This week's Sirotin Intelligence analysis reveals Gen. Michael Guetlein's 60-day deadline to deliver Golden Dome's objective architecture, claiming space-based interceptor technology exists but must prove economic scalability despite CBO's $542 billion estimate versus Trump's $175 billion target. China tightens quality oversight on its commercial space sector projected to exceed $348 billion in 2025, issuing lifecycle supervision directives as Beijing standardizes its "new engine of economic growth." Congress pushes back against Trump's plan to terminate Mars Sample Return with $300 million lifeline while warning of unprecedented funding uncertainty through 30-day OMB increments and potential illegal impoundment. Space Force activates new System Deltas merging acquisition and operations to accelerate satellite development, with programs "moving much faster" through colonel-level collaboration despite losing 450 civilian staffers. The UK's space sector now supports £454 billion in economic activity (18% of GDP) while Senegal becomes the 56th Artemis Accords signatory—notably the second nation joining both U.S. and Chinese lunar coalitions. As Northrop Grumman tests space-based interceptors and ULA prepares Vulcan's first national security launch generating 3 million pounds of thrust, the strategic divergence crystallizes: military space capabilities expand exponentially while civil space programs face existential funding threats. Lastly, don't miss our exclusive conversation this week with Lt. Gen. (Ret.) In-Bum Chun, former ROK Special Forces Commander, who reveals how North Korea became a cyber superpower ranking alongside the US, Russia, and China—and why Kim Jong-un fears K-pop more than ICBMs.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• Golden Dome Architecture Due in 60 Days: Gen. Michael Guetlein announced he has 60 days to deliver an objective architecture for President Trump's Golden Dome missile defense shield, claiming space-based interceptor technology exists but must prove it can scale economically. Reporting directly to Deputy SecDef Steve Feinberg with special authorities to "move with haste," Guetlein believes the $175 billion system can meet Trump's 2028 deadline despite CBO estimates of $542 billion for the space-based interceptor portion alone.
• Space Force Stands Up Two New System Deltas for Space Sensing: Space Systems Command activated two new System Deltas within the Space Force Program Executive Officer for Space Sensing mission area on July 10, advancing the service's Unified Mission Readiness construct. The activation advances Space Force's purpose-built organization aligned with operational needs, with SYD 810 focused on Space-Based Sensing & Targeting under Col. Dane Bannach's command.
• Space Force Merges Acquisition and Operations Units to Accelerate Satellite Development: Space Systems Command activated two new system deltas for missile warning and space sensing on July 10, pairing acquisition teams with operational mission deltas to close the gap between buying and using satellites. The reorganization enables colonel-level collaboration instead of three-star coordination, with Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant reporting programs and capabilities are "moving much faster" as the service prepares six more system deltas while managing $10 billion in new funding despite losing 450 civilian staffers to deferred resignation.
• HII Secures $74M Space Simulation Contract for Air & Space Force Readiness: HII's Mission Technologies division won a 5-year task order to provide modeling and simulation support to the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate, developing simulations that enable space units to train from wartime locations. The contract includes decision aid software using machine-to-machine data collection for space command and control, supporting enhanced Guardian readiness and U.S. asset survivability in complex multi-domain environments.
• Space Force Plans Multi-Company Proliferated GEO Surveillance Network: The service will replace its specialized GSSAP military satellites with commercially designed systems as part of a $900 million maneuverable GEO program, selecting multiple companies to build proliferated surveillance sensors in geostationary orbit. The shift marks Space Force's push toward commercial solutions for critical missions, with Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy signing acquisition decision memorandums to move away from "one-off, billion-dollar systems" toward proliferated architectures that enable faster technology refresh cycles.
• DOD Awards and Military Contract Updates:
  • Lockheed Martin Secures $999M JASSM/LRASM Production Contract: The Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a ceiling $999 million indefinite-delivery contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile lifecycle support, covering system upgrades, integration, production, sustainment, and logistics. Work at Orlando through July 2030 supports the Air Force's $4.15 billion unfunded priority request to double JASSM/LRASM production from 1,100 to 2,200 rounds annually by FY30.
  • Air Force Awards $950M for Construction Services in Germany: Seven contractors will share a ceiling $950 million indefinite-delivery contract for sustainment, maintenance, repair, alteration, renovation, and minor construction projects at Kaiserslautern military community and Spangdahlem Air Base. The 9-year contracts were awarded to F.K. Horn, SKE Support Services, Wayss & Freytag, J&J Worldwide Services, Wolff & Müller, MICKAN, and PORR Government Services to support U.S. military infrastructure in Germany.
  • Navy Awards $554M for Advanced Threat Simulation Aircraft: Airborne Tactical Advantage Co. received a $554 million contract to provide contractor-owned Type III high subsonic and Type IV supersonic aircraft for Navy fleet threat simulation, training aircraft squadrons and shipboard operators on countering advanced airborne threats and electronic warfare tactics at facilities from Point Mugu to Atsugi, Japan.
  • Northrop Grumman Wins $495M for Technical Representative Engineering Services: The Air Force Sustainment Center awarded Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems a sole-source $495 million requirements contract for engineering services supporting various major defense programs at Oklahoma City through July 2030, reflecting continued investment in aerospace industrial base capacity.
  • Army Awards $200M for Architectural and Engineering Services: Four joint ventures will compete for a $200 million contract providing architectural and engineering services through July 2030. Winners include Mead & Hunt-Dlz-Olsson JV, HDR Bergmann JV, Jacobs-AECOM-St. Paul JV, and HNTB-Arcadis River Solutions JV, supporting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District infrastructure projects.
  • Northrop Grumman Secures $141M for Japan E-2D Advanced Hawkeye: The company received a $140.8 million modification for non-recurring engineering to support production of five Japan configuration E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft, with work in Melbourne, FL through November 2028 under Foreign Military Sales to strengthen allied airborne early warning capabilities.
  • Navy Awards $218M for Training Products and Services: Seven contractors will share an estimated $218 million for curriculum planning, analysis, maintenance, PC modeling, simulation, and part task trainers supporting Naval Education Training Command. Winners include HII Fleet Support Group, Chitra Productions, Carley Corp., Transtecs Corp., C2 Technologies, JANUS Research Group, and Crew Training International.
  • Marine Corps Awards Raytheon $32.5M for Medium Range Intercept Capability: Raytheon received a firm-fixed price contract for 44 sets of long lead items for full rate production of the Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC), plus additional spares and prototype system upgrades. Work in Tucson through November 2027 supports Marine Corps air defense modernization.

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• Senegal Becomes 56th Nation to Sign Artemis Accords: Senegal joined the Artemis Accords on July 24, becoming the fourth African nation and notably the second country (after Thailand) to participate in both the U.S.-led Artemis framework and China's International Lunar Research Station initiative. The signing followed President Trump's meeting with Senegal's President Faye, with ASES Director General Maram Kairé emphasizing it marks "a meaningful step in our space diplomacy" as the nation, which launched its first satellite in 2024, balances relationships between competing lunar exploration coalitions.
• Mars Sample Return Gets Congressional Lifeline: House appropriators are pushing back against the Trump Administration's plan to terminate Mars Sample Return, providing $300 million to maintain U.S. leadership as China races toward its own 2028 Mars sample mission. The House subcommittee rejects Trump's proposed 24.3% NASA cut while warning of unprecedented funding uncertainty, with OMB providing money in 30-day increments and potential illegal impoundment threatening program execution even if Congress approves funding.
• UK Space Sector Now Supports £454B in Economic Activity: New figures released at the UK Space Conference show space services support 18% of UK GDP, up £90 billion from last year, as the government awards £4.5 million for next-gen satellite 5G/6G systems. The UK Space Agency's £682 million budget includes projects like MDA Space UK's SkyPhi 5G/6G direct-to-device mission and participation in ESA's Moonlight lunar communications infrastructure, positioning Britain as a key player in the new space economy.
• US Space Force Unveils "Partner to Win" International Strategy: The new strategy calls for allies and partners to integrate across force design, development, and employment, engaging in joint missions, wargaming, and planning "across requirements, budgets, programming and execution." New Zealand has joined as a partner through the Wideband Global Satcom network and Joint Commercial Operations ground system, with Defence Minister Judith Collins emphasizing NZ's "geographic importance" while an NZDF liaison officer joined Space Force in Colorado to explore enhanced space operations integration.
• India Partners with 60+ Nations for Space Technology Cooperation: Science Minister Jitendra Singh announced India has signed space cooperative documents with 61 countries and five multilateral bodies, covering satellite remote sensing, navigation, communication, space science, and planetary exploration. Major collaborations include NASA for NISAR launching this month, France's CNES for TRISHNA thermal imaging satellite, and Japan's JAXA for lunar polar exploration, while 79 MoUs with private entities support India's growing commercial space ecosystem.
• China Tightens Commercial Space Quality Control with New Oversight Rules: China National Space Administration issued directives to enhance quality supervision across the commercial space lifecycle from design through decommissioning, as the sector projects to exceed 2.5 trillion yuan ($348 billion) in 2025. The regulations aim to foster "orderly development" after commercial space was designated a "new engine of economic growth" in 2024, marking Beijing's effort to standardize its rapidly expanding private space activities.

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• Ancient Space Weather Event Reveals Human Adaptation 41,000 Years Ago: New research links the Laschamps Excursion—when Earth's magnetic field collapsed to 10% strength—to increased cave dwelling, tailored clothing production, and ochre "sunscreen" use among both Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Europe. As auroras wandered toward the equator and harmful UV radiation surged, archaeological evidence suggests distinct population responses to invisible space weather threats, offering insights for future geomagnetic disruptions.
• Russia Launches Iranian Satellite Alongside Space Weather Monitoring Constellation: A Soyuz 2.1b rocket successfully deployed Iran's Nahid-2 communications satellite and Russia's Ionosfera-M 3 and 4 space weather monitors from Vostochny Cosmodrome today, completing Moscow's four-satellite constellation at 509 miles altitude. The Ionosfera satellites will monitor solar wind impacts on Earth's magnetosphere in perpendicular orbital planes, expanding 3D coverage while carrying new ozone measurement instruments amid growing concerns about space weather effects on military and civilian systems.
• Space Force Merges Acquisition and Operations Units to Accelerate Satellite Development: Space Systems Command activated two new system deltas for missile warning and space sensing on July 10, pairing acquisition teams with operational mission deltas to close the gap between buying and using satellites. The reorganization enables colonel-level collaboration instead of three-star coordination, with Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant reporting programs and capabilities are "moving much faster" as the service prepares six more system deltas while managing $10 billion in new funding despite losing 450 civilian staffers to deferred resignation.
• Northrop Grumman Already Testing Space-Based Interceptors for Golden Dome: CEO Kathy Warden revealed the company is conducting ground-based tests of space-based interceptor technologies during Q2 earnings, as Gen. Guetlein confirms "we have proven every element of the physics" needed for orbital missile defense. While the technology exists, Guetlein identifies key challenges as proving economic viability and industrial scale, questioning whether enough satellites can be built with sufficient raw materials to counter threats traveling 6,000+ mph from China and Russia.
• Turkey's Aselsan Offers Space Tech Transfer to Azerbaijan: Building on TÜRKSAT-6A's successful first year in orbit, Aselsan proposes a technology transfer framework for Azerbaijan's Azerspace-3 satellite that would enable joint development and localized production of satellite payloads. The partnership model aims to transform Azerbaijan from customer to co-developer, placing Turkey among only 11 nations capable of manufacturing geostationary communications satellites while strengthening regional space industry capabilities.
• UK Space Tech Revolutionizes Agriculture and Water Management: The UK's £9 billion space economy increasingly addresses environmental challenges, with satellite-based nitrogen analysis helping farmers optimize fertilizer use and AI-driven leak detection transforming water networks. Despite technical promise, adoption faces hurdles as farmers question value-add for day-to-day decisions, highlighting the need for collaborative design and cross-sector data sharing to bridge the gap between innovation and practical implementation.
• ULA's Vulcan Rocket Prepares for First National Security Launch: United Launch Alliance is assembling its most powerful Vulcan rocket configuration for the USSF-106 mission, utilizing twin BE-4 engines and four GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters to generate 3 million pounds of thrust. The Vulcan VC4S will carry a multi-manifest national security payload directly to geosynchronous orbit for Space Systems Command, marking Vulcan's inaugural National Security Space Launch mission as ULA transitions from Atlas V to its next-generation heavy-lift capability.

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

The Space Foundation has just released its Q2 2025 edition of The Space Report, showing the global space economy grew nearly 8% Year-on-Year to reach $613B in 2024. The commercial sector dominates with over $480B in revenues amounting for nearly 80% of the total, including $137.3B for Infrastructure and Support Industries, and $343.0B Space Products and Services. Commercial PNT services represent the top commercial space sector with $231.4B in revenues, followed by ground stations, direct-to-home TV, and satcom. 

U.S. Government Space ($77.3B) and Non-U.S. Government Space ($55.0B) constitute the remaining non-commercial 22% share. That government demand driver is also on the rise with the U.S. leading, followed by China, Europe, and Japan. 

When announcing these results, Space Foundation CEO, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, emphasised that the 7.8% Year-on-Year  percentage increase is the highest in three years and marks 15 years of continuous gains. If this growth rate continues, the global space economy is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2032, a milestone economic accomplishment in line with other industry projections. 

 Pringle added, “Space is well–known as the final frontier for exploration, but it is so much more. Space is a cornerstone of our society. It underpins our economy, public safety, and national security.”

 Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the House appropriations subcommittee that covers civil space voted this week for almost $2 million in funds for a National Space Council, but nobody knows who would lead it. According to Politico Space, "it’s quite possible the White House simply hasn’t started the process of choosing an executive secretary" and rumours "may have more to do with the space industry’s eagerness to believe the White House cares about space." Three names were floated: Kevin O’Connell, former director of the Office of Space Commerce; retired General Jay Raymond, former Chief of Space Operations; and Scott Pace, former executive secretary of the National Space Council. O'Connell said he had not been approached. Raymond said he had not been offered the job and had no plans to return to government service. Pace said he had no plans to go back either. 

Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest: In-bum Chun, Lieutenant General (Ret.), Republic of Korea Army

Thursday, July 31st – Lt. Gen. (Ret.) In-Bum Chun on North Korea's Cyber Superpower Status, Why Cognitive Warfare Is the Real Threat, and the Russian Tech Transfer That Should Terrify Us

The former commander of South Korea's Special Forces, Lieutenant General (Retired) In-Bum Chun, joins us to reveal how North Korea has quietly become a global cyber superpower while the West focused on nuclear deterrence. With 38 years defending the DMZ and unique fluency bridging Korean and American military cultures, Chun exposes the threats most analysts miss: from North Korean soldiers in Ukraine whose dying words are "Long live the Great Leader" to why Kim Jong-un fears K-pop more than ICBMs.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• How North Korea built a cyber army ranking alongside the US, Russia, China, and Israel with minimal investment
• Evidence of Bureau 121 and Lazarus Group stealing $2 billion in cryptocurrency to fund weapons programs
• Why North Korean troops in Ukraine refuse capture, choosing suicide over surrender
• The "cognitive warfare" strategy China developed after Gulf War I to defeat America without firing a shot
• How North Korea is getting satellite navigation spoofing and anti-satellite technology from desperate Russia
• Mathematical proof that GPS disruption from the DMZ has affected 1,007 aircraft and 715 ships
• Why South Korea's 96% internet penetration makes it uniquely vulnerable to election interference
• The classified space capabilities North Korea doesn't show in parades that should worry us most
• How Israel's Iron Beam laser system at $3.50 per shot could counter $200 drones
• Why "satellites have no mothers" makes space the preferred domain for first strikes in modern warfare

Don't miss this explosive conversation with the man who commanded Korea's elite special forces, revealing why the regime that experts predicted would collapse 30 years ago is now teaching Russia about discipline––and why the real war isn't fought with missiles but in human minds.

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

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

"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.