"In a sense, we drive our satellites today as if we're going to church. Our adversaries drive their satellites as if they're going to combat," Lt. Gen. John Shaw, who recently retired from US Space Command, told Breaking Defense in this Q&A.
The Space Force is rushing to meet SPACECOM's demand, developing a new acquisition plan for space "mobility and logistics" — including on-orbit servicing and repair, satellite refueling and space junk cleanup — a plan that will lean heavily on use of commercial capabilities, said SSC's Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy.
Balancing security and access to data are critical to providing users with trustworthy, reliable data for real-time decisions.
"When people like to question the validity or usefulness of this engine, I point them to Wernher von Braun," said Tabitha Dodson, DRACO program manager at DARPA, "because this was more or less his idea."
"We're kind of restricted right now, by the tyranny of the rocket equation. I've got to have mass to eject in order to move myself around within the Earth-Moon gravity well and beyond. How do we get past that?" asked SPACECOM deputy commander Lt. Gen. John Shaw.
Rumors already are flying about who will take over the vice slot at Space Force when Gen. David "DT" Thompson retires next year, with current bets on Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, head of Space Systems Command.
Sources tell Breaking Defense that two names — Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting and Lt. Gen. John Shaw — have been sent to the White House for potential nomination as the new Space Force chief.
The MQ-9B and Gambit Series represent parallel capabilities that address global challenges for security head-on.
"The key to success is frank and open discussion ... tearing down those information sharing barriers, to be sure that we're truly interoperable," said Australian Air Commodore Nicholas Hogan.
"If there is an aircraft capable of launching an air-launched anti satellite weapon operating in the air domain, we need to know about it," SPACECOM deputy Lt. Gen. John Shaw says.
"I think that the hardest part for the Space Force is the challenge of security, and how would we work with small business in enable technologies that you guys have," Maj. Gen. DeAnna Burt says.
"I would say that it's not the fact, in itself, that we have Space Forces or Space Commands which is concerning. It is what you do with this," says Maj. Gen. Michel Friedling, first commander of France's new Space Command.
As threats evolve, the winning model ties digital engineering to manufacturing capacity and a reindustrialized supply chain.