Aug. 20, 2020
The Space Force is nearing an agreement with the Army and Navy about which of their technologies and organizations will transfer into the new space service, a top Space Force official said Aug. 20. It’s a critical decision that could make or break how well the Space Force can manage…
Aug. 18, 2020
The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff doesn’t see a need for a new roles and missions debate, preferring to let the services pursue their own new capabilities—such as long-range fires—and sort them out afterwards. Gen. John E. Hyten, in an interview set to appear in the September…
Aug. 14, 2020
If a nuclear missile passes through space on its way to hit the Earth, should the Space Force own it? That idea puzzled some policy watchers who read a section on orbital flight in the Space Force’s first Space Capstone Doctrine paper, published Aug. 10. To them, it suggests that…
Aug. 13, 2020
The secretive Space Rapid Capabilities Office’s workload has taken shape two years after its inception, as the space research and development enterprise changes around it. The Space RCO, which speedily develops cutting-edge technologies at the request of Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, handles capabilities…
Aug. 10, 2020
Eight groups of hackers attempted to to take control of a Defense Department satellite on Aug. 9. The weekend-long event, called “Hack-A-Sat,” was intended to spur interest in cybersecurity and help the DOD and the Air Force learn about unforeseen security risks. The event was in collaboration with DEF CON…
Aug. 10, 2020
The Space Force on Aug. 10 rolled out its inaugural policy document that will govern how it organizes, trains, and equips service members for military space operations. The new doctrine solidifies the interdependence of civil, military, intelligence, and commercial players as the U.S. tries to return to the moon and…
Aug. 10, 2020
Stephen L. Kitay, deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, will leave his job at the end of the month, he said in an Aug. 8 letter posted to social media. “While the department’s critical mission will never be complete, I have a very exciting opportunity in the private…
Aug. 7, 2020
United Launch Alliance and SpaceX will continue in the Space Force’s National Security Space Launch program. Challengers Northrop Grumman and Blue Origin were left to hope for future military launch wins in subsequent competitions. ULA will provide the rockets for 60 percent of Space Force launch missions through 2024, while…
Aug. 7, 2020
Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson is nominated to formally become the Vice Chief of Space Operations, the Space Force’s second-highest officer, and is up for a promotion to four-star general, the Pentagon said Aug. 7. Thompson took the job of vice commander of Air Force Space Command in April 2018,…