Sirotin Intelligence Briefing: November 10-15: Pentagon Unveils Wartime Acquisition Strategy as France Commits $5B to Military Space, Blue Origin Reaches Mars

This week's Sirotin Intelligence analysis tracks strategic shifts transforming defense space architecture and acquisition paradigms. Secretary of War Hegseth unveiled the Pentagon's Acquisition Transformation Strategy prioritizing "speed to delivery" as the organizing principle, replacing program executive officers with portfolio acquisition executives and mandating contractors to "adapt or fade away" in response to evolving threats. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history ended after 43 days when President Trump signed an appropriations bill, restoring federal operations and reversing mass layoffs that had paralyzed launch schedules and scientific missions. France committed €4.2 billion ($4.9B) for military space systems through 2030, including counter-space "patrol satellites" capable of active defense, while Poland prepares its first military SAR satellite, signaling Europe's accelerating space militarization alongside Germany's $41B investment. Blue Origin achieved a landmark debut of New Glenn, successfully launching NASA's dual ESCAPADE Mars probes and completing its second NSSL certification flight, marking America's second operational heavy-lift system. Major defense contracts signal strategic modernization: Lockheed Martin secured $454M for Mk21A reentry vehicles for the Sentinel ICBM program, while Northrop Grumman won $303.6M for F-16 radar support across eight allied nations including Taiwan. Chinese astronauts safely returned using backup Shenzhou-21 after debris damaged their primary capsule, demonstrating operational redundancy as orbital congestion risks escalate. Meanwhile, Firefly's $855M acquisition of defense analytics firm SciTec and DARPA's backing of Space Kinetic's asymmetric interceptor constellation signal the commercial sector's accelerating pivot toward military applications. Our next guest Mike Snead, Wright-Patterson aerospace veteran who helped develop the DC-X and evaluated America's first military spaceplane, warns that without developing space solar power equivalent to 2,500 Hoover Dams, America faces energy collapse as fracked oil peaks—while China races to control the ultimate high ground with orbital power platforms that could make nations dependent on Chinese space infrastructure.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• France Announces Nearly $5B in New Military Space Funding: President Macron committed an additional €4.2 billion ($4.9B) for military space systems from 2026–2030, including deployment of counter-space “patrol satellites” by 2027 capable of orbital monitoring, inspection, and active defense against threats. The funds will also accelerate next-gen early warning (JEWEL) collaboration with Germany, high-power jammers and lasers, and operationalize the ARES program’s new “strategic and defense” pillar. France’s rearmament, alongside Germany’s $41B investment, formalizes Europe’s commitment to maintaining technological and tactical parity in space as it integrates autonomous capabilities into NATO’s missile defense network and pan-European resilience strategy.
• Army Updates Missile Defense Strategy, Expands Space Command Role: The U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) has formally expanded from a traditional ground-based midcourse defense role (under NORTHCOM) to a holistic mandate that now includes air and missile defense, counter-drone activities, and leadership in the newly forming Western Hemisphere Command. Army strategists completed an “Air and Missile Defense Strategy 2040,” which prioritizes distributed, AI-enabled formations and system-of-systems layered defense concepts drawn from contemporary conflict lessons in Ukraine and the Middle East. Organizational moves are part of a broader push to integrate Army North, Army South, and FORSCOM—modernizing U.S. homeland and regional missile defense and setting the Army up for a bigger role in Golden Dome and global counter-threat operations.​​
• Firefly Deepens Defense Push With $855M Acquisition of SciTec: Firefly Aerospace has completed its acquisition of SciTec, a Princeton-based defense analytics, ISR, missile warning, and software powerhouse. This merger (valued at $855 million) gives Firefly expertise in real-time threat tracking, ground and onboard data processing, AI-based ISR, and space domain awareness, plus direct ties to U.S. intelligence and military communities. With SciTec’s 475+ staff, facilities for classified operations, and proprietary software, Firefly targets expansion in Golden Dome, space launch, remote sensing, and end-to-end space defense solutions—broadening its playbook for government and tactical markets.​
• DARPA Backs Space Kinetic’s Asymmetric Missile Defense Constellation: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Space Kinetic a multi-million-dollar contract to accelerate an “asymmetric,” one-to-many space interceptor constellation. The company’s project features deployable kinetic assets and the Longbow system—small spacecraft that can autonomously target, engage, and neutralize multiple threats in dispersed, contested, or denied environments. This architecture represents a disruptive departure from the conventional one-to-one missile interceptor paradigm, aiming for lower cost, increased resilience, and operational surprise in future conflicts—a key response to rapidly evolving hypersonic, multi-vector, and space-based missile threats.​
• Poland Prepares to Launch Its First Military Satellite—SAR & Dual-Use Capability: Poland is finalizing the deployment of its first-ever national military satellite, developed by ICEYE Polska and Military Communications Works No. 1. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload will provide round-the-clock imaging, with the initial unit scheduled for imminent launch on a rideshare mission (likely SpaceX). The program—worth PLN 860 million—will deliver at least three satellites and ground systems, with options for more. Poland sees this as a historic step, granting hard security, disaster monitoring, and autonomy in intelligence, positioning Warsaw as a regional leader in Europe’s surge in sovereign military space capabilities.​
• European Defense Leaders Urge Unified, Resilient Satcom Architecture as Space Domain Threats Rise: At Global MilSatCom, leaders from Germany, Switzerland, and ESA warned that Europe’s current fragmented approach to military satellite communications risks strategic shortfalls amid Russian aggression and hybrid threats. Germany is investing heavily in coverage for its eastern flank, advocating for a common European project—shared standards, interoperable terminals, and joint budgets—to build resilient and federated networks across NATO and partner countries. ESA leaders called for urgent industrial scaling of LEO manufacturing and a Europe-wide “resilience framework,” while Switzerland pressed for dual-use “federated” architectures and local industry inclusion, cautioning that market consolidation will not guarantee innovation for smaller states. These calls spotlight growing alignment among European militaries and space agencies to accelerate autonomous, agile space-based C4ISR and secure comms.​
• Golden Dome’s Space-Based Interceptors (SBIs) Will Require Robust Defenses Against Kinetic, Cyber, and Electronic Attacks: Experts warn that as the U.S. considers large constellations of space-based missile interceptors, the SBIs themselves will become top targets for adversary anti-satellite, cyber, jamming, and laser attacks. Analysts advocate for passive and active countermeasures—ranging from onboard stealth, rapid maneuver, and self-protection lasers to the ability to re-fuel and re-arm SBIs over time. Attackers may try to overwhelm the network with decoys, while defense planners emphasize the need for “operational resilience” and cross-domain protection for this multi-trillion-dollar layer of future missile defense.​
• Blue Origin’s New Glenn Completes Second NSSL Certification Flight With U.S. Space Force: Blue Origin’s heavy-lift New Glenn rocket has completed its second successful certification flight for the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, successfully launching a NASA mission and landing its reusable booster at sea. The milestone moves New Glenn closer to full NSSL certification, opening the door for Blue Origin to compete for high-priority U.S. government payloads and enhancing competition in the national security launch sector alongside SpaceX and ULA. The certification process ensures that launch providers meet rigorous standards for carrying critical warfighter and intelligence community missions.

Major Contract Awards This Week:

• Lockheed Martin Mk21A Reentry Vehicle: $454M modification awarded for the Mk21A Reentry Vehicle program, bringing total contract value to $1.48B. The Mk21A is the warhead delivery system for the Sentinel ICBM, with work extending through September 2032 at King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center managing the strategic modernization effort.
• Northrop Grumman F-16 Radar Support: $303.6M indefinite delivery contract for F-16 radar component repair and return, supporting foreign military sales to eight allied nations including Taiwan, South Korea, and NATO partners through November 2030. Sole source acquisition reflects Northrop's exclusive AESA radar expertise.
• Peraton Theater Mission Planning: $17.5M cost-plus-fixed-fee order for continued development of the Navy's Theater Mission Planning Center, supporting strategic and tactical mission planning capabilities. Work distributed between Santa Clara (71%) and telework locations (29%) through November 2026.
• Army Nuclear Facility Support: MPR Associates awarded $90M for nuclear facility support across Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, signaling continued investment in critical defense nuclear infrastructure through 2030.

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• Maryland Congressional Delegation Seeks Answers on NASA Goddard Facility Closures: Prompted by abrupt reports of lab and facility closures at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland’s Congressional delegation—led by Rep. Zoe Lofgren—has formally demanded explanations from NASA leadership and initiated oversight. Lawmakers are concerned about the legality of closures (which some allege are being executed before congressional approval of the FY26 budget), potential waste of taxpayer investment in ongoing science missions, and the impact on critical research infrastructure and local jobs. They have requested a halt to any further consolidation until a thorough investigation and review by NASA’s Office of Inspector General, as tension rises over NASA science center governance and federal R&D stewardship.​
• Countering China's Space Silk Road: U.S. Partnership Model for the Middle East: As the Middle East rapidly develops sovereign space ambitions, China’s “Space Silk Road” has led with turnkey infrastructure and project finance. U.S. analysts now argue for a new American partnership model: joint ventures, industry-government consortia, tech transfer treaties, and workforce development tied to transparent standards and open investment. The approach would promote Western space standards, keep U.S. primes competitive, and secure strategic footholds in new markets—offsetting Beijing’s project-based deals by offering long-term, interoperable capabilities for regional partners.​
• NASA Deep Space Network Suffers Critical Antenna Damage, Threatening Spacecraft Communications: A key DSN antenna (likely the mammoth DSS-14) has been critically damaged, forcing NASA and international partners to reroute contacts, risking mission flexibility for Mars, Artemis, and deep-space fleets. Repairs could take months, underscoring the fragility of aging ground infrastructure at a time when demand for lunar and interplanetary support is soaring. With ESA and commercial gateways needed to buttress now-vulnerable NASA comms, the event galvanizes calls for accelerated investment in resilient, redundant global deep space links.
• What’s Happening in Space Policy (Nov. 9-15, 2025): The ongoing government shutdown—now at 40 days—drives the U.S. space policy agenda. The House remains in recess, while the Senate continues to negotiate a deal to end the impasse, which has disrupted launches, delayed agency planning, and sent essential workers (including NASA, FAA controllers, and ISS staff) weeks without pay. Major events this week include a planned but scrubbed Blue Origin New Glenn Mars launch (with a new FAA-mandated curfew now affecting windows), a high-profile webinar on space-based interceptors and Golden Dome, and symposia exploring the Wolf Amendment’s future and LEO satellite policy/regulation. China’s crew on its Tiangong station remains in a holding pattern after debris struck their return vehicle, with global focus on the U.S.–China competition both in LEO and the legal regime governing civil-commercial space engagement.​
• Longest Government Shutdown in History Ends After 43 Days: President Trump signed an appropriations bill to end the U.S.’s longest-ever shutdown, restoring pay for federal workers, reversing mass layoffs, and stabilizing airport/space launch operations. Immediate impacts include resumed pay for civilian and contractor staff, reopening of scientific missions and government labs, and a scramble to address backlogs in appropriations, procurement, and regulatory actions relevant to space, defense, and federal R&D. The episode exposed acute vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure stewardship and highlighted how partisan gridlock can reverberate across aviation safety, mission continuity, and American scientific leadership.​
• Rep. Lofgren Raises Alarm and Orders Immediate Halt to NASA Goddard Laboratory and Facility Closures: After reports that multiple NASA Goddard labs and facilities—including those key to the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope—faced abrupt closure or abandonment, Rep. Zoe Lofgren issued a forceful letter to Acting Administrator Sean Duffy demanding a halt to all moves, equipment disposal, and consolidations until Congressional and OIG review. She cited risks to tens of millions in federal hardware, loss of scientific capability, and warned that NASA’s rationale is “to eviscerate NASA science, gut its workforce, and threaten the United States' leadership in space.” This Congressional intervention is likely to delay ongoing reorganization and may lead to broader policy oversight of federal science agency management.​
• What Will It Take for India to Lead in Deep Tech and Global Space? World Economic Forum analysis argues that India is moving from “back office” to potential space and tech leader, citing ISRO advances, indigenous launch firms (Skyroot, Agnikul), and software/data startups as evidence of innovation and capability. To capitalize on its scale, India must address structural gaps: fragmented demand, slow regulatory execution, upskilling for advanced payloads, and targeted incentives to keep talent and investment local. India’s competitive advantage now lies in cost, scale, and Quad/BRICS/South Asia partnerships, but sustainable global leadership will require policy convergence, international alliances, and robust domestic IP frameworks. The country’s newly ambitious approach positions it as an agenda-setter, not just a participant, in the shifting “rules of the road” for global space.​
• Karnataka Approves Ambitious Space and IT Policy to Build $22B Statewide Space Economy and Talent Pool: The Indian state of Karnataka’s new Space Technology Policy 2025–2030 aims to capture half the country’s space tech market, train 50,000 professionals, and attract up to $3 billion in investment by 2033. Policy pillars include skill development, startup incentives, infrastructure for smallsat and component makers, and local economic accelerators. The state, already a hub for ISRO, private space startups, AI, and aerospace R&D, is positioning itself as the launch pad for the next decade’s growth in commercial LEO, satellite services, and digital infrastructure across South Asia.
• Karnataka Aims for $22 Billion Space Economy by 2033 With Comprehensive Policy Push: Karnataka’s new Space Technology Policy (2025–2030) sets India’s most ambitious state-level target—seeking 50% of India’s space market (estimated at $44 billion nationally by 2033) and to train 50,000 professionals for the sector. The plan focuses on skills development, R&D hubs, direct startup grants, and incentives for component manufacturers, positioning Bengaluru and the state as the epicenter of commercial launches, satellite manufacturing, and downstream applications. The policy leverages Karnataka’s legacy as ISRO’s home and its robust tech/startup ecosystem, but faces hurdles in infrastructure, execution, and global investor competition. State leaders cite alignment with IN-SPACe’s national PPP agenda, and several “beyond Bengaluru” clusters are earmarked for new technical institutes and public-private accelerators.​
• IMEC25 Advances Maritime Emergency Management Through Space and Collaboration: The International Maritime Emergencies Conference (IMEC25) in Valencia brought together European, Gulf, and Asian agencies alongside major industry and space players (Airbus, Thales, ESA) to accelerate the adoption of satellite-based tools for oil spill detection, crew safety, navigational hazard monitoring, and multi-domain emergency coordination. Key focus areas include real-time EO/radar integration, secure space-cloud incident reporting, and federated threat sharing across civilian and defense maritime operators. The summit’s outcome was a commitment for regional joint demonstration networks and pilot projects—the next step in embedding commercial space assets directly into national emergency protocols.

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• Virgin Galactic Remains on Track for Commercial Flights in 2026: Virgin Galactic has confirmed it is on schedule to debut its next-generation suborbital spaceplane and resume private astronaut flights in late 2026, following prior delays due to production setbacks. Development is proceeding on both the spaceplane and ground systems, as the company seeks to re-establish momentum in the commercial suborbital flight market and compete against emerging rivals in the space tourism and research payload sector.​
• Amazon Rebrands Project Kuiper as “Amazon Leo” Ahead of LEO Broadband Debut: Amazon’s satellite mega-constellation, formerly known as Project Kuiper, has rebranded as “Amazon Leo” as the company approaches a commercial debut for its LEO broadband service. With over 150 satellites in orbit, Amazon now operates one of the world’s largest satellite production lines and touts advanced phased array antennas capable of gigabit speeds—signaling a head-to-head market challenge with SpaceX’s Starlink. The consumer-facing brand shift and enterprise partnerships (including with JetBlue and DirectTV) show Amazon’s readiness to compete on a global scale in enterprise and residential broadband markets.​
• TransAstra’s Inflatable “Capture Bag” Demonstrates New Era of Asteroid and Space DebrisCapture: TransAstra has successfully flight-tested a scale version of its “Capture Bag”—an inflatable system designed to envelop and secure asteroids or large pieces of space debris. After tests aboard the ISS, the company is now scaling the tech, targeting both space-junk removal and eventual asteroid resource mining with deployable bags capable of enveloping objects up to 10,000 tons. The approach offers a low-force, scalable solution for planetary defense, orbital cleanup, and future asteroid exploitation missions, with the first asteroid demonstration targeted for 2028.​
• ESA’s XMM-Newton Confirms First Explosive Burst on a Nearby Star, Shedding Light on Space Weather: Using the XMM-Newton space observatory and LOFAR radio telescope, astronomers have confirmed an explosive coronal mass ejection (CME) on a Sun-like nearby star. The ejection traveled at 2400 km/s—fast and dense enough to strip atmospheres from close-orbit exoplanets. This marks the first definitive observation of a CME outside the solar system, informing both the search for habitable worlds and the evolution of stellar systems, and providing context for understanding space weather threats in our own solar neighborhood.​
• Quebec Quantum Sensing Startup Secures Major International Deals, Fueling Next-Gen Sensing Race: A Quebec-based quantum sensing startup has scored a substantial round of contracts and partnerships in Europe, India, and the Middle East, advancing quantum cryptography, ultra-precise navigation, and low-light detection for both commercial and defense clients. The deals, some valued in the tens of millions, aim to leverage quantum advantages for satellite timing, autonomous vehicles, and secure networks. The company’s swift international traction points to global demand for quantum technologies across aerospace, defense, and smart infrastructure, with sovereign customers intent on building their own quantum-secured systems.​
• Blue Origin’s New Glenn Launches NASA ESCAPADE Mars Mission, Nails Booster Landing: Blue Origin’s New Glenn made a high-profile debut by launching NASA’s dual ESCAPADE spacecraft to Mars, marking both the first interplanetary mission for New Glenn and a landmark moment for Blue Origin’s heavy-lift program. The launch also achieved a successful booster landing—a major milestone for U.S. commercial launch capabilities—with NASA’s twin spacecraft set to study interactions between solar wind and the Martian atmosphere over multiple years. The event signals growing confidence in New Glenn, with more deep space and government payloads expected in the manifest as Blue Origin chisels out a role alongside SpaceX as a core government and commercial launcher.​
• NASA, Blue Origin Launch Solar Wind Mars Probes in Dual-Mission Flight: NASA partnered with Blue Origin for a pioneering Mars mission using two identical ESCAPADE spacecraft to study how solar wind interacts with Mars’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere. The twin probes will operate in tandem, mapping charged-particle flows and conducting coordinated studies to inform planetary evolution, future Mars exploration, and solar-terrestrial science, reflecting NASA’s pivot to leveraging multiple commercial vehicles for deep-space science.​
• Earth’s Magnetic Field Shows Surprising Twist, New Space Data Reveal: Researchers have found unexpected anomalies and structural twists in Earth’s magnetic field using satellite and observatory data, challenging conventional models. The anomaly appears to be accelerating in the South Atlantic region and deviating in ways that could impact space weather exposure for satellites and future crewed missions, calling for upgrades to global geomagnetic monitoring systems.​
• Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Safely Return after Debris Threat—Space Debris Mitigation Touted: Chinese astronauts aboard Shenzhou-20 completed a safe return to Earth aboard the backup Shenzhou-21 after debris compromised their ride-home capsule. The event marks a successful test of China’s in-orbit contingency capabilities and protocol, reinforcing concerns over rapid orbital debris and driving home the value of operational redundancy in human spaceflight logistics.
• “Cannibal” Solar Storm to Hit Earth—Outages, GPS Disruption Possible: Scientists and space weather agencies are tracking an intense solar storm—formed from combined coronal mass ejections—that is set to hit Earth and potentially trigger radio blackouts, GPS outages, and vivid auroras. Agencies urge operators of satellites and grid infrastructure to reinforce contingency plans, with early models predicting geomagnetic disturbances above threshold levels for potential commercial and defense impacts.
• Ground Truth: Lunar Program Hinges on Robust Earth-Based Network Infrastructure: As NASA and its commercial partners gear up for sustained lunar exploration, experts stress that lunar ambitions are only as strong as the global network of ground stations, RF gateways, and communication architectures that tie lunar and Earth orbits together. Existing deep space arrays like NASA’s DSN and ESA’s ESTRACK are now supplemented by commercial ground stations (e.g., Goonhilly, Esrange), forming a global mesh to guarantee uninterrupted contact as missions multiply. Modern gateway stations combine large-aperture antennas, high-power transmitters, redundancy, and data management platforms. Their fail-proof operation ensures critical command, navigation, and science data flow, making these “hidden infrastructures” an indispensable backbone for Artemis, Gateway, lunar logistics, and any envisioned surface base or commercial cislunar activity.​
• IonQ Acquires Skyloom, Building Quantum-Powered Space Networks for the Next Era of Global Secure Data: In a bold move to dominate secure orbital networking, quantum leader IonQ is acquiring Skyloom Global, bringing cutting-edge optical/laser space data transport into IonQ’s quantum computing portfolio. Skyloom’s tech strengthens IonQ’s hand in quantum key distribution, secure comms, and real-time signal routing in orbit—essential for building the backbone of tomorrow’s hybrid quantum-classical, Earth-space information grids. The acquisition ties in with IonQ’s work on terrestrial quantum networks in Chattanooga and Chicago, showing convergence between next-gen secure computing and robust, global space connectivity.​
• ESI Motion Launches SatBat: New Gold Standard for LEO Spacecraft Power Systems: Simi Valley’s ESI Motion has unveiled “SatBat,” a next-generation, space-rated battery platform for low Earth orbit missions. SatBat features integrated heaters and advanced battery management, optimizing performance and survivability for smallsats and cubesats operating in extreme temperature swings and high-radiation LEO environments. Designed to offer longer mission life and adaptive energy control, the product raises the bar for commercial and government satellite power systems as the proliferation of small and modular spacecraft continues.​
• SBQuantum Wins ESA Contract to Demonstrate Quantum Diamond Magnetometers for Space Weather, Backup Navigation: Canadian startup SBQuantum secured new ESA and CSA contracts to test quantum diamond magnetometers in satellite and balloon programs, marking a leap for in-orbit geomagnetic data collection. ESA’s focus is on improving accuracy and reliability for monitoring geomagnetic storms and mapping the field—critical both for fundamental science and protecting satellite comms/GPS infrastructure. Canada’s tests will push sensors to 40 km altitude under STRATOS to examine them as position/navigation backups, an emerging application in high-contested or denied environments.
• ULA Launches Second Viasat-3 Terabit-Class Broadband Satellite, More Than Doubling Americas Capacity: United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V successfully deployed the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite, the second in Viasat’s flagship constellation designed to offer >1 Tbps in Ka-band connectivity for the Americas. This launch, overcoming previous technical delays, is key to Viasat’s plan to scale resilient, flexible, dynamic-beamforming satellite internet—serving government, commercial, aviation, maritime, and mobile customers. The VS-3 network will catapult Viasat into a leading role in global multi-orbit, multi-band broadband service as it eyes a 2026 operational start for this leg of its system.​
• NASA Mission Will Test Organic Electro-Optic Materials in Space, Advancing On-Orbit Photonic Chips: A year-long experiment on ISS (MISSE-21) will expose NLM’s organic electro-optic (OEO) modulators—developed with AIM Photonics—to the harsh space environment (radiation, vacuum, atomic oxygen). The silicon-organic hybrid chips will be assessed for high-performance, low-power photonic computing and data transmission in spacecraft, with broader implications for telecom, sensors, and commercial upgraded satellite buses poised to leverage these energy-efficient modulators for future orbital applications.​
• Morphing 3D-Printed Structures Enable Flat-to-Curved In-Space Manufacturing: University of Illinois engineers, backed by AFRL, have demonstrated a novel method where carbon fiber-reinforced gels printed flat on Earth can transform into complex, stiff, curved (e.g., parabolic dish) or morphogenic shapes in orbit using heat and frontal polymerization. This process reduces launch mass/volume and enables repeatable, in-situ molding of high-stiffness structures for antennas, mirrors, or other mission-critical components—potentially revolutionizing deployable satellite infrastructure and remote manufacturing in space and rugged Earth environments.​
• Space-Based Laser Communications Making Strides With Rapid Miniaturization, AI Integration: The market for optical satellite communications is in rapid expansion, as SBLC systems prove out high-bandwidth, secure, and ultra-low-latency data routes. Miniaturized and AI-enabled terminal designs now make optical comms possible even on smallsats, enabling constellation-to-constellation links and deep-space missions far more efficiently than RF. Benefits include higher data rates, sharper security (narrow beam), lower interference, and reduced latency for tactical, scientific, and multi-domain commercial use—including deep space, LEO broadband, disaster response, and secure defense communications. Global investments are accelerating as government, space science, and commercial demand converge on this next-gen space network backbone.
• GE and NASA Test Hybrid-Electric Turbofan Under HyTEC Project, Eye Sustainable Aviation Future: GE Aerospace and NASA’s Hybrid Thermally Efficient Core (HyTEC) program are testing a modified Passport engine integrated with multi-motor hybrid-electric cells. The project aims to validate hybrid cycle efficiency improvements, performance controls, and emissions reduction on a real turbofan architecture—laying groundwork for commercial narrow-body planes operating with less fuel and with flexibility to adopt improved battery/storage systems when available. Component and systems-level test milestones have been reached, with full-engine cycle data planned to influence both commercial and military future propulsion choices.​
• Alphabet X Unveils Project Suncatcher—A Moonshot for Space-Based AI Compute Clusters: Google’s research unit, X, detailed plans for Project Suncatcher: a scalable constellation of solar-powered satellites equipped with TPUs, interconnected via free-space optical links to create “AI data centers in orbit.” The concept leverages near-continuous solar exposure and terabit-scale interlinks to run machine learning at scale without taxing Earth’s energy resources. Planet Labs will help validate the vision with a 2027 hardware demo. If proven cost-competitive, the project could redefine cloud compute, edge analytics, and global bandwidth, fundamentally altering the economics and infrastructure logistics of planetary-scale AI.​​
• Propulsion Breakthroughs: Space Technology for Fuel-Free Interstellar Travel Moves From Concept to Lab: Scientists are now making headway with concepts for propellantless propulsion—solar and magnetic sails that harness sunlight or solar wind to deliver steady thrust over vast distances. Recent peer-reviewed findings and archive server reviews point to advancements in deployable large-area sail materials, magnetic field generators, and new mission concepts that use electromagnetic forces or planetary gravity not only for solar system travel, but eventually for true interstellar flight. Japan’s IKAROS sail, NASA’s STARS and NEA Pathfinder, and small academic cubesat experiments provide incremental demonstrations, with magnetic sails and charged-particle thrusters next in line for near-term validation.​

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

“Speed to delivery is now our organizing principle. It is the decisive factor in maintaining deterrence and warfighting advantage. If our warfighters die or our country loses because we took too long to get them what we needed, we have failed. It is that simple. The sense of urgency has slipped too much, and when you look at what we face, we have to recapture it,” said SecWar Hegseth during a 70-minute speech at the National War College in Washington. While the Pentagon hasn't yet released its impending National Defense Strategy, the U.S. Department of War  published its new “Acquisition Transformation Strategy” to shorten timelines, improve the industrial base, and boost competition in the weapons acquisition process.  

Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey indicated major shifts include prioritizing commercial solutions and alternative contracting mechanisms, replacing program executive officers with portfolio acquisition executives who will have expanded authority, incentivizing faster deliveries, pivoting the overarching culture to a more urgent wartime footing, and overhauling the nation’s process for Foreign Military Sales. This means securing deals while tackling the fact that "our processes are too slow and our industrial base is too inefficient to keep up and deliver on time to our allies and partners."

The Pentagon’s new acquisition strategy is to prioritize nontraditional contractors while making sure that all involved either adapt or ‘fade away’. The Office of Strategic Capital is to retain its role in attracting and scaling private capital, as the OSC develops and implements strategies and partnerships to accelerate and scale private investment in critical supply chain technologies needed for national security. The U.S. Chamber statement fully backed this Pentagon Transformation Strategy in the combined interest of national security and the rising private defense tech sector.

 Meanwhile, the Pentagon had issued new guidance on Irregular Warfare and further came up with a revised Cyber Force Plan to strengthen U.S. Cyber Command by integrating it with other military departments for recruitment boosting cyber talent domain mastery. As for the impending National Defense Strategy, its focus is reportedly on protecting the U.S. homeland and Western Hemisphere. Countering China remains a key priority, and the strategy will emphasize increasing military lethality and deterring aggression. It will further leverage all of the above to rebuild alliances with allies and maintain a strong nuclear deterrent and missile defense capabilities. As lunar niche companies such as Intuitive Machines acquiring Lanteris position themselves to become the next-generation space prime, a competitive private sector strongly welcomed SecWar’s new Acquisition Transformation Strategy. 

This could work as inspiration for U.S. allies to upgrade their own game.

Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest: Mike Snead

"America Must Build 2,500 Hoover Dams Worth of Space Solar Power or Face Energy Collapse": Wright-Patterson Aerospace Veteran Mike Snead on Why Fracking's Peak Threatens Energy Independence

America consumes 17 billion barrels of oil equivalent annually, with 70% from fossil fuels that will peak within decades as domestic fracked production declines. When that happens, as it did with conventional oil in 1970, America returns to energy dependence. The mathematics of replacement are unforgiving: 44 trillion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity needed yearly, equivalent to 2,500 Hoover Dams running continuously. Ground solar would require covering Texas. Wind farms coast-to-coast could barely meet half the demand. Nuclear means breeding 5,000 tonnes of weapons-grade material annually.

Mike Snead, President of the Spacefaring Institute LLC, spent 37 years as a civilian aerospace engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He worked on the National Aerospace Plane program, helped develop the DC-X vertical landing demonstrator, and in 1985 served as Project Engineer evaluating a manned military two-stage spaceplane that could have given America operational spaceliner capabilities by 2000. The Air Force declined Wright-Patterson's recommendation to build it. Now Snead advocates for what he calls the National Astroelectricity Energy Security Transition Policy: building space solar power infrastructure to maintain permanent energy security while establishing America as the leader in commercial spacefaring operations.

Topics We'll Cover:

• Why America needs 900 Manhattan Island-sized solar platforms in geostationary orbit by century's end. Solar panels in GEO achieve 96% capacity factor compared to 25% on the ground, making space the only scalable solution for replacing fossil fuels.
• How Wright-Patterson approved spaceplanes for development 40 years ago. In 1985, forty Air Force experts evaluated Boeing's two-stage spaceplane and declared it industry ready. Four decades later, China operates the only other human spaceflight capability while America still debates.
• Why the Astral Highway infrastructure determines who controls space industrialization. The nation that builds LEO spaceports, lunar bases, and GEO platforms first will control orbital power generation and, by extension, all spacefaring operations throughout the solar system.
• How China's 2021 SSP program with 900 researchers threatens American energy independence. While NASA and DOE have abandoned SSP development, China targets operational platforms by 2035, positioning to offer cheap orbital power to developing nations.
• Why fracking's temporary reprieve gives America 20-30 years maximum to prepare. Once production peaks, building during an energy crisis becomes exponentially harder, as demonstrated by the current scramble for rare earth minerals after decades of Chinese dominance.
• How beamed power from SSP platforms enables electric space propulsion throughout the central solar system. Whoever controls the orbital power infrastructure controls not just Earth's energy but all operations beyond Earth orbit.

Snead sent detailed analyses to the White House, published technical assessments, and continues advocating for a solution few want to acknowledge: without space solar power development starting now, America's energy security faces fundamental risk as China races to control the ultimate strategic high ground.

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

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

"We're Sitting on $100 Trillion and Want to Pay $400 Billion to Throw It Away" 

Steven Curtis reveals why nuclear "waste" contains 97% of its original energy worth $100 trillion, how the NRC charges $300/hour to say no to reactors that can't melt down because they're already melted, and why one governor with two minutes of courage could solve our energy crisis.

"We're Playing by 1987 Rules in a 2025 Game" 

Former White House space chief Sean Wilson exposes how export controls from 1987 are killing U.S. competitiveness, why China bundles "practically free" satellites with predatory loans, and how satellites "don't have mothers" fundamentally changes space escalation dynamics.

"Modern War Isn't About Territory—It's About Narrative Control" 

Major General Vladyslav Klochkov, former Chief of Moral-Psychological Support for Ukraine's Armed Forces, reveals how information warfare determines victory before armies meet, and why the battle for minds matters more than the battle for land.

"We're Traveling with Biological Machinery That Can Melt in Space" 

Dr. Ekaterina Kostioukhina, extreme environments physician, explains why human hibernation may be essential for Mars missions, how ground squirrels avoid muscle atrophy during torpor, and why patents on hibernating fish could revolutionize interplanetary travel.

"The Universe Isn't a Machine—It's an Information Processing System" 

Theoretical physicist Davide Cadelano presents his Codex Alpha framework where spacetime emerges from quantum information networks, unifying relativity and quantum mechanics through a radical new understanding that treats the universe as a vast computational system rather than mechanical clockwork.

"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 re 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 re 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 re 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.