Policy

The US Air Force Has Won Control of the Space Force

Six months ago, service leaders said they were being cut out of the planning process. Now they’re being put in charge of it.

Science & Tech

China, Russia Building Attack Satellites and Space Lasers: Pentagon Report

The DIA says Chinese lasers could be ready to disable U.S. satellites in low Earth orbit by next year.

Business

Will Space Force Give an Extra Boost to Satellite Spending?

Defense execs see increased sales as Pentagon upgrades orbiting gear to fend off attacks.

Business

Despite Record Earnings, Defense Firms Laid Off Nearly 1,500 Over the Past Year

SpaceX’s announcement on Sunday punctuated a year of workforce reductions among prominent companies.

Policy

Trump’s Space Force Request Is Coming — But Final Form Remains Hazy

Will his proposed space organization more resemble the Air Force or the Marines? Pence didn’t say.

Ideas

Ep. 30: Crisis in the Sea of Azov; Space Force!?; Nuclear anthropology and American folklore

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

Policy

White House Seeks Alternatives to Independent Space Force

Pentagon leaders were dutifully double-timing toward a new military branch. Then they got new marching orders.

Policy

Space Force Actually May Be Bargain, New Cost Estimate Says

“At this point it may be a coin toss whether or not this makes it through,” says Todd Harrison.

Policy

Senior Defense Officials Offer Dueling Pricetags for Space Force

Hours after the Pentagon’s No. 2 floated a sub-$5 billion figure, the Air Force secretary stood by her $13-billion estimate.

Policy

Trump's Space Force Faces an Uncertain Fate

Congressional lawmakers, including Republicans, were skeptical of the idea long before the midterms.

Policy

Pentagon Officials Debating How Fast to Launch Space Force, Deputy Says

White House panel announces formal recommendations, while Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan confirms NRO will remain apart from Space Force.

Policy

Here’s The Pentagon’s Initial Plan For Creating a Space Force

Parts of the Air Force, Navy and Army would move into a sixth branch, but the NRO will likely remain independent.

Policy

NASA Chief Lifts Sanctions on Russian Space Boss, Russia Says

Russian state media says the Trump administration will temporarily ease Crimea-related sanctions to allow a visit to Houston. NASA officials can’t — or won’t — say if that’s true.

Policy

Mattis Asks Trump to OK US Space Command, Pick Leaders

The Pentagon has made a number of internal moves to create the 11th combatant command.

Science & Tech

China’s Moon Missions Could Threaten US Satellites: Pentagon

A satellite on the far side of the moon might not be quite what the Chinese say, Air Force official warns.

Ideas

A Missile-Defense Layer in Space Is Affordable and Makes Sense

Critics warn about sky-high price tags while blocking efforts to divine the actual cost.

Ideas

China Has a ‘Space Force.’ What Are Its Lessons for the Pentagon?

The U.S. military must find new ways to leverage commercial innovation in order to contend with China in space.

Threats

New Defense One eBook: The Changing Race to Space

Space Force, satellites, weapons, and more.

Policy

USAF’s Space Force Cost-Estimate Is Likely Too High: Analyst

Todd Harrison says $13 billion is a high-ball figure meant to shift the debate.

Policy

Pentagon Appears to Concede USAF Point in Space Force Tug-of-War

Days after the Air Force secretary fired off a memo, the deputy defense secretary appeared to back off a plan for a new acquisition agency.