Sirotin Intelligence Briefing: June 1-6, 2025: Congress Delivers $150B Defense Boost with "Golden Dome" Missile Shield, Russian Satellite Deploys Suspected Anti-Satellite Weapon, NASA Gets $10B While Science Missions Face Cuts

This week's space intelligence analysis reveals transformative defense spending as Congress passes Trump's mega bill with $150 billion defense boost including $25 billion for "Golden Dome for America" missile defense system, marking the most significant Pentagon acquisition reform in 40 years. Strategic threats escalate as Russian Kosmos-2558 deploys suspected anti-satellite weapon near U.S. reconnaissance assets while York Space Systems sues DoD over $45.9M SBIR contract award. Military contracts surge with Boeing securing $2.8B for strategic communications satellites, Jacobs winning $4B for Space Force range support, and BAE Systems receiving $1.2B for missile-tracking constellation. Policy shifts emerge as NATO launches first Commercial Space Strategy leveraging Space Force leadership, EU publishes Space Act to create single market, while NASA receives $10B boost for human spaceflight but science programs remain in limbo with mission leaders asked to prepare "closeout" plans. Commercial momentum accelerates with LeoLabs securing Pentagon funding for mobile missile-tracking radar, UK Space Agency launching £75.6M debris removal mission, Australia preparing historic Eris rocket launch, and rare interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS offering unique solar system insights. Meanwhile, India transfers 10 ISRO technologies to private sector as former chairman warns against "new-age colonization," marking the nation's push for space technology sovereignty. Plus, don't miss our exclusive interview with "Grid Down Power Up" creator David Tice, who reveals why 500 Chinese transformers in America's power grid could black out millions with the push of a button and warns that every Chinese microchip is a potential weapon waiting to be activated.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• Rocket Lab Expands Role in U.S. National Security Space Operations: Rocket Lab has announced a significant initiative to provide launch and satellite services tailored to U.S. space defense needs. By leveraging its Electron rocket and satellite platforms, Rocket Lab aims to deliver rapid, flexible capabilities for military missions. This development demonstrates the increasing integration of commercial launch providers into national security operations, bolstering the resilience and adaptability of America’s space assets.
• Space Development Agency’s Recent Success Marks New Era for Military Space Initiatives: The Space Development Agency (SDA) has achieved key contract wins and program milestones, signaling a transformative shift in U.S. military space strategy. The SDA’s adoption of proliferated satellite constellations and agile procurement methods is designed to stay ahead of adversaries and ensure robust communications and missile warning systems. These advancements highlight the Pentagon’s focus on innovation and public-private partnerships to maintain space superiority.
• Boeing Appoints Veteran Executive Stephen Parker to Head Defense Division: Boeing has named Stephen Parker, a long-time company insider, as the new leader of its defense unit. Parker’s appointment comes as Boeing seeks to revitalize its defense and space business amid heightened competition and evolving military requirements. His leadership is expected to bring renewed focus and stability to Boeing’s defense programs as the company aligns with shifting priorities within the Department of Defense.
• Air and Space Forces Surpass 2025 Recruitment Targets Ahead of Schedule: The U.S. Air Force and Space Force have exceeded their recruitment goals for 2025 three months early, a notable achievement as other military branches face ongoing challenges. Officials credit this success to targeted outreach, enhanced incentives, and the appeal of high-tech career paths in aerospace and space operations. This early accomplishment supports the services’ ongoing modernization and expansion efforts.
• Space Force Awards Boeing $2.8 Billion for Strategic Communications Satellites: The U.S. Space Force has selected Boeing for a $2.8 billion contract to develop and produce two Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) satellites, with options for two more. These next-generation satellites will provide secure, survivable communications for strategic missions, featuring enhanced resilience, cyber capabilities, and polar coverage. The ESS program is a key component of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications architecture, with work expected to be completed by 2033. The contract is part of a broader $12 billion effort to modernize U.S. military satellite communications.
• Air Force and Space Force Meet 2025 Recruiting Goals Early: The U.S. Air Force and Space Force have both achieved their 2025 recruiting targets months ahead of schedule, joining the Army and Navy in surpassing enlistment goals. The Space Force met its goal for the sixth consecutive year, reflecting strong interest in space careers and the effectiveness of modernized recruiting strategies. Expanded outreach, increased incentives, and a focus on high-tech opportunities have contributed to this success, ensuring a robust pipeline of talent for future missions.
• Russian Satellite Deploys Suspected Anti-Satellite Weapon Near U.S. Asset: A Russian satellite, Kosmos-2558, which has been closely tracking the American USA 326 reconnaissance satellite, recently deployed a subsatellite—designated Object C—raising concerns about potential anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities. U.S. officials and independent analysts suspect this object may be part of a weapons-testing platform, possibly designed to disable or destroy satellites. The incident underscores growing tensions and the increasing militarization of space, as the U.S. Space Command continues to monitor Russian activities closely.
• York Space Systems Sues DoD Over SBIR Award to Apex: York Space Systems has filed a legal complaint against the U.S. Department of Defense, challenging the award of a $45.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract to Apex Space. York argues that the contract was improperly awarded under the SBIR program, as the technology in question is already commercially available and not developmental or new, as required by SBIR rules. The company is seeking to halt work under the contract and reopen the program for competitive bids, raising broader questions about competition and transparency in DoD procurement.
• DoD to Tap Second Vendor for MEO-Based Missile Tracking Satellites: The U.S. Space Force is preparing to award a second contract for its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO). This follows a $1.2 billion contract awarded to BAE Systems to build 10 satellites for the Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) program, with the first deliveries expected in 2029. The new contract will further expand the constellation, enhancing the U.S. military’s ability to detect and track advanced missile threats from multiple orbits.
• Recent U.S. DoD Space-Related Contracts (July 2025)
  • Boeing: Awarded a $2.8 billion contract by the U.S. Space Force to build and deliver the first two satellites of the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) program, with options for two more. These satellites will support strategic warfighters and assure continuity of the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications mission.
  • Jacobs: Secured a potential $4 billion contract for operations, maintenance, and integration support services for the Space Force’s Eastern and Western ranges, supporting both national security and commercial space operations through 2035.
  • BAE Systems: Received a $1.2 billion contract to deliver 10 missile-tracking satellites for the second phase of the MEO Resilient Missile Warning Tracking program, with launches beginning in 2029.

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• India Urged to Strengthen Space Technology to Avoid Future Domination: Former ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar has called on India to accelerate its space technology development to avoid “new-age colonization.” With over 100 space-tech startups emerging in recent years and continued funding growth, India is positioning itself to compete globally and safeguard its interests in the evolving space race.
• Major U.S. Funding Bill Backs Artemis, ISS, NASA Upgrades, and Shuttle Relocation to Houston: President Trump has signed a massive spending bill providing over $10 billion for NASA, boosting Artemis lunar exploration, the International Space Station, and Mars missions while funding upgrades at multiple NASA centers. The bill controversially allocates $85 million to move the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian to Houston’s Space Center, a move praised by Texas lawmakers but criticized by the Smithsonian and former astronauts for its high cost and risk to the shuttle.
• Senate Approves Billions in New Funding for Air Force and Space Force Modernization: The U.S. Senate has passed a sweeping reconciliation bill allocating nearly $39 billion to the Air Force and Space Force for fiscal year 2026. The legislation supports modernization efforts, including new aircraft, missile development, and military satellite programs, and is critical for maintaining readiness and advancing defense priorities. The bill now awaits further action in the House

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• NASA Selects Anil Menon for Inaugural Journey to the International Space Station: NASA has named Dr. Anil Menon, a physician and former SpaceX medical director, to his first mission aboard the International Space Station. Menon’s assignment highlights NASA’s dedication to integrating diverse expertise and fresh talent as it advances its research and prepares for future deep-space missions, including Artemis. His participation underscores the agency’s ongoing commitment to international partnerships and scientific discovery in low Earth orbit.
• LeoLabs Lands Pentagon Support to Deploy Mobile Missile-Tracking Radar: LeoLabs, a leading commercial space surveillance firm, has secured new funding from the U.S. military to develop a mobile radar system for tracking missiles in low Earth orbit. This partnership illustrates the growing reliance on commercial innovation to enhance national security and space situational awareness. The investment will accelerate the deployment of advanced tracking infrastructure, benefiting both defense operations and the broader commercial space sector.
• SpaceX Secures $81.6 Million Deal to Launch Military Weather Satellite: SpaceX has been awarded an $81.6 million contract by the U.S. Space Force to launch the Weather System Follow-on Microwave Space Vehicle 2 (WSF-M2) in 2027. This satellite, part of the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program, will enhance global weather monitoring, including hurricane tracking and sea ice characterization, and will be accompanied by experimental small satellites as secondary payloads.
• Canada Extends MDA Space Contract for Advanced Maritime Surveillance: MDA Space Ltd. has signed a contract extension with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to provide continuous satellite-based maritime surveillance and analytics for dark vessel detection. The Maritime Insights service leverages AI and multiple space-based sensors to monitor maritime zones and counter illegal activities, with future access to MDA’s next-generation CHORUS Earth observation constellation expected in 2026.
• Space Force Invests in Atomic-6 Solar Power Technology for Satellites: The U.S. Space Force has awarded a $2 million contract to Atomic-6, an Atlanta-based startup, to develop and flight-qualify its Light Wing solar array. This flexible, lightweight solar technology will power future satellites and could support lunar infrastructure, reflecting the military’s push for advanced, resilient space power solutions.
• Omnes Capital Launches €112 Million Deeptech Fund for European Scale-Ups: Omnes Capital has closed €112 million for its second deeptech fund, designed to support early-stage European companies in sectors like defense, AI, new space, and quantum technology. The fund, backed by major institutional investors and the EU’s defense mandate, will focus on scaling foundational tech firms, with its first investment in German robotics company ARX Robotics.
• NASA Confirms Discovery of Rare Interstellar Comet Passing Through Solar System: NASA has identified a new interstellar comet, officially named 3I/ATLAS, making it only the third such object ever observed in our solar system. Detected by the ATLAS telescope, the comet is traveling at extraordinary speed and will make a close approach to the sun later this year, offering scientists a unique opportunity to study material from beyond our solar neighborhood.
• Congress Approves $10 Billion Boost for NASA Human Spaceflight: Congress has passed a budget reconciliation bill allocating nearly $10 billion in mandatory funding to NASA, primarily for human spaceflight programs. The funding will support the Artemis lunar program—including additional Space Launch System rockets, the Gateway lunar space station, and Orion crew capsules—as well as operations at the International Space Station. This legislative move reverses proposed cuts and ensures continued investment in flagship U.S. space exploration initiatives.
• Open Cosmos Acquires IoT Space Startup to Expand European Connectivity: Open Cosmos, a leading European satellite manufacturer and operator, has acquired Connected, a Portuguese startup specializing in affordable, standardized IoT connectivity from space. The acquisition accelerates Open Cosmos’ vision for scalable, multi-purpose space infrastructure and strengthens Europe’s technological autonomy. Connected’s technology, based on protocols like 5G NB-IoT, enables cost-effective space-based communications for applications ranging from maritime monitoring to smart agriculture.
• UK Space Agency Launches £75 Million Space Debris Removal Mission: The UK Space Agency has initiated a £75.6 million procurement for its first Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission, aiming to capture and safely de-orbit two defunct British satellites from low Earth orbit by 2028. The mission will use British-built robotic and navigation technology to address the growing threat of space debris, which endangers essential services like GPS and weather forecasting. This move marks a shift from traditional grants to competitive private contracts, intended to stimulate private investment and reinforce the UK’s leadership in the in-orbit services market
• Australia Prepares for Debut Launch of Homegrown Eris Rocket: Gilmour Space Technologies is set to make history with the first orbital launch of an Australian-designed and built rocket, Eris, from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland. The 25-meter, three-stage rocket is capable of delivering up to 300 kg to low Earth orbit. After receiving regulatory approval and completing a successful wet dress rehearsal, the company is preparing for the inaugural launch, which will mark a major milestone for Australia’s sovereign space industry.
• IN-SPACe Transfers 10 ISRO Technologies to Indian Private Sector: India’s space regulator, IN-SPACe, has facilitated the transfer of ten advanced technologies developed by ISRO to six Indian companies. The technologies span satellite launch, ground station infrastructure, and geospatial applications, including advanced inertial sensors, ground station components, geospatial models for agriculture, and a portable bathymetry system. This initiative aims to empower private industry, foster indigenization, and reduce reliance on foreign technology, marking a pivotal step in building indigenous capabilities for India’s space sector.
• China Launches Classified Shiyan-28B Experimental Satellite: China has launched the Shiyan-28B 01 experimental satellite aboard a Long March-4C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The satellite, whose mission details remain classified, will primarily be used for space environment exploration and technology testing. This launch marks the 583rd flight of the Long March rocket series and highlights China’s ongoing advancements in experimental and classified space missions.

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

Despite misgivings and holdouts, the House delivered President Donald Trump his mega bill a day before his July 4 deadline. The bill will boost defense spending by $150B to include $25B for “Golden Dome for America,” and initiate the most significant changeof Pentagon acquisition and innovation processes in 40 years. The Space Force will spearhead development of Golden Dome interceptors with Requests for Informations due on 11 July. 

On the gutting side, NASA's science programs remain in limbo, as dozens of mission leaders have been asked to prepare "closeout" plans. And the Commerce Department might end funding the Traffic Coordination System for Space or TraCSS. This program, still in Beta testing stage, was designed to take over civil Space Traffic Management responsibilities from the DoD, while leveraging Space Situational Awareness data from both the DoD and private and international sources. General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations insisted to prioritize matching “the dramatic rise in threats and increasing importance of space with resources to arm the Space Force effectively." Which LTG Thomas James, Deputy Commander, U.S. Space Command, echoed at the Prague Security Space Conference, mentioning the need to prevent adversaries from gaining advantage over allies in timing, tempo, and space maneuverability. The Space Force awarded $19 million of contracts to 10 companies under its Sustained Space Maneuver (SSM) Challenge.

Maj. Gen. John G. Ferrari (ret.) argued in favor of  “combining the Space Combatant Command with the Space Force into one organization, led by a single four-star general.” Todd Harrison concurs with Captain Mike Cartier in stating that "If the US military is to prevail in future conflict, it must embrace innovation not only in weapons systems and new warfighting domains, but in its human capital."  

The recently released NATO Commercial Space Strategy highlights the Space Force leading role, consolidated by the Western alliance’s broad industrial base.  This at a time when the European Commission just published its EU Space Act, a legislation aiming to create a single market for firms offering space services in the bloc. While boosting competitiveness efforts with the US and other commercial space powers.

Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest: David Tice

Thursday, July 10th – David Tice on Why Every Chinese Microchip Is a Ticking Time Bomb

Former investment manager turned grid security evangelist David Tice joins us to discuss his transformation from predicting the 2008 financial crisis to becoming "a Paul Revere for the digital age." After discovering that 500 large Chinese-manufactured transformers in America's power grid could contain hidden kill switches, Tice invested his own capital to complete the documentary "Grid Down Power Up" featuring Dennis Quaid, warning of a threat that Cabinet officials acknowledge but seem powerless to stop.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• Why 500 Chinese transformers in the US grid could black out millions with the push of a button
• The four main threat vectors: physical attack, cyber attack, electromagnetic pulse, and geomagnetic disturbance
• How an EMP attack could plunge the entire continental US into darkness within seconds
• The "zombie apocalypse without zombies" scenario that unfolds within 72 hours of grid failure
• Texas's groundbreaking Senate Bill 075 creating a Grid Security Commission - a model for other states
• Why $3-4 billion could protect America from nationwide blackout, yet bureaucratic inertia prevents action
• The supply chain vulnerability: how every Chinese microchip is a potential weapon
• The "axis of evil" cooperation between Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran targeting US infrastructure
• Why we need a "grid czar" with Manhattan Project-level authority to override bureaucratic resistance
• From Prudent Bear Fund founder to documentary producer: his unlikely journey into grid advocacy

Don't miss this urgent conversation with the man who warns: "Every week we delay, we're rolling the dice between regional blackouts we can recover from and total civilizational collapse."

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

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

"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.