Sirotin Intelligence Briefing: October 20-31st, 2025: Apex Self-Funds Space Interceptor Demo, NASA Reopens Artemis Lander Competition, Europe Forms €6.5B Aerospace Giant

This week's Sirotin Intelligence analysis tracks three converging developments in military space architecture. Apex Space will self-fund Project Shadow, the first commercial demonstration of space-based missile interceptors, with a June 2026 launch date. The timeline matches pressure on Lockheed Martin and Northrop to validate architectures for Trump's $175 billion Golden Dome constellation. Meanwhile, NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy opened Artemis III lunar lander contracts to Blue Origin and competitors following SpaceX Starship delays. The decision responds to White House pressure to beat China's 2029 lunar ambitions through dissimilar redundancy. Across the Atlantic, European aerospace consolidated as Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales merged satellite businesses into a €6.5 billion entity employing 25,000. The merger positions Europe to challenge SpaceX and Chinese dominance, while Germany separately committed €35 billion through 2030 to counter Russian "inspector" satellites. Defense Minister Pistorius warned future conflicts will extend openly into orbit. These shifts reflect broader momentum in defense procurement. Startups including Anduril, Palantir, Scout AI, and Orbital Operations are reshaping how militaries buy technology as the Fifth Defense Revolution converges AI with mass manufacturing for space-centric multi-domain warfare. Our next guest Martin Soltau explains why space-based solar power delivers £30/MWh electricity, cheaper than nuclear or wind-plus-storage, while using 1,000 times fewer critical minerals. China plans orbital energy demonstrations by 2030, which could create dependencies that translate into political leverage. Mastering in-space assembly for solar satellites means controlling the infrastructure that enables data centers, manufacturing facilities, and lunar operations funded by the $2.5 trillion annual energy market.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• Carrington-Class Solar Superstorm Would Cripple Global Satellites, ESA Warns: ESA-led simulations show a major solar storm, rivaling the 1859 Carrington Event, could wipe out satellites and disrupt power grids worldwide. Radiation from extreme solar flares would disable communications, destroy sensitive components, and severely decay LEO satellite orbits via geomagnetic storm. With no perfect mitigation strategies available, ESA is expanding early-warning and resilience initiatives, but notes total risk elimination is impossible—such an event is expected to occur again, it’s only a matter of when.​
• China Stays on Track for 2030 Astronaut Moon Landing as US Race Heats Up: Chinese officials confirmed development of critical hardware for a 2030 crewed lunar landing remains on schedule: Long March 10 rocket, new spacesuits, and a lunar surface vehicle. The mission, now central to Chinese space ambitions, runs in parallel with ongoing Tiangong space station crew rotations. The announcement comes as NASA resets its Artemis timeline, intensifying competition over lunar firsts.​
• China’s Youngest Astronaut Flies with First-Onboard Live Rodent Experiments: China’s Shenzhou-21 launched with its youngest astronaut to date, engineer Wu Fei (32), and four mice for the nation’s first orbital mammal experiments. The rodents will be studied for adaptation and biological changes in microgravity over several days aboard the Tiangong station, reflecting China’s growing focus on human and biological research in space as it prepares for long-term habitation and deep-space travel.​
• Former NASA Leaders Call for Rethink of Artemis Lander, Urge Apollo-Style Focus: Former NASA administrators Bolden and Bridenstine urged NASA to prioritize proven SLS and Orion systems, warning that SpaceX’s Starship lunar lander poses schedule and complexity risks. Bridenstine advocated for a streamlined “Skunk Works” approach and full budget resources, arguing a Defense Production Act-level mobilization may be needed to land ahead of China. Both ex-chiefs viewed reopening the lander contract as wise, with calls for bipartisan, goal-focused leadership and a pragmatic timeline to ensure both speed and sustainability.​​
• Quantum Tech Races Toward Space Applications, Near-Term in Sensing: Military and commercial sectors are rapidly advancing quantum sensors and communication—promising better positioning, unjammable encryption, and ultimately new approaches to space domain awareness. Although quantum computing and comms are a decade out for broad deployment, sensing hardware has moved from labs to demos on drones and satellites, shaping future navigation, ISR, and electronic warfare with first-mover gains in defense applications.​
• US Space Force Warns: China Catching Up at ‘Incredible Pace’: US Space Force leaders reiterated that China is the top space rival, evolving satellite and counter-space capabilities that put US systems “at risk” monthly. China’s expanding ISR, “kill chain” targeting, and aggressive launch rate are forcing the US to accelerate its own deployments—including missile warning and rapid-response platforms—to avoid losing the high ground.​
• Space Weapons and Orbital Strikes Demand Specialized ‘Space JTACs’: Experts argue for “Space Joint Terminal Attack Controllers”—tactical specialists embedded with ground forces able to call in precision space-based strikes. As military space-to-ground coordination grows from theory to reality, new training for targeting support, battle management, and real-time space asset integration is seen as essential to unlocking the offensive, defensive, and deterrent promise of future orbital capabilities.​
• ESA Launches €1 Billion Military Reconnaissance Satellite Program: The European Space Agency will seek roughly €1 billion from member states for a new military-grade satellite constellation, aiming to provide real-time, ultra-high-resolution imaging to European governments and militaries in under 30 minutes per revisit. Marking ESA’s formal entry into security and defense, the project—slated for approval at a November funding summit—responds to mounting threats and disaster management needs. Integrated with the broader €22B ESA budget, the effort underscores a shift from ESA’s traditional “peaceful purposes” by expanding its mandate to cover defense, resilience, and security. The planned “European Resilience from Space” system will support both military and crisis response, complementing EU programs like Copernicus and Galileo.​
• ESA Details Security and Resilience Roadmap—SSA, GOVSATCOM, IRIS²: The agency outlined how new military assets will integrate with its Space Situational Awareness (SSA) for debris and space weather, GOVSATCOM for pooled governmental communications, and the multiorbit IRIS² secure connectivity constellation, targeting rapid, sovereign access and cyber-secure command for the EU. IRIS² will eventually field 290–300 satellites, reinforcing autonomy, digital sovereignty, and resilient broadband for governments, enterprises, and citizens across Europe.​
• Slingshot’s Space-Tracking Sensors Chosen for UK National Tracking Sovereignty Effort: British authorities purchased cutting-edge Slingshot orbital sensors, marking the first international sales for the U.S. company and enabling sovereign SSA for the UK. The move joins a growing trend of countries investing in native space-tracking infrastructure, driven by crowded orbits, anti-satellite risks, and military-civil sector overlap.​
• China’s Maritime ‘Gray Zone’ Strategy Escalates, Driving Demand for Multinational Space-Based Surveillance: Analysts are sounding alarms as China intensifies “gray zone” actions—deploying civilian, coast guard, and militia vessels in a blended campaign of harassment, intimidation, and territorial assertion throughout the South China Sea and around Taiwan. Commercial space-based intelligence, including persistent optical and radar imagery, has become crucial for anomaly detection, transparency, and crisis deterrence amid Chinese “small wars.” Policy experts recommend codifying “joint anomaly-response cells” utilizing commercial NewSpace capabilities and urge governments to escalate blacklisting and public shaming of repeat gray zone actors. This multi-domain challenge is reshaping global satellite operations, fueling rapid investment in sovereign SSA.​
• Trump Nominee Proposes Greater Space Force–NRO Integration for Superior Domain Awareness: A Trump administration nominee advocates streamlining the interface between U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office, arguing that tighter integration (even formal mergers) would improve real-time missile warning and all-domain C2 as adversaries advance their own ISR constellations. This concept is gaining traction among some defense strategists but faces hurdles over bureaucratic control, operational cultures, and classified program risk.​
• FCC Pushes “Assembly-Line” Satellite Licensing to Suport Mega-Constellation Era: The U.S. FCC introduced a groundbreaking proposal for batch licensing (an “assembly line” model) to cut approval backlogs for new commercial constellations. This reform aims to streamline regulatory processes, allowing hundreds of new satellites to be reviewed, authorized, and brought to market in record time—critical for keeping U.S. commercial operators competitive as global filings accelerate.​
• Israel’s IAI Expands Golden Dome Missile Defense Portfolio to Space-Based Systems: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is leveraging its Iron Dome heritage and expanding into both land-based and space-based missile defense markets. As global demand surges for multi-tier, persistent solutions, IAI is now offering integrated systems that combine terrestrial batteries with advanced satellite-enabled targeting, surveillance, and command features. These capabilities are pitched both to traditional allies (U.S., Europe) and new export markets, reflecting Israel’s leadership in modular, resilient interceptor technology. IAI is also engaging in partnerships and demonstration programs aligned with evolving U.S. and allied “Golden Dome”-style architectures, aiming to position its offerings as backbone technologies for multi-domain defense in an era of rapid missile threat and space weaponization.
• Future of Military Space Power Tied to Mobility, “Global Strike” and Air Analogies: Leading industry analysts note that the evolution of military power in space is increasingly modeled on flexible airpower, integrating “orbital cargo drop,” point-to-point delivery, and global strike capabilities from LEO constellations. The next wave will include not just missile warning, but satellites capable of rapidly moving strategic assets—or even offensive payloads—around the globe in minutes. U.S. defense planners are exploring a new force design with distributed, resilient space assets acting as both guardians and rapid-response nodes, embracing autonomy, mass production, and space-based sensing platforms to match adversary advancements.​
• Golden Dome Missile Defense Hype Grows as Pentagon, Industry Await Concrete Direction: As the Trump administration’s multi-layered “Golden Dome” missile shield progresses, industry leaders voice frustration over budget unpredictability, lack of acquisition clarity, and uncertainty about agency roles. Multiple companies—from defense stalwarts to startups partnering with SpaceX and Anduril—are positioning for key roles in the massive program, but insiders warn that ambiguity could stall innovation and procurement. Estimates for the full system run from $175B to $3.6T over two decades, with Congress and DOD yet to finalize a coherent roadmap for sensors, interceptors, and command infrastructure.​
• Space-Based and Land-Based Missile Defense Markets Draw Israel’s IAI: Israel Aerospace Industries is expanding its “space and terrestrial” Golden Dome offerings, pitching integrated solutions as global demand for multi-domain, persistent missile defense accelerates. Land-based batteries and satellite-enabled tracking are being sold together for export markets and partnered initiatives with U.S. and European agencies, reflecting a convergence of ground/space doctrines for 21st-century security.​
• Pentagon Turns to Government-Owned, Commercially Operated (“GOCO”) Satellite Models: As conflict risk in space increases, the Pentagon is adopting hybrid satellite management models—government-owned but commercially operated constellations—for resilience, agility, and surge capacity. This approach attempts to combine government standards with commercial flexibility, aiming to protect critical communications and ISR in increasingly contested orbits, while hedging against adversary anti-satellite tactics.​

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• NASA Faces Allegations of Illegal, Premature Implementation of 2026 Budget At Flagship Science Centers: Investigative reporting and U.S. Senate committee findings accuse NASA of executing workforce cuts, facility shutdowns, and science mission cancellations based on the FY26 presidential budget request—even before it is enacted by Congress. Particularly at the historic Goddard Space Flight Center, these actions are alleged to be violating appropriations law, undermining high-profile research (like Hubble and JWST), and demoralizing both civil servants and academic collaborators. The controversy has sparked Congressional pushback and mass protests by NASA staff and advocacy groups, with fears that U.S. science and talent outflow are irreversible and mission safety compromised. NASA leaders deny wrongdoing and maintain all policies follow appropriated funding, as the debate intensifies over political intervention in science.​
• Solar Storms Highlight Historic and Future Vulnerability of Space-Based Infrastructure: Environmental historians and astrophysicists underscore the immense risk major solar storms pose to satellites, power grids, and global communications. Analysis of past Carrington-class events and new models warn that a future event could erase years of satellite investment, disrupt military operations, and trigger “cascading” economic losses across modern societies. Policy experts push for more robust international early-warning collaborations and “space weather” disaster planning as a matter of national security and resilience.​
• ESA Poised to Claim Formal Defense Role, Reshaping Europe’s Security Posture: In a major policy shift, the European Space Agency is preparing to take on a broader defense mandate, including participation in dual-use satellite and missile defense programs, while retaining its civil science focus. Driven by growing security threats and pressure from member states, ESA’s expanded role would position it as a central pillar in European sovereignty and military autonomy, aligning space sector efforts more closely with NATO and EU priorities for the next decade.​
• Space Race and Solar/Nuclear Tech Lift Market as US-China Tensions Grow: Space—both civil and commercial—is emerging as the new US–China competition frontier, fueling a rally in related stocks. NASA’s push for a lunar nuclear reactor and Artemis schedule resets have prompted investor enthusiasm for firms like Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, and nuclear developers, while Chinese ambitions spur rapid dual-use tech development and worry over future resource “keep-out” zones.​
• Investors Flock to Space With Defense Focus, AI as Growth Driver: The surge in private investment into space firms is increasingly tied to national security demand, stable government contracts, and AI-driven capabilities. US defense spending and multi-billion space projects—like Golden Dome and Space Force assets—drive robust capital infusions, marking a shift from prior speculative booms to a market prioritizing resilience, dual-use tech, and predictability.​
• Space Policy Week (Oct 26–Nov 1): Appropriations, Regulation, and Lunar Deadlines: U.S. space policy is dominated by budget fights and the risk of a government shutdown disrupting NASA’s Artemis II mission as long-lead hardware prep enters a critical phase. Regulatory developments, ESA’s budget summit, and international meetings steer focus toward lunar competition, orbital traffic rules, and the expansion of space defense mandates across Europe and the U.S..​
• Former NASA Chiefs Urge Simpler, More Realistic Artemis Lander Plans: Charles Bolden and Jim Bridenstine warned at a major space symposium that the SpaceX Starship-based Artemis Moon landing plan risks unsustainable complexity and schedule slips. They advocated for Apollo-style direct launch with proven SLS and Orion hardware, called the HLS competition process “right,” and stressed that “winning” the Moon race with China should not outweigh reliability and staying power. Their recommendations: full funding, clear timelines, and aligning political leaders with engineers for achievable lunar objectives.​
• Cybersecurity Now Mandate, Not Option, for Space Operators: With ransomware and state-sponsored cyberattacks targeting satellite infrastructure, operators face a “pay now or pay later” dilemma. Upfront investment in cyber hardening, real-time threat monitoring, and secure supply chains is becoming non-negotiable for both commercial and military stakeholders, especially as satellite-based services underpin global finance, security, and defense.​
• Colorado Sues Trump Administration Over Space Command HQ Decision, Citing Security and Economic Impact: Colorado’s attorney general and local officials filed a high-profile lawsuit challenging the decision to relocate U.S. Space Command’s headquarters, arguing the move is politically driven and threatens both military readiness and regional economic health. The suit has heightened scrutiny on the intersection of space policy, national security, and local economic development in the U.S. West.​
• Malaysia and Philippines Sign Artemis Accords, Expanding Lunar Coalition: Malaysia and the Philippines became the latest countries to sign the Artemis Accords, committing to transparent, rules-based lunar exploration. Their accession brings additional political weight and potential regional collaboration to the U.S.-led effort for peaceful, cooperative deep-space activity, notably as China advances its parallel lunar programs.​
• China Launches Gaofen-14 Stereo Mapping Satellite, Expanding National Imaging Network: China successfully launched the Gaofen-14, a state-of-the-art stereo-imaging satellite designed to provide three-dimensional Earth observation for infrastructure, disaster assessment, and national security. Gaofen-14’s addition tightens China’s sprawling EO network and supports both civil and dual-use missions as spatial intelligence demand surges.​

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• SpaceX Defends Starship Lunar Lander, Unveils Simplified Mission Amid NASA Pressure: Facing scrutiny and shifting deadlines from NASA as the agency reopens part of the Artemis HLS contract, SpaceX has proposed a more streamlined approach to its Starship lunar lander system for Artemis III. The new plan reduces in-orbit refueling operations and simplifies astronaut crew-transfer procedures, aiming to accelerate milestones and minimize risk. SpaceX maintains this path will allow the U.S. to land first at the lunar south pole, despite mounting technical and political hurdles. Recent test flights, crew safety innovations, and ramped-up Starship V3 production reinforce SpaceX’s argument that its rapid, iterative development outpaces rivals—even as NASA’s competitive pressures and skepticism from ex-administrators sharpen focus on crew and mission success for the late-2020s landing window.​
• Blue Origin Readies New Glenn for First NASA Mission After Lengthy Static Fire Test: Blue Origin completed a crucial static fire of its massive New Glenn rocket at Cape Canaveral, marking a major step for the heavy-lift vehicle before its much-anticipated first NASA launch—ESCAPADE to Mars. The test validated engine and ground systems and comes as Blue Origin positions itself as a primary cargo and crew launch provider. The company aims to join SpaceX as a global anchor for both government and commercial space transport, betting on reusability, larger fairing capacity, and increased cadence as New Glenn prepares for Mars science and other flagship missions.​​
• Semiconductor Startup to Fly Payloads on Falcon 9 Boosters: In a novel experiment, a semiconductor startup announced it will utilize the spare capacity on Falcon 9's returning boosters to test advanced chip technologies in real spaceflight conditions. This partnership signals growing commercial demand for space-based validation of next-gen hardware, with launches providing rich data for both the semiconductor and satellite communities. Such innovation highlights the expanding range of commercial payload opportunities in the era of rideshare and secondary flight hardware integration.​
• China's StarDetect Raises Series A to Expand On-Orbit Computing and SSA Services: StarDetect, a leading Chinese space startup, closed a significant funding round to accelerate its commercial on-orbit computing and space domain awareness offerings. The company’s edge processing and in-orbit analytics are targeting a surging Asian market for satellite tracking, surveillance, and real-time orbital intelligence, with applications for both security and communications satellites as the region’s space sector matures.​
• Solar Farms in Space—A Viable, Scalable Clean Energy Solution: Momentum for space-based solar power is growing worldwide as advances in satellite manufacturing, robotic assembly, and radio-frequency beaming make orbiting solar farms increasingly feasible. UK and international pilot projects foresee multi-gigawatt platforms beaming energy to ground stations, circumventing weather and land constraints facing terrestrial farms. Engineers cite direct solar exposure and modular in-orbit servicing as major advantages, but note the challenges: orbital debris, cost, and regulatory hurdles remain substantial, and the economic case vs. improving ground solar is still debated.​
• Webb Makes First 3D Exoplanet Map—Finds Water Molecules Torn Apart by Heat: The James Webb Space Telescope has produced the first-ever three-dimensional temperature and water vapor map for an exoplanet (WASP-18b), revealing an intensely hot dayside hotspot with unexpectedly low water levels because extreme heat actually rips water molecules apart. This breakthrough, achieved using advanced eclipse mapping methods, allows researchers to visualize the deep atmospheric structure of exoplanets too close to their stars for direct imaging—a leap for planetary science with wider application for atmospheric modeling and future remote sensing missions.​
• Blue Origin & Virgin Galactic Push Commercial, Communications Advances: The commercial suborbital spaceflight market saw both Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic signal new communications capabilities and progress. Virgin Galactic continues offering suborbital tourist flights with research and private astronaut customers, while Blue Origin touts upgrades allowing more reliable comms back to Earth. Both vie for a growing market in space-access and data services, but must still prove high launch cadence, robust safety, and long-term business models.​
• Karman Space & Defense Acquires Five Axis for $88M, Expands Engine Subsystems Portfolio: Karman Space & Defense purchased Five Axis Industries, a key supplier for commercial rocket engine subsystems such as nozzles and oxygen control lines, strengthening supply chains and advanced propulsion capability. The deal is expected to immediately boost Karman’s revenue and EBITDA, supported by cash and share financing, and is part of a broader wave of space manufacturing consolidation aimed at supporting launch, crewed, and defense contracts.​
• China Accelerates Space Station Science, Tech Cooperation: Chinese agencies reported major advances in their Tiangong space station—nearly 200 science projects, routine launches, and new international partnerships (like astronaut training for Pakistan). Breakthroughs in stem cell science, crop development, and advanced manufacturing highlight Beijing’s dual focus on human health and global partnerships for the next phase of space station operations.​
• Japan’s Next-Gen Cargo Ship HTV-X Successfully Arrives at ISS: Japan’s HTV-X spacecraft completed its first mission to the International Space Station, delivering supplies and testing advanced systems for future crew and cargo support. Featuring better automation and reusability, HTV-X ensures Japan remains a technology leader in ISS logistics and supports plans for lunar and deep-space contributions.​
• Momentus Vigoride-7 to Host DPhi-Space Payload on In-Orbit Platform: The commercial Vigoride-7 vehicle by Momentus will fly as a hosted payload platform, supporting the DPhi-Space hyperspectral imaging experiment. The launch continues the trend of using hosted payloads to lower costs and increase diversity of commercial and research satellites in LEO.​
• ISS Marks 25 Years of Continuous Human Presence in Space: The International Space Station celebrated a quarter century of unbroken human occupancy, with all partners highlighting its historic scientific output, contributions to international collaboration, and as a testbed for next-generation exploration systems.​
• Op-Ed: Guarding Against ‘Fool’s Gold’ in Space’s New Golden Age: Analysis pieces urge caution amid booming investment and “gold rush” euphoria, warning that business models, sustainability, and technology maturity must keep pace to avoid repeating past bubbles or falling prey to hype-driven failures, both in commercial LEO and planetary exploration.​
• Saudi Arabia’s stc Group Makes $175M Prepayment in AST SpaceMobile Deal, Accelerates Direct-to-Cell Satellite Rollout: The Saudi telecom giant stc Group has taken a leading position in the MENA space-tech market by prepaying $175 million to AST SpaceMobile as part of a major multi-year partnership. This landmark commitment enables faster deployment of direct-to-cell satellite connectivity for the region, integrating AST’s BlueBird constellation with terrestrial networks to deliver broadband coverage across vast, previously unreachable territories. The arrangement, which ranks as one of the largest pre-service commercial satellite deals, is designed to de-risk AST’s global buildout, guarantee critical anchor revenue, and establish Saudi as a digital gateway for Africa and the Middle East—spotlighting how sovereign clients are shaping the economics of space-to-consumer telecom.​
• PDC Launches OSIRIS, Harnessing Microchip’s HPSC and PIC64 for Next-Generation Spaceflight Autonomy: Space computer innovation advanced as PDC rolled out its OSIRIS module, leveraging Microchip’s HPSC multicore processors alongside legacy PowerPC architectures. The platform is designed for radiation-hardened, high-performance on-orbit autonomy, supporting dynamic reprogramming, hardware-accelerated AI, real-time fault management, and secure mission operations on next-gen probes, commercial satellites, and potentially defense applications. OSIRIS meets new mission assurance requirements for long-duration planetary and cislunar assets and exemplifies the shift to modular, upgradable onboard computing.​
• Rising Demand and Falling Launch Costs Clear the Path for Mainstream Satellite Servicing: Momentum continues to build in orbital servicing as more operators opt for on-orbit refueling, repair, and life extension. The convergence of lower launch costs and maturing robotic technology has unlocked a surge of commercial deals, including long-term contracts with GEO comms operators and emerging LEO service models. By 2030, satellite servicing revenues are forecasted to double, with advanced capabilities such as in-orbit inspection, debris removal, and new-build robot assembly moving from experimental to revenue-generating.​
• Voyager Technologies Acquires ExoTerra Resources, Expanding Propulsion and Space Systems Capabilities: In a bid for vertical integration, Voyager Technologies is acquiring ExoTerra Resources—a leader in high-efficiency spacecraft propulsion and smallsat platforms—expanding its product suite for deep-space and high-precision maneuver missions. The combined firm is expected to offer more streamlined, rapid-response satellite development for civil and defense clients, reflecting broader consolidation and tech convergence in the commercial space sector.​
• HEOS Delivers Satellite-to-Satellite Images, Revealing Chinese Tech Test Spacecraft Capabilities: The European HEOS mission achieved a milestone by directly imaging a Chinese test satellite in orbit, yielding key insights into China’s near-peer rendezvous, inspection, and maneuver technologies. Such close-approach imagery—enabled by advanced SSA sensors—confirms Chinese progress in cislunar and LEO tech demo missions and highlights the strategic intelligence value of persistent, in-orbit observation platforms, now sought by defense agencies and commercial partners alike.​
• Momentus Vigoride-7 to Host DPhi-Space Hyperspectral Payload, Validating Modular On-Orbit Platforms: Momentus will host DPhi-Space’s next-gen hyperspectral imaging experiment aboard Vigoride-7, demonstrating in-orbit hosted payload flexibility and showcasing how modular vehicles are opening new markets for research and commercial data products far beyond traditional rideshare missions. This aligns with industry trends toward “space infrastructure as a service,” diversifying the customer base and improving mission cadence for commercialization.

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

The European Space Agency (ESA) will ask 1 billion euros ($1.16B) for the development of a network of military-grade reconnaissance satellites. By transmitting ultra-high-resolution optical images to Earth at intervals of less than 30 minutes, this new ESA intelligence constellation will help counter threats and mitigate the consequences of natural disasters. This €1B will be part of ESA's overall budget request of 22 billion euros for the next three years, that member states will fork out at the ministerial meeting in Bremen, Germany on 26-27 November 2025. 

Consider it a down-payment on the real deal which is the increased weight of security in the distribution of ESA's space expenditures in the seven-year budget for 2028-2034. Defense is no longer a “forbidden" topic for ESA, as its Director General Joseph Aschbacher said that the agency's 22 countries have now agreed that defense projects should be included to strengthen security, since “the wording 'peaceful purposes' is actually interpreted for defense.” The European Commission calls the new military satellite system the "Earth Observation governmental service" (EOGS), and ESA calls it the "European Resilience from Space (ERS)."

Existing EU space programs (Galileo, alternative to GPS, and Copernicus, monitoring the effects of climate change) are used for civilian purposes. However, the ERS programme is meant to pool national space assets and develop new capabilities in intelligence, surveillance, secure comms, and navigation to strengthen Europe’s resilience and autonomy in the face of emerging security threats.

The €1B split is 75/25: €750 million to an Earth observation component (ERS-EO), feeding the European Commission’s planned Earth Observation Government Services (EOGS), expected to begin in 2028. The remaining €250 million support Navigation (ERS-Nav). In addition, ERS-Com, the communications element, will encompass additional work for the IRIS2 programme, the EU secure satellite communications network in low Earth orbit expected as alternative to Starlink by the 2030's.

Europe faces a reality check in its NATO relationship with the U.S. at a time of massive realist shift in western military posture. Rather than an Austin Powers ring to it, ESA's €1B is a long overdue move in the right direction:

 “In this moment of rapid change, there is a critical need to synchronise European initiatives by aligning space for defence competencies, avoiding duplication and pooling resources for scale. We still remain too fragmented to guarantee Europe genuine, comprehensive, and autonomous space resilience. We have an opportunity to change that, and we must."

 Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest: Martin Soltau

"Space Solar Requires 1,000 Times Less Critical Minerals Than Wind, Solar, and Batteries": Martin Soltau, Co-CEO of Space Solar, on £30/MWh Orbital Energy, Why China's Critical Mineral Dominance Extends to Orbit, and Energy Sovereignty From Space

The UK has the highest energy costs in the developed world. Four times what Americans pay. They've been de-industrializing for years, testing the theory that wind and solar are cheap. The public knows better.

Martin Soltau, Co-CEO of Space Solar, spent decades in aerospace working on tactical reconnaissance and leading major aircraft equipment programs. Then he started digging into space-based solar power. What he found changed everything: reusable rockets bringing launch costs down massively, technologies for space solar becoming mature, and the energy transition lacking real solutions. The results from an independent UK government study showed space-based solar power could be the cheapest form of energy, deployable within net zero timeframes.

Now Soltau is advocating at ministerial level while building systems that could power civilization from orbit.

🔍 Topics We'll Cover:

• Why space solar delivers £30/MWh versus £150/MWh for wind-plus-storage—base load power that works 24/7 regardless of weather, with instant dispatchability to wherever needs it
• How China's 2030 demonstrations could weaponize energy access—Belt and Road applied to orbital infrastructure creates dependencies when cities buy power beamed from Chinese satellites
• Why critical minerals are the hidden crisis—ramping up terrestrial renewables requires 20-70x more mining of rare earths that China dominates, while space solar uses 1,000x less
• The physics that prevents weaponization—microwave power beaming at 230 watts per square meter can't be focused harder due to diffraction, making space solar safe by design
• How retro-directive pilot beams provide built-in security—satellites only beam where ground stations tell them to, eliminating hijacking or interception threats
• Why the staged development pathway unlocks finance—low-Earth-orbit minimum viable product with a client generates revenue and proves technology before requiring billion-dollar geosynchronous commitments

Don't miss this conversation with the engineer proving that orbital energy solution addresses energy sovereignty, critical mineral dependence, and the geopolitical leverage game China is already winning.

📚 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.