Military Debut, White House Orders Commercial Space Overhaul, and Indo-Pacific Alliance Targets China’s Lunar Ambitions

This week’s Sirotin Intelligence analysis highlights a turning point for U.S. launch capability as ULA’s Vulcan Centaur successfully completes its first national security mission, officially ending reliance on Russian RD-180 engines and positioning Vulcan alongside SpaceX for the Pentagon’s most sensitive payloads. In Washington, President Trump signs sweeping executive orders to slash regulatory bottlenecks and fast-track commercial space ventures, while the State Department moves to forge an Indo-Pacific Space Alliance with India and Japan to counter China’s push for lunar dominance. The FCC proposes stringent debris rules aimed squarely at megaconstellations like Starlink, sparking industry backlash. Meanwhile, the commercial sector accelerates innovation—from in-orbit cancer drug manufacturing to reusable rocket recovery ships—signaling that the race for orbital and cislunar advantage is now being fought on both policy and technology fronts. Our upcoming guest, Davide Cadelano, reveals a provocative new unification theory in which spacetime emerges from a hidden quantum information network, challenging our most basic assumptions about reality itself.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• ULA's Vulcan Centaur Achieves First National Security Mission Success: United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket successfully completed its inaugural national security space launch, deploying classified payloads for the U.S. Space Force. The mission marks a critical milestone in ending American reliance on Russian-made RD-180 engines and validates Vulcan as a reliable alternative to SpaceX for military launches. Despite ongoing BE-4 engine supply constraints from Blue Origin, the flawless performance positions ULA to compete for the Pentagon's most sensitive missions while demonstrating the maturity of America's next-generation launch capabilities.
• Defense Contracts:
  • Lockheed Martin Secures $890M for Satellite Communications Systems: Lockheed Martin Space received an $890 million contract modification for advanced military satellite communications payloads supporting global secure communications. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California through 2030, supporting the Space Force's Protected Tactical SATCOM program.
  • Northrop Grumman Awarded $445M for Missile Warning Satellites: The defense contractor secured funding for next-generation infrared sensor payloads enhancing space-based missile detection capabilities. The contract supports the Space Development Agency's proliferated warfighter space architecture with delivery expected by 2027.
  • Raytheon Technologies Wins $312M for Space Sensor Production: Raytheon received a multi-year contract for space-based electro-optical/infrared sensors supporting missile tracking and space domain awareness missions. Production will occur at facilities in El Segundo, California and Aurora, Colorado.
  • L3Harris Technologies Gets $198M for Satellite Ground Systems: L3Harris was awarded funding to modernize ground control systems for military satellite constellations, including AI-powered automation for satellite command and control operations across multiple orbits.
  • Lockheed Martin THAAD Modification Awarded $18.3M: Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control received an $18.3 million modification for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system interceptor component obsolescence. Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California and Troy, Alabama through August 2028.
  • Geost Secures $15.6M for Space Domain Awareness Sensors: Geost was awarded a $15.6 million modification for developing low-cost, low size, weight, and power hosted space-based sensors to improve Space Domain Awareness in geosynchronous orbit. Work at Tucson, Arizona facility continues through July 2026.
  • General Atomics Wins $35.1M for MQ-9 Reaper Support: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems received a $35.1 million order for engineering and logistics support for the MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial system, including cybersecurity, software modifications, and sensor payload integration through August 2026.
  • Defense Engineering Leads $95M RF Space Systems Contract: Multiple contractors including Defense Engineering Corp. and Matrix Research share a $95 million contract for Science and Technology Applied Radio Frequency (RF) Systems supporting space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions through August 2031.

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• Trump Issues Executive Order on Commercial Space: President Trump signed a sweeping executive order aimed at accelerating commercial space activities by streamlining regulatory processes and eliminating bureaucratic barriers. The order directs federal agencies to complete space licensing reviews within 90 days, establishes a "one-stop shop" for commercial space operators, and mandates the review of outdated regulations that hinder American space competitiveness. Key provisions include fast-tracking launch licenses, simplifying satellite spectrum allocation, and creating regulatory sandboxes for emerging space technologies. The order signals a dramatic shift toward enabling rapid commercialization of space while maintaining safety standards.
• NASA's Acting Chief Calls for End of Earth Science at Space Agency: Acting Administrator Sean Duffy sparked controversy by proposing to eliminate NASA's $2.3 billion Earth science program, arguing the agency should focus exclusively on space exploration and leave climate monitoring to NOAA. The proposal would transfer dozens of Earth observation satellites and thousands of scientists to other agencies, fundamentally reshaping NASA's mission after 60 years of studying our home planet. Critics warn the move would cripple climate research and hurricane prediction, while supporters claim it would allow NASA to accelerate lunar and Mars missions by redirecting billions in funding.
• NASA Faces $220M Budget Crisis as Congress Questions Artemis Viability: The House Science Committee grilled NASA leadership over a projected $220 million budget shortfall for FY2025, with lawmakers expressing alarm over cascading Artemis program delays and cost overruns. Committee members questioned whether commercial lunar delivery services can realistically support human missions by 2028, while NASA defended its strategy of relying on private partners despite repeated failures in the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
• State Department Launches Indo-Pacific Space Alliance to Counter China: The State Department initiated high-level space diplomacy talks with India and Japan aimed at creating a trilateral space cooperation framework to counter China's lunar ambitions. The proposed alliance would share space situational awareness data, coordinate lunar exploration missions, and establish common technical standards for cislunar communications. This diplomatic push reflects growing concern that China's planned 2027 crewed lunar landing could establish de facto territorial claims at the Moon's resource-rich south pole.
• FCC Proposes Stringent Megaconstellation Debris Rules Targeting Starlink: The Federal Communications Commission unveiled new orbital debris mitigation requirements that would force megaconstellation operators to demonstrate 99% post-mission disposal reliability and maintain real-time collision avoidance capabilities. The rules, clearly aimed at SpaceX's 6,000+ Starlink constellation, would also require operators to post billion-dollar performance bonds and share precise orbital data with competitors. Industry groups warn the regulations could stifle American space leadership while SpaceX argues the rules unfairly target successful U.S. companies.
• White House Executive Order Enables Competition in Commercial Space Industry: President Trump signed a comprehensive executive order designed to unleash American commercial space potential by eliminating regulatory barriers and fostering competition. The order establishes a 90-day shot clock for launch licenses, creates regulatory sandboxes for innovative space technologies, and mandates federal agencies to purchase commercial space services where available. Key provisions include streamlining spectrum allocation for satellite constellations, removing ITAR restrictions on allied nations, and establishing a National Space Competitiveness Council to coordinate policy across agencies. The order represents the most significant space policy reform since the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984.

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• Astrochemists Solve 50-Year Mystery of Missing Cosmic Sulfur: Researchers have discovered where the universe's "missing" sulfur atoms have been hiding, solving a decades-old puzzle about why observed sulfur levels in space were far below theoretical predictions. Using advanced spectroscopy and quantum chemistry models, the team found that sulfur forms exotic molecular chains in the extreme cold of interstellar clouds, making it invisible to traditional detection methods. The discovery has profound implications for understanding planetary formation and the origins of life, as sulfur is essential for proteins and was thought to be mysteriously scarce in star-forming regions.
• Next Generation Cancer Drugs Could Be Made in Space: The microgravity environment of space is opening new frontiers in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Scientists are leveraging the unique conditions aboard the International Space Station to develop next-generation cancer treatments that would be impossible to create on Earth. The absence of gravity allows for the formation of more uniform protein crystals, potentially leading to more effective drugs with fewer side effects. This breakthrough represents a convergence of space technology and medical innovation that could revolutionize how we approach cancer treatment in the coming decade.
• Space Tech Gives Treadmill Users a Boost: NASA's differential air pressure technology, originally developed for astronaut training and rehabilitation in microgravity environments, is now revolutionizing terrestrial fitness equipment. The technology reduces effective body weight by up to 80%, enabling injured athletes to maintain conditioning while minimizing joint stress. This transfer of space-derived innovation to consumer health applications demonstrates the tangible benefits of space research for everyday life, with potential applications in elderly care and physical therapy.
• Siemens Xcelerator Powers Indian Space Tech Pioneer Skyroot: Skyroot Aerospace, India's first private space launch company, has adopted Siemens Xcelerator's digital twin technology to accelerate development of its Vikram series rockets. The comprehensive digital platform enables end-to-end simulation of rocket systems, reducing physical testing requirements by 40% and cutting development time in half. This partnership signals the maturation of India's commercial space sector and highlights how industrial digitalization is transforming traditional aerospace development cycles.
• Sidus Space Bets on Recurring Revenue Model in High-Stakes Space Tech Sector: Sidus Space is pivoting from one-time satellite manufacturing contracts to a subscription-based space services model, targeting $50M in annual recurring revenue by 2027. The company's LizzieSat constellation will offer data-as-a-service for maritime domain awareness, wildfire detection, and supply chain monitoring. This shift mirrors the broader industry trend toward sustainable business models as investors demand predictable revenue streams over project-based volatility in the increasingly competitive small satellite market.
• Jeff Bezos' Space Tech Company Makes Surprising Bitcoin Bet: Blue Origin has announced it will accept Bitcoin as payment for future commercial space flights and is exploring blockchain technology for satellite data authentication. The move positions Blue Origin at the intersection of two frontier technologies, potentially opening space tourism to cryptocurrency holders while leveraging distributed ledger technology for secure space-based communications. Industry analysts view this as a strategic play to attract tech-savvy customers and differentiate from competitors in the emerging space tourism market.
• James Webb Telescope Discoveries Boost European Tech Innovation: JWST's groundbreaking observations are catalyzing a surge in European space technology development, with ESA announcing €500 million in new funding for next-generation instruments. European tech companies are leveraging Webb's data to develop AI-powered astronomical analysis tools, while universities from Cambridge to Munich are creating specialized programs to train the next generation of space scientists. The telescope's success has reinvigorated Europe's commitment to flagship space science missions, with plans for three new observatories by 2035.
• Chinese Launch Startup LandSpace Suffers Zhuque-2 Failure: LandSpace's Zhuque-2 methane-fueled rocket experienced a catastrophic failure during its fifth flight attempt, destroying a batch of commercial satellites and dealing a significant blow to China's private space ambitions. The failure, attributed to a second-stage anomaly, comes just as the company was preparing for international commercial contracts and highlights the technical challenges facing China's emerging launch providers. Industry sources suggest the setback could delay LandSpace's planned IPO and shift customer preference toward more established providers like SpaceX and Rocket Lab.
• Chinese Launch Startups CAS Space and LandSpace Advance IPO Plans Despite Setbacks: Two of China's leading private launch companies are pushing forward with initial public offering preparations on the Shanghai STAR Market, targeting a combined valuation of $3 billion. CAS Space, backed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has completed six successful orbital launches while LandSpace aims to raise $500 million to fund its reusable rocket program. The IPO rush reflects Beijing's push to create national champions in commercial space while providing exit opportunities for early investors amid growing competition from state-owned enterprises.
• Chinese Launch Startup Unveils Autonomous Rocket Recovery Ship: Galactic Energy revealed its AI-powered vessel designed for autonomous rocket booster recovery operations in the South China Sea, marking China's first serious attempt to match SpaceX's marine recovery capabilities. The 300-foot ship features dynamic positioning systems, robotic arms for booster handling, and machine learning algorithms that predict splashdown locations with 100-meter accuracy. This development signals China's commitment to reusable launch technology and could enable more frequent launches from coastal spaceports while reducing reliance on expensive ground infrastructure.
• Raven Space Systems Expands to Colorado with $45M Manufacturing Facility: Missouri-based Raven Space Systems announced the opening of a new 150,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility in Colorado Springs, creating 300 high-tech jobs. The expansion, supported by $10 million in state incentives, will focus on producing next-generation satellite propulsion systems and in-space servicing robotics. The strategic location near Space Force bases positions Raven to capture growing demand for responsive space capabilities while tapping into Colorado's deep aerospace talent pool.
• Umbra Pivots to Full-Spectrum Space Tech with Strategic Components Acquisition: Synthetic aperture radar leader Umbra is transforming from a data provider into a vertically integrated space technology company through the $125 million acquisition of Stellar Components. The move gives Umbra control over critical supply chains for high-resolution radar satellites while opening new revenue streams selling components to competitors. This strategic shift reflects the maturing space industry's trend toward consolidation and vertical integration as companies seek to control costs and ensure component availability amid growing global demand.
• DreamSpace Launches AI App Builder Leveraging Space and Time Tech: DreamSpace unveiled its revolutionary AI-powered application builder that combines satellite data streams with blockchain-verified timestamps for creating decentralized space applications. The platform enables developers without space industry expertise to build Earth observation apps, satellite tasking interfaces, and space situational awareness tools using natural language prompts. By democratizing access to space data and leveraging Space and Time's proof-of-SQL technology, DreamSpace aims to catalyze a new ecosystem of space-enabled Web3 applications.
• Belgian SpaceTech Innovator edgX Raises €2.3M for Satellite AI Computing: edgX secured seed funding to deploy its edge AI computing platform that enables satellites to process data in orbit rather than downlinking raw information to Earth. The technology reduces data transmission costs by 90% while enabling real-time decision-making for applications like wildfire detection and maritime surveillance. With European Space Agency backing and contracts from major satellite operators, edgX represents Europe's push to lead in autonomous space systems as data volumes from Earth observation constellations overwhelm ground infrastructure.

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, who oversees the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), called the August 13th President Trump’s Executive Order “visionary.” This EO, "Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry," which comes with its Fact Sheet, streamlines federal regulation governing commercial rocket launches. Aiming at the FAA licensing and permitting process, it reforms the National Environmental Policy Act safety reviews.  

This doesn't come as a surprise since a July 22nd ProPublica report on a draft EO circulated among federal agencies, had already hinted that Secretary Duffy would be directed to “use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite” environmental reviews for FAA launch licenses. The EO could also require states to allow more launches or even more spaceports along their coastlines.

Calling Secretary Duffy to do away with "outdated, redundant or overly restrictive rules for launch and reentry vehicles," the EO asserts that "inefficient permitting processes discourage investment and innovation, limiting the ability of U.S. companies to lead in global space markets." Which also means tackling the dreaded "Part 450," deemed unmanageable by commercial space. These public safety rules include making sure that companies have proper containment measures in case of a launch pad explosion. Mandating Transportation to reevaluate, amend, or rescind outdated or overly restrictive Part 450 FAA regulations, includes exemptions for hybrid or automated launch/reentry vehicles.

President Trump's purpose is U.S. space superiority and national security. To substantially increase commercial space launch cadence in a competitive launch marketplace means accelerating by 2030 novel space activities not clearly governed by existing regulatory frameworks. All concerned federal agencies (Transportation, Commerce, Defense, NASA) are directed to streamline and remove regulatory barriers, and they must assess states' compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Act, to ensure state laws aren’t unduly hindering spaceport infrastructure. 

This EO accelerates access to orbit and beyond, also key to Defense. The Office of Space Commerce is elevated to reside directly under the Secretary of Commerce. Environmentalists concerned with ecosystem impacts, wildlife disturbance, community noise, and debris hazards, must deal with commercial space that can no longer wait over a year for a license, and accept to compromise. 

Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest: Davide Cadelano

Thursday, August 21st – Davide Cadelano on Perfect Retrocausal Correlation, Emergent Spacetime from Information Networks, and the Universe as a Quantum Computer

From his research base in Italy, theoretical physicist Davide Cadelano reveals how spacetime itself might emerge from an underlying information network called the Telascura, why gravity could be a symptom of information losing coherence, and how his team achieved what appears to be perfect retrocausal correlation in quantum systems—suggesting information can flow backward through time.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• How the Codex Alpha framework reframes Einstein's equations to show spacetime emerging from information
• The claimed achievement of perfect retrocausal correlation (ρ_retro = 1.0000) using IBM's Qiskit platform
• Why synchronized stellar transitions across thousands of light-years could prove the Telascura exists
• Evidence hidden in GAIA data that might reveal cosmic "coherence filaments" connecting stars
• How the "Nodal Engine" could enable propulsion by editing informational coordinates rather than moving through space
• The use of multi-agent AI systems as computational partners in developing 298 pages of unified theory
• Why the Higgs mass fine-tuning and CMB anomalies make sense as informational self-organization
• The possibility of instantaneous communication and retrotemporal computation
• How consciousness might be the universe processing information through us
• Why manipulating the universe's "source code" could be tomorrow's technology

Don't miss this mind-bending conversation with the physicist who claims to have demonstrated information flowing backward through time and proposes that we're not just observing the universe—we're participating in its cosmic computation.

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

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

"How Nation-States Could Blind U.S. Intelligence Without Firing a Shot" 

Robi Sen reveals how "kindergarten children could take over" most satellite networks, why adversarial ML can make satellites gradually shift their perception of reality, and how the convergence of biological, RF, and space warfare creates nightmares current defense frameworks can't even conceptualize.

"We Can Hit Our Target in Space and Return for Rapid Reuse" 

Dr. Robert Statica on building hypersonic aircraft, space-based defense systems, and the race to sub-100 kg space access—revealing how reusable hypersonic platforms could revolutionize both space access and global strike capabilities.

"They Don't Call for Their Parents. They Say 'Long Live the Great Leader'" 

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) In-Bum Chun exposes North Korea's transformation into a cyber superpower, why cognitive warfare is the real threat, and the chilling reality of a society where dying children praise their dictator instead of calling for their mothers.

"Space Wars Are Over in 24 Hours—Most People Don't Even Know They're Happening" 

Space warfare doctrine pioneer Paul Szymanski reveals mathematical proof that the U.S. lost its first space war to Russia in 2014, exposing how temporal pattern analysis unmasks satellite attacks hidden behind "solar flare" cover stories and why hypervelocity weapons from orbit could render the U.S. Navy obsolete overnight.

"The Grid Is Already a Living System—We Just Don't Recognize It"

Power systems veteran Mike Swearingen explains why treating the power grid as a living, autonomous system isn't science fiction—it's an engineering reality we refuse to acknowledge, and how space-domain tactics can secure the grid of tomorrow.

"The Hidden Power Struggle Reshaping China: Xi Jinping's Dramatic Fall From Grace"

An investigation into China's internal power dynamics reveals how Xi Jinping's grip on power is weakening amid economic turmoil, military purges, and rising opposition within the Communist Party.

"I Patented a Space Airlock That Uses 6,000 Times Less Air"

NASA veteran Marc Cohen reveals his revolutionary Suitport design and four decades of challenging engineering orthodoxy, advocating for space habitats that prioritize human experience over forcing astronauts to adapt to machines.

"I Created a Language That Lets AI Think in 128 Dimensions"

Former corporate sales executive Chris McGinty reveals how his McGinty Equation unifies quantum mechanics with relativity through fractal geometry, creating Hyperfluid AI and revolutionary space-folding technologies now being adopted by NATO defense strategists.

"I'm on a Crusade to Expand the Domain of Life"

Space pioneer Rick Tumlinson reveals how he created the NewSpace movement, his work with Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill, and his 40-year mission to expand humanity beyond Earth through commercial space ventures.

"Space Law Is The First Domain Where Nations Agreed On Rules Before Having Practice" 

Military JAG-turned-attorney Trevor Hehn explains how Cold War-era space treaties meet modern commercial ventures, highlighting the challenges of resource utilization, dual-use technologies, and regulatory navigation for companies expanding beyond Earth's atmosphere.

"The Unprotected Power Grid Will Be Our Civilization's Death Warrant If We Don't Act"

Doug Ellsworth, Co-Director of the Secure the Grid Coalition, warns about America's vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse attacks and advocates for urgent power grid protection to prevent catastrophic infrastructure collapse.

"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 and discusses the commercial revolution transforming space exploration.

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.