Pentagon officially stands up Space Development Agency, names first director
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has officially established the Space Development Agency (SDA), assigning Fred Kennedy, the current director of the Tactical Technology Office, as the agency’s first director. According to a DoD memo, “[t]he SDA will define and monitor the Department’s future threat-driven space architecture and will accelerate
Here’s what the Pentagon thinks the actual cost of a Space Force will be
“Since a U.S. Air Force estimate emerged in September, putting the cost of President Donald Trump’s desired Space Force at $13 billion, Pentagon officials have been pledging that the ‘official’ cost estimate from the department will be much smaller. Now we know by how much. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Deputy
Pence Won’t Rule Out Nuclear Weapons in Space as Plans for New Force Begin
“If officials can advocate for reusable rockets to deliver cargo to troops from space ports, perhaps more firepower in space is possible, too. Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday didn’t immediately rule out positioning nuclear weapons in space sometime in the future. In a conversation with the Washington Post during
Here’s The Pentagon’s Initial Plan For Creating a Space Force
An early draft from the Pentagon has sketched out a possible trajectory for the creation of a Space Force. The plan would see the movement of some service members from the Air Force, Navy, and Army into the force, while excluding “the transfer of [the] strategic intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance mission
China’s Moon Missions Could Threaten US Satellites: Pentagon
“China’s lunar probes may one day threaten critical U.S. satellites, said one of the military’s top experts on space threats. In May, China launched the Chang’e 4 lunar relay satellite on an unusual trajectory: a lunar swing-by that pulled the satellite in a wide arc before settling it into a ‘parking orbit’
NASA celebrates 60 years of shooting for the stars
NASA celebrated its 60-year anniversary on the first of October, providing a reminder of technological and political changes that have occurred since that time. The agency had its roots in the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics that was itself founded in 1915, but was officially set up under the Eisenhower
Air Force secretary: Space Force will cost $13B in new expenses
The U.S. Air Force has estimated a $13 billion price tag for the creation of a Space Force, costs that are largely new and outside of the restructuring of current space-related capacities and expenditures. The projections include $2.2 billion for headquarters elements, $1.8 billion for “direct reporting units,” $7.2 billion
The U.S. Is Worried That a Russian Satellite Is Really a Weapon
The “abnormal behavior” of a Russian satellite of unknown function has prompted U.S. concern that it may be surveilling U.S. space assets, preparing for future attacks, or developing offensive technologies. These concerns, as well as continued Russian and Chinese development of “dual use” space technology that could be used for
Space Guard vs. Space Force?
Rather than a stand-alone military Branch currently promoted by President Trump, a number of experts are advancing the possibility of a “Space Guard,” modeled more closely after the U.S. Coast Guard, that is able to provide management, enforcement, and structure in the new frontier. This might include the enforcement of
Pentagon Intelligence Chief: Russia And China Will Have Weapons in Space ‘In the Near Future’
In what has been called the most “overt” acknowledgement by U.S. intelligence regarding Russian and Chinese weaponization of space, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency stated that U.S. superiority in the domain is decreasing as China and Russia develop powerful satellite and anti-satellite technology. Both countries have developed ground