This week's Sirotin Intelligence analysis reveals the acceleration of space militarization and commercial disruption: Apex Space will self-fund Project Shadow, the first commercial demonstration of space-based missile interceptors, launching in June 2026 with two solid rocket motors as Lockheed Martin and Northrop race to validate architectures for Trump's $175 billion Golden Dome constellation promising thousands of orbital kill vehicles by 2029. NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy opens Artemis III lunar lander contracts to Blue Origin and competitors amid SpaceX Starship delays, bowing to White House pressure to beat China's 2029 lunar ambitions through "dissimilar redundancy" and multi-supplier competition. European aerospace consolidates as Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales merge satellite businesses into a €6.5 billion powerhouse employing 25,000 to challenge SpaceX and Chinese dominance. Germany commits €35 billion through 2030 to counter Russian "inspector" satellites shadowing Bundeswehr assets as Defense Minister Pistorius warns future conflicts will spill openly into orbit. Defense tech startups like Anduril, Palantir, Scout AI, and Orbital Operations reshape military procurement as the Fifth Defense Revolution converges AI with mass manufacturing for space-centric multi-domain warfare, while Europe's Space Shield aims for full operational capability by 2026. Vantor satellites close orbital "blind spots" with space-to-space cameras tracking non-cooperative spacecraft, James Webb reveals early galaxies as fundamentally chaotic informing next-gen defense sensors, and Russia's Baiterek project advances with Soyuz-5 methane rocket targeting December 2025 Baikonur launch. Space warfare transitions from posturing to operational reality as hostile actions including jamming, dazzling, and cyber targeting become routine, forcing urgent reform in monitoring and active countermeasures as international norms lag behind orbital aggression and commercial satellite proliferation redefines global intelligence with complex privacy and sovereignty disputes. Meanwhile, our next guest Dr. Mark Woods reveals why Mars rovers freeze completely when trouble starts, how symbolic AI won the trust battle for billion-dollar missions, and why Silicon Valley keeps rediscovering robotics architectures from the early 2000s that people keep forgetting.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• National Guard Space Missions Begin Shift to Space Force, Few in Colorado Transfer: After years of political debate, National Guard space operations in states like Alaska, California, and Colorado are starting to transfer to the Space Force, impacting nearly 600 guardsmen. While Space Force consolidates responsibility for military space capabilities, resistance from state leaders and advocacy groups continues, especially over concerns that personnel opportunities and command autonomy may be reduced.​
• Space Force Eyes $905M for Maneuverable GEO Satellites: The U.S. Space Force plans $905M in new contracts to form a fleet of maneuverable satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO), boosting the military’s ability to reposition assets and respond to adversary activity on orbit. This capability is crucial as threat actors deploy satellites with maneuver functionality and anti-satellite potential.​
• Space Weapons Proliferate, Spy Satellites Take On New Military Roles: With Russia and China advancing nimble, weaponizable satellites and conducting close-approach maneuvers in orbit, the U.S. and allies are re-tooling spy satellite networks for active orbital surveillance and indications of hostile actions. Vantor and other commercial providers now deliver fine-resolution imaging (down to 24 cm in LEO) and on-orbit tracking, supporting missile defense and attribution in contested space.​
• James Webb Finds Early Universe Galaxies Fundamentally Chaotic—Implications for Next-Generation Sensors: Webb telescope data reveals galaxies in the universe’s first billion years as strikingly fragmented and turbulent, with frequent mergers and bursts of star formation driving rapid evolution. Astronomers and defense sensor specialists are using these discoveries to refine deep-field observation techniques, model faint object detection, and push boundaries of multispectral surveillance tech. The findings promise to influence the design of future space sensor platforms, serving both scientific and defense missions requiring continuous, high-fidelity imaging of dynamic environments.
• Defense Tech Startups Strategically Target Space Warfare and Military Collaboration: The latest surge in defense tech startups is reshaping military procurement and operational priorities, with companies like Anduril, Palantir, Scout AI, and Orbital Operations developing key innovations for autonomous space defense, satellite servicing, and AI-driven threat detection. These firms are capitalizing on Space Force’s expanded acceptance of commercial solutions, moving rapidly from prototype to deployment and receiving multi-billion-dollar venture infusions. Startups now routinely field demo hardware for Golden Dome missile defense, build robotic platforms for counter-drone missions, and deploy software for universal robot control. The Fifth Defense Revolution is defined by convergence in AI, mass manufacturing, and domain-specific autonomy—outperforming legacy primes in speed and dual-use capabilities for space-centric multi-domain warfare. The sector draws U.S., European, and Asian startups, each vying for next-gen contracts and positioning for a leadership role in evolving great power competition and orbital deterrence.​
• Korea’s Defense Industry Showcases Space and AI Innovations at ADEX 2025: South Korean defense contractors unveiled new space situational awareness sensors, satellite-based targeting networks, and AI-powered decision engines at ADEX 2025. The export-driven industry is forming strategic partnerships with Western and regional buyers, focusing on satellite integration, drone swarming, and multi-spectrum battlefield management. Korea’s government is backing these efforts with incentives and R&D funds, elevating domestic tech to compete globally in military space assets and rapid-response C4ISR platforms.​
• SpaceX Readies Spanish Military Satellite for Space Coast Launch: SpaceX scheduled a launch of Spain’s latest military satellite, adding to a rapidly growing deployment of European defense assets in orbit. The mission capitalizes on SpaceX’s expanded U.S. launch licenses and strengthens transatlantic cooperation on strategic satellite infrastructure, enhancing Europe’s surveillance, secure communication, and defense posture in LEO and beyond.​
• Europe Outlines Defense Flagship Programs and Confirms Space Shield by 2026: France and the EU formalized plans for a pan-European Space Shield, aiming for full operational capability within two years. Flagship programs address satellite resilience, multi-domain defense, and rapid response to Russian cyber or kinetic attacks. Prototype assets and command structures will coordinate with NATO, while industry partnerships bring new technologies and commercial launch cadence to the defense spectrum. The move signals Europe’s readiness for autonomous defensive actions in orbit and protection of dual-use assets against direct and indirect threats.​
• Space Warfare Now an Operational Reality, Not Mere Posturing: Reports from the U.S. and European sources confirm that hostile actions in orbit—including jamming, dazzling, and cyber targeting—have moved from test cases to active conflict. Defense agencies and commercial operators now regularly encounter multi-domain threats targeting both strategic and commercial satellite networks, driving urgent reform in monitoring, mitigation, and active countermeasures. As international norms lag, military and tech sectors race to field adaptive platforms capable of real-time threat response in the contested orbital arena.
• Trump’s $175 Billion ‘Golden Dome’ Space Shield Advances with Lockheed Interceptor Plans: The Golden Dome missile defense program, championed by President Trump, is taking shape as Lockheed Martin prepares to test space-based missile interceptors specifically architected to counter Chinese and Russian threats. The initiative could deploy hundreds of sensor and interceptor satellites in rapid orbits for both defensive and offensive space operations. Despite skepticism around cost (estimates range from $175 billion to $3.6 trillion) and operational efficiency versus ground-based systems, the White House has committed to multi-layer defense, with strong interest from allied nations and NORAD integration. The scheduled goal is operational capability before January 2029, with Space Force leadership now overseeing the technical and procurement milestones.​
• Germany’s Expanded Space Defense Investment and Russian ‘Inspector’ Threats: Germany is investing €35 billion through 2030 to bolster its satellite resilience and counter Russian space warfare tactics, including “inspector” satellites shadowing Bundeswehr and allied Intelsat assets. Defense Minister Pistorius warns future conflicts will spill openly into orbit, with Russian and Chinese counterspace capabilities already jamming, dazzling, and threatening European infrastructure. New funding will reinforce ground controls, develop defensive constellations, and enhance real-time surveillance of suspect spacecraft, signaling Europe’s intent to match great power rivals in the contested orbital theater.​
• Apex Space to Demonstrate Project Shadow—First Commercial Space-Based Interceptor for 'Golden Dome': Apex, a Los Angeles-based satellite manufacturer, will self-fund Project Shadow, the debut of its Nova satellite bus and Orbital Magazine platform, scheduled to launch in June 2026. The demo features two solid rocket motor interceptors, aiming to prove the viability of hosting, powering, and firing (non-lethal) interceptor payloads in orbit for next-generation missile defense. Apex has invested $15M in rapid tech maturation and plans to partner with primes for future deployment, providing modular, scalable architectures for the Pentagon’s $175B Golden Dome initiative. Lockheed Martin targets later roles with its own demonstration and new Virginia prototyping center, while Northrop has begun ground testing of similar interceptors. Industry-wide, startups and established firms are racing to validate missile defense concepts with in-space, multi-domain architectures, aiming to deliver operational constellations of thousands of interceptors for true global coverage before 2029.​

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• Satellite Cybercrime Rises as Space Sector Digitizes: Cybercrime targeting satellite operators—ransomware, phishing, and system spoofing—has surged alongside state-linked attacks. The sector saw a 118% year-over-year increase in reported incidents, with cross-sector dependencies (defense, aviation, telecom) complicating attribution and risk mitigation. Industry focus is shifting to embedded hardware authentication, in-space cyber training, and tighter supplier controls.​
• NASA Opens Artemis Lunar Lander Contract to Competition to Outpace China: Citing delays in SpaceX’s Starship development, Acting Administrator Sean Duffy announced NASA will open up the Artemis III Human Landing System contract to new bids from Blue Origin and other U.S. firms. Duffy emphasized direct pressure from President Trump to secure a U.S. lunar landing before China by January 2029. NASA will review “acceleration approaches” from major contractors and issue an RFI for new solutions. Experts note the original 2027 launch target has become unrealistic, and a “dissimilar redundancy” approach will now drive a faster, multi-competitor selection process for lunar access, with SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Lockheed Martin each signaling readiness to participate.​
• Space Policy Week: Appropriations Gridlock, Regulatory Moves, and International Talks: From October 19–25, U.S. space policy is shaped by unresolved NASA and DoD appropriations, White House executive actions on commercial launch regulation, and shutdown work stoppages. Key agenda items include NASA’s Artemis contract reset and accelerating next-gen mission authorizations, plus high-profile science and industry events. Focus remains on sustaining lunar operations and boosting U.S. competitive posture as global rivalry in space intensifies.​
• Commercial Satellite Proliferation Redefines Global Intelligence and Ethics: Financial Times investigative reporting underscores that hundreds of commercial imaging satellites are shifting the nature of Earth observation, enabling real-time tracking of military assets, populations, and economic activity. Legal specialists argue this revolution comes with complex privacy and sovereignty disputes—making international regulation and cross-border data-sharing agreements urgent priorities. The report highlights cases where dual-use satellite constellations drive intelligence advances while blurring distinctions between state and private monitoring, marking a profound shift in legal, ethical, and operational norms for surveillance from space.​
• BBC Analysis Reveals Orbital Debris Emergency and Need for Regulatory Reform: With nearly 10,000 active satellites and growing debris fields, BBC reporting urges swift reform to international space traffic management and orbital debris mitigation regulations. Experts call for globally binding standards for end-of-life satellite maneuvers, collision avoidance, and responsible launch practices—warning that unchecked congestion will trigger research setbacks and raise future costs for operators. Interviews with engineers examining actual debris incidents highlight how cumulative risk threatens all sectors.​
• Death of Indian Space Scientist Eknath Chitnis Marks Era’s End: The passing of Dr. Eknath Vasant Chitnis, a seminal figure in Indian space science, at age 100 prompts reflection on foundational efforts in ISRO launch vehicle and satellite development. Chitnis’ leadership bridged technical and diplomatic domains, influencing the formation of India’s indigenous satellite programs and fostering international scientific cooperation—a legacy now cited as pivotal in India’s pursuit of lunar, Martian, and deep-space projects.​
• NASA Artemis Competition Signals New Procurement Approach, International Implications: NASA’s decision to open Artemis III lander contracts signals a broader shift toward competitive procurement and diversified vendor engagement. The policy aims at accelerating U.S. lunar access, maintaining geostrategic advantage over China, and integrating international partnerships for sustainable Moon exploration. Industry observers note that the move could reshape future lunar asset agreements and prompt allied nations to reassess coordination, cost-sharing, and mission goals for beyond-LEO human spaceflight.​
• Comet 3I/ATLAS Discovery Could Expose NASA Jupiter Probe to Interstellar Charged Particles: Recent studies of comet 3I/ATLAS suggest it may soon bombard NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft with charged particles, as the comet’s ion tail passes near Jupiter. The discovery offers rare insight into interstellar object composition, including highly unusual water and hydroxyl emissions far from the Sun, challenging existing models of cometary evolution and delivering fresh clues about prebiotic chemistry across cosmic boundaries. Scientists are preparing to assess impacts on probe instrumentation and long-term implications for space weather research related to deep-space missions.
• U.S., China, and Industry Experts Warn of Escalating Cislunar Competition and Regulatory Risks: DOD, IC, NASA, and commercial experts highlight rising U.S.-China rivalry over scientific, economic, and strategic benefits in cislunar space—the region encompassing the Moon and its gravitational sphere of influence. The U.S. aims to extend Artemis Accord norms and build multi-domain domain awareness, navigation, and high-bandwidth communications over the region. Failure to establish robust architectures and international rules could risk forfeiting U.S. leadership and set unsustainable precedents for future operations as Chinese territorial ambitions grow.​
• Russia and China Expand Arctic, Outer Space Influence—Challenging NATO's Strategic Grip: A MERICS report details deepening military and logistical partnership between Russia and China, from joint-use Arctic naval bases to coordinated undersea cable sabotage in the Baltic and Taiwan. Climate-driven changes in Arctic routes and bases will further enable Beijing and Moscow’s projection of power, complicating Western defense planning and raising new risks for the security, economic, and critical infrastructure domains. Covert “hybrid” operations—damaging cables and pipelines with commercial vessels—pose intelligence and attribution challenges as both countries evade direct military confrontation but multiply deniable operations.​
• Resilience.org Analysis Weighs AI Utopia vs. Apocalypse and Resource Constraints: Social commentators and technologists debate the dual futures of AI—perfection through automation and enlightenment versus social collapse, unemployment, and runaway existential threats. AI’s disruptive effects, including resource drain, misinformation proliferation, and autonomous weapons, fuel fears of ecological, societal, and security catastrophes. Forward-looking policies and adaptive architectures are called for, to bridge technological optimism and robust risk management as humanity faces finite constraints and planetary realities.

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• Chinese Launch Firms Pioneer, Galactic Energy Accelerate IPOs as Private Space Sector Grows: China’s leading private rocket companies, Space Pioneer and Galactic Energy, have initiated IPO processes amid robust market appetite and recent successful launches. Galactic Energy has raised RMB 2.4B and delivered 85 satellites for 27 clients, using new funds to fast-track reusable and medium-class rockets. Observers note an emerging “beacon effect,” with IPOs paving the way for other commercial aerospace startups and adding mainstream investor confidence to China’s rapidly industrializing launch sector.​
• China Launches Advanced Communications Satellite, Expands High-Speed Space Networks: China’s latest Long March-5 mission orbited an advanced technology test satellite—its 602nd Long March launch—focused on validating multi-band, high-data-rate comms, supporting the expanding Spacesail constellation. With 18 satellites added in October and integration with telecom giants, China’s space tech now underpins broadband, emergency comms, and lays groundwork for future 6G systems.​
• Abu Dhabi’s Self-Driving Taxis to Use V2X Road Safety Networks: Abu Dhabi is deploying autonomous vehicles linked by “vehicle-to-everything” (V2X) networks built by Space42 and e&, connecting cars directly to 5.5G city infrastructure. TXAI robotaxi trials have completed over 600,000 km since 2021, enabling real-time traffic and hazard data exchange to improve flow and collision avoidance. Edge nodes and localized digital infrastructure are seen as key to cyber-resilient, scalable smart transport.​
• Vantor Satellites Enable Tracking in Orbital ‘Blind Spots’ Inaccessible to Ground Sensors: Vantor, newly rebranded from Maxar Intelligence, kicked off a transformative contract with the U.S. Space Force to deploy repositionable satellites featuring advanced space-to-space cameras and multi-orbit AI analytic platforms, able to continuously detect, classify, and track space objects in regions invisible to ground-based radar. These systems, integrated with the Tensorglobe AI and panchromatic imaging toolchains, now furnish persistent custody and predictive monitoring of high-priority orbiters—including those suspected of maneuvering covertly or operating non-cooperatively. This suite closes a key intelligence gap for both national security customers and allied multi-domain command structures, promising more rapid threat characterization and deeper integration with future C4ISR pipelines. The deal builds upon Maxar’s legacy in imaging and signals intelligence, but marks a decisive pivot towards real-time, multispectral orbital awareness capabilities for both defense and commercial space situational needs.​
• Lunar Mining Gold Rush Demands Integration of Terrestrial and Space Expertise: The anticipated surge in lunar resource ventures will depend on bridging disparate industrial competencies from terrestrial mining, supply chain management, and regulatory science into the unique operational landscape of lunar exploration. Industry leaders and scientific analysts argue that sustainable lunar extraction will face daunting geologic, legal, and logistical hurdles, with economic risk elevated by lack of established transport, national frameworks, and international operational norms. New business models and public-private alliances are urgently needed to overcome technical limits of prospecting, resource verification, and multimodal delivery, creating a must-have convergence of terrestrial mining expertise with rigorous, space-optimized systems for extraction, verification, and return. The analysis suggests that future lunar gold rush winners will be those able to seamlessly navigate cross-sector knowledge, finance, and policy environments for scalable, resilient supply chains.​
• Plan to Deploy 4,000 Giant Space Mirrors Sparks Astronomical Alarm: A startup’s high-profile proposal for orbiting 4,000 massive reflective satellites, designed to redirect sunlight for terrestrial applications, ignited concern among astronomers and regulatory experts. Scientists note such mega-constellations risk ramping up orbital congestion, glare, and interference, which would threaten professional ground-based, optical, and infrared surveys. The mirrors would disrupt global astronomical research and further complicate hazardous debris management, highlighting calls for stronger oversight of “bright sky” technologies and the cumulative impact on shared orbital environments.​
• Western Australia Investigates High-Profile Spacecraft Debris Reentry: Residents near Koonibba, Western Australia, reported visible reentry of spacecraft debris linked to an orbital test mission, triggering local and national safety investigations. Space authorities emphasized the necessity of formalized international notification and recovery protocols as commercial reentries and capsule returns become routine. Public safety measures and emergency preparedness will be crucial as spaceflight grows more frequent and mission diversity expands—especially in areas with growing private launch activity and variable population density.​
• Orbital Data Centers: Space-Based Cloud Computing Emerges: Tech and aerospace firms are accelerating development of space-based data centers, promising highly resilient, global cloud processing shielded from terrestrial disasters and cyber threats. Initial pilots emphasize encrypted workloads for critical infrastructure, scientific modeling, and sovereign data needs. Industry advocates highlight substantial challenges—such as satellite-resiliency engineering, energy storage in orbit, and regulatory coverage for data privacy—while anticipating strong demand for edge processing, artificial intelligence, and ultra-secure remote storage in a rapidly digitizing global economy.​
• China Resumes Thousand Sails Constellation Launches with International Payload Integration: China’s commercial space sector restarted launches for the “Thousand Sails” megaconstellation, adding new satellites for real-time maritime tracking and integrating payloads from international partners. More frequent launches and interlinked constellations enable persistent tracking of oceanic movement, vessel activity, and atmospheric changes for both commercial and defense clients, showcasing China’s rapid scaling of space-based data platforms and multi-user access.​
• Orionid Meteor Shower Peaks Across Global Observatories: The annual Orionid meteor shower reached its apex, delivering vivid auroral displays and raising public engagement with planetary science. Observatories reported high meteor counts, driving outreach events and providing calibration opportunities for optical sensor arrays. Data gathered from these showers contributes to studies of solar system debris distribution, orbital dynamics, and space weather impacts relevant to both civil and military missions.​
• James Webb Reveals Early Universe Galaxies in Chaotic Formation: New data from the James Webb Space Telescope show that the earliest galaxies were far more fragmented, turbulent, and rapidly evolving than previously modeled, changing astrophysics’ understanding of cosmic structure emergence. The findings bolster efforts to improve deep-field imaging platforms and enable both astronomers and defense agencies to design next-generation sensor systems for tracking faint, dynamic targets in complex environments.
• Russian-Kazakhstan ‘Baiterek’ Project Reaches Final Phase with Soyuz-5 Launch Station: The Baiterek cooperative space initiative between Russia and Kazakhstan is entering its operational phase, anchored by the successful development and test-firing of the Russian Soyuz-5 launch vehicle. Lavrov confirmed the Soyuz-5, a methane-fueled next-generation rocket intended to replace Zenit, will launch from Baikonur in December 2025—coinciding with Kazakhstan’s buildout of necessary launch pad infrastructure. The project fortifies Kazakhstan’s national space ambitions, strengthens Eurasian partnerships, and precedes a broader series of bilateral efforts, including the first Kazakh nuclear power plant led by Rosatom and new Caspian regional collaboration. The Baiterek model highlights cross-border launch and manufacturing, with strategic implications for regional supply chain autonomy and future commercial launches.​
• NASA Opens Artemis III Lunar Lander Contract to Competition Amid SpaceX Delays: In a major shift for lunar program strategy, NASA announced the Artemis III lander contract—originally awarded to SpaceX—is now being reopened for bids from competitors like Blue Origin and others, due to schedule slippage and technical hurdles with Starship. Administrator Sean Duffy emphasized urgency in outpacing China’s lunar ambitions and flagged the need for rapid progress on U.S. crewed lunar return missions. The decision reinvigorates industry engagement, with NASA prioritizing demonstrated flight-readiness and refueling capabilities, positioning the Artemis program for a more robust and multi-supplier future by 2029.​
• Samara Aerospace to Flight-Test Novel Pointing Technology for Flat-Panel Satellites: Samara Aerospace, an emerging satellite and spacecraft bus innovator, will soon test its MSAC (Multifunctional Structures for Attitude Control) system as an on-orbit hosted payload. The Hummingbird platform uses piezoelectric actuators embedded in solar panel hinges to enable rapid stabilization and reconfiguration, reducing satellite mass and increasing payload space. The technology is planned for validation on SpaceX rideshare missions and Zero-G flights through 2026, with prospects for commercial and military constellation deployments if pilot projects succeed.​
• Airbus, Leonardo, Thales Merge Space Businesses, Creating €6.5B European Powerhouse: Three European giants—Airbus (35%), Leonardo (32.5%), and Thales (32.5%)—signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pool satellite manufacturing, space systems, and related assets into a new company, forming a strategic competitor to SpaceX and raising Europe’s autonomy in global space infrastructure. Employing 25,000 people, estimated annual revenue will top €6.5 billion with mid triple-digit million-euro operating synergies in five years. The move aims to address Europe’s lagging launch cadence, consolidate engineering expertise, and offer full-spectrum services and sovereign tech for telecomm, observation, and security. Operations are slated for 2027 after regulatory and union review—site closures are not expected initially but could follow. The partners tout a more competitive, innovative, and resilient European commercial sector to challenge U.S. and Chinese rivals.​
• Smithsonian Considers Cutting Space Shuttle Discovery for Texas Transfer: The Smithsonian confirms that moving Shuttle Discovery from Virginia’s National Air and Space Museum to Johnson Space Center in Texas would require costly, careful disassembly. The White House earmarked $85M (well below an estimated $120–150M+) for the project and a new Houston exhibit. The orbiter, flown on 39 missions and revered as NASA’s most operational shuttle, faces complex logistics and irreplaceable hardware risks; critics and historians warn against irreparable damage and question the feasibility of removing and transporting the spacecraft intact. Lawmakers and NASA stress the need for thorough cost and risk assessment before advancing the plan.​​
• Longshot Space Secures $5M for Kinetic 'Space Gun' Demo in Nevada: Oakland-based Longshot Space—backed in part by U.S. Air Force TACFI—will build a 500-meter desert gun capable of launching 100kg payloads to Mach 5+. Their kinetic acceleration approach could drop launch costs below $10/kg, promising dramatic savings over Falcon 9 and other rockets. Longshot’s proof-of-concept hit Mach 4.6 with a smaller system; scaling up will require safe rural testing and hydrogen gas propulsion. DoD and private customers are eyeing the technology for future rapid and ultra-low-cost launch needs, highlighting the continued push to diversify space delivery platforms and disrupt the cost structure of orbital logistics.​​
• Japanese CubeSats Escape ISS—Demonstrating Rapid, Low-Cost Science Deployment: JAXA’s YOTSUBA-KULOVER, e-kagaku-1, and BOTAN cubesats were deployed from the Kibo module, years ahead of the ISS’s planned fiery deorbit, to study auroral activity, volcanic pumice, and solar phenomena in LEO. The missions highlight cubesats’ democratizing effect, enabling rapid work by small organizations and students using off-the-shelf designs. Their focused space weather and planetary science research supports broader international access objectives and innovation in payload delivery for micro-gravity and orbital science programs.​

Special Update: Sirotin Intelligence Hosts Enterprise Updates, Talks About Importance of Strategic Communications for Space & Defense at New Worlds in Austin, Texas!

This weekend, we attended New Worlds in Austin, Texas, providing MCing for key enterprise updates as well as delivering our message to the space community. Our mission at Sirotin Intelligence is clear: transform how space and defense sectors communicate. Through exclusive conversations with industry pioneers and strategic leaders, we're building the intelligence platform that matters. The future of space demands exceptional technology, compelling stories, powerful strategies, and the right connections to drive it all forward.

Tumlinson's keynote was all about recognizing this as humanity's breakout moment: the point where we stop being "aspiring apes" confined to one planet and become a spacefaring civilization. His message resonated: the thousand-year view matters more than quarterly earnings, the transportation system matters less than the destination, and space settlement requires every discipline working together, not just rocket engineers. This is why New Worlds brings consciousness researchers, artists, and philosophers into the same room as aerospace executives. Because settling the solar system is fundamentally a human challenge, not just a technical one.

We look forward to attending in person once again next year! 

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

Ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s first female Prime Minister, heralding a new dawn for the country’s defence and security policy.This watershed moment witnesses the conservative LDP’s rightwing shift away from its pacifist yet losing coalition partner Komeito, toward Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party). A protégée of former PM Shinzo Abe, this Kansaï (West Japan) Iron Lady admires former UK PM Maggie Thatcher. Her cabinet picks of Shinjiro Koizumi for Defense, Toshimitsu Motegi for Foreign Affairs, and Kimi Onoda for Economic Security revitalize this administration. Onoda is further “minister in charge of a society of well-ordered and harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals" meant as cracking down on fraudulent immigration. 

The market hailed PM Takaichi’s upcoming stimulus package policy and her appointment of senior lawmaker Katayama as finance minister, as Tokyo is about to welcome President Trump to discuss economic cooperation and major defense policy changes. Observing that “the nature of warfare has changed significantly,” PM Takaichi is to fast-track the revision of three key security frameworks: National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and the Defense Buildup Program. Outlining a five-year defense budget totaling 43 trillion yen ($284 billion) through fiscal year 2027, defense spending should exceed 2% of GDP shortly and reach 3.5% later. 

Security concerns in relation with China top the agenda. PM Takaichi stated she would “continue to engage in frank dialogue” by acting neither confrontational nor spineless. With upcoming Japan-US and Japan-South Korea diplomatic summits, she demonstrated willingness to acknowledge regional sensitivities over historical grievances, refraining from visits to the controversial Yasukuni shrine that Asia brands as worshiping convicted war criminals.  

The Takaichi administration faces challenges: coalition instability, inflation, funding an ambitous defense program. This is for Japan a long overdue opportunity to rebuild a more robust economic and security foundation. The nation normalizing its national security policy means a realist shift in defense and military space posture, with a potential revision of its Constitution war-renouncing Article 9. In transformative times when obsolete arrangements collapse and systemic relevance has yet to form, a strategically autonomous and sovereign Japan will emerge, engaging the Indo-Pacific and globally.

The Constitution of Japan: CHAPTER II - RENUNCIATION OF WAR - Article 9. “Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.”

 Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest: Dr. Mark Woods

"Without Autonomy, The Robot Cannot Respond Quickly When Plans Fail": Dr. Mark Woods, Pioneer of Mars Rover Autonomy, on Why Rovers Stop Dead, Why Symbolic AI Survived the Hype Cycle, and the Future of Space Exploration

Here's what nobody tells you about Mars rovers: when something goes wrong, they don't troubleshoot. They don't improvise. They stop. And nothing happens. Picture a $2.5 billion machine, 140 million miles from Earth, frozen in place because it encountered an anomaly it wasn't programmed to handle.

Dr. Mark Woods spent two decades building intelligent machines for places humans can't easily reach. He taught neural networks to count degraded cash in Scottish ATMs during the AI winter of the 1990s. He built the symbolic AI systems that help ESA's ExoMars rover make decisions 20 light-minutes from the nearest human operator. Now he watches Silicon Valley rediscover architectural patterns that robotics engineers explored in the early 2000s, repackaged with buzzwords like "neuro-symbolic AI."

🔍 Topics We'll Cover:

• Why Mars rovers freeze completely during anomalies—without autonomy, expensive assets stop and wait for Earth-based instructions that take 20+ minutes round-trip, losing thousands in science data every idle hour
• How rovers drove past critical discoveries—low bandwidth means rovers send thumbnail images without understanding importance, causing teams to miss targets or waste time backtracking
• Why symbolic AI won the trust battle—operations teams demanded explainable decisions over black-box neural networks, enabling the autonomy that helped confirm the first potential biosignature on another planet
• How LLMs give apparent comprehension without competence—generative AI sounds plausible but lacks reliability for billion-dollar missions where you can't simply "fire the AI and hire someone else"
• The hybrid architecture Silicon Valley keeps rediscovering—combining fast reactive intelligence with slow deliberative reasoning isn't novel, it's established robotics from the early 2000s that people keep forgetting
• Why the next lunar mission needs lessons from 20 years ago—Woods is building autonomy systems while trying to prevent the next generation from repeating mistakes that were already solved decades ago

Don't miss this conversation with the engineer who proved symbolic AI's reliability for space and is now racing to teach the industry that sounding smart and being reliable are completely different things.

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

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

"We Can Launch 100 Kilograms to Space for Under $10 Per Kilogram"

Mike Grace, CEO of Longshot Space, explains how his company's kinetic launch system using a 500-meter "space gun" could revolutionize space access by achieving launch costs 100x cheaper than current rockets through Mach 5+ acceleration.

"The Navy's Future Is Unmanned, Underwater, and Unstoppable"

Bo Jardine, founder of Eureka Naval Craft, reveals how autonomous underwater vehicles are transforming naval warfare, why the U.S. is falling behind in subsea capabilities, and how small unmanned systems could neutralize billion-dollar warships.

"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.