"It's a way for them to understand what the threat is, but also they will have the ability to reach back to the government if they actually see something. So, we're trying to have a give-and-take discussion," Col. Richard Kniseley, the head of SSC's Commercial Space Office (COMSO) that manages Front Door, told Breaking Defense in an interview March 21.
Col. Rich Kniseley said the current plan is to set up a new Space Force working capital fund for buying commercial SATCOM, initially worth about $120 million, on Oct. 1.
Onshoring and investment in military-specific semiconductors anchor a cornerstone of the defense industrial base.
The Space Force is "still working through some issues or obstacles or challenges with industry," including clauses that would allow the Pentagon to direct a CASR participant to deny service to other customers, and when military users would get "priority of service," Col. Richard Kniseley told Breaking Defense.
"I'm very confident that we will have our first CASR contracts by early of next year, targeting space awareness," said Col. Rich Kniseley, who is spearheading the Space Force's effort to create a Commercial Augmented Space Reserve.
When it comes to leveraging commercial space tech, one analyst said, "The old adage holds — show me your budget and I’ll show you your priorities."
"The capacity needed during times of crisis or conflict will exceed our steady state peacetime demand," said Col. Rich Kniseley, who leads Space Systems Commands Commercial Space Office.
Modeling and simulation get an AI upgrade for more realistic training and improved autonomous platforms.
Space Systems Command's new Commercial Space Marketplace for Innovation and Collaboration (COSMIC) facility in Chantilly, Virg., will serve as the "physical headquarters" for the SSC Commercial Space Office.