Threats

Russia Is Slowly Declining As a Space Superpower

The first country to launch a satellite is losing its space advantage to leakers, competitors like SpaceX, and most importantly to China.

Ideas

Congress Rushes to Spend Billions on Space Weapons—Even if They Don’t Work

Even a bare-bones system would be ridiculously costly, and more likely to foster war than prevent it.

Science & Tech

Cargo Bases in Space: Air Force General Wants Them Within a Decade

The service’s mobility chief is already talking with SpaceX and other companies about the possibilities of orbiting supply dumps.

Policy

Opposition to a Space Force Simmers in the Senate

But Republicans who oppose the president’s push appear largely content to hold their fire until next year.

Ideas

The US Military Should Be Doubling Down on Space

Commercial innovation is slashing costs and boosting capabilities fast enough to remain useful even as antisatellite weapons improve.

Ideas

Ep.14: Natasha Bertrand of The Atlantic; Space Force moves ahead; Future of the Iran deal? and more.

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.

Ideas

The US Military Should Not Be Doubling Down on Space

Satellites are only getting harder to defend. The Pentagon needs to find a better way to do its C4ISR and precision-navigation-timing missions.

Policy

Pentagon Delays Space Force Report

The day after Defense One published details from an 11th-hour draft of the much-anticipated report, the Pentagon has delayed its release.

Policy

EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon To Start Creating Space Force — Even Before Congress Approves It

Within months, DoD will start standing up a new combatant command, a new space-procurement agency, and a new Space Operations Force.

Ideas

Trump’s Space Force Will Have to Wait

The president has called for the creation of a new military branch. So far, Congress is ignoring him.

Science & Tech

Russia May Put Androids in Orbit Next Year, State Media Says

The mission would be the latest for FEDOR, created for rescue work — and more recently given the ability to shoot guns.

Science & Tech

The Rocket for America’s Next Space Plane Just Fired 10 Times in 10 Days

By 2021, the Phantom Express is slated to carry new satellites to orbit on a daily basis.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Intelligence Chief: Russia And China Will Have Weapons in Space ‘In the Near Future’

The Defense Intelligence Agency’s director says the U.S. lead in space is diminishing and tomorrow’s skies will be filled with enemy robot satellites.

Ideas

Ep. 9: Space Force!; BAE Systems CEO Jerry DeMuro; Border security, Trump, and more.

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.

Ideas

SpaceX Just Sold the US Air Force the Cheapest Enormous Rocket It’s Ever Bought

The launch will cost $130 million, far less than the $350 million average cost of United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV.

Ideas

Cut the Red Tape Slowing the Pentagon's Race to Space

If the Air Force is to harness cheap satellites and reusable rockets, it must transform a risk-averse bureaucracy built for a different era.

Policy

What Trump’s Space Force Announcement Means

New plan would create sixth service branch, and annoy the Air Force.

Ideas

Worker-Bee Satellites Will Weaponize Space — and Help Us Keep the Peace

Traditional arms-control negotiations have gone nowhere in half a century. A functional tack offers a way forward.

Science & Tech

The US Military Has a New Tool to Connect Its Far-Flung African Bases

A medium-earth-orbit satellite contract hints at AFRICOM’s data and connectivity needs.

Science & Tech

US Coast Guard Is Putting Cubesats Over the Arctic

As the icecap melts and activity rises in the high latitudes, the commandant says his force needs better situational awareness.