Five stories that surprised the space world: 2025 review
'Unsettled' is a polite word for 2025 in the space domain.
US slams ‘discriminatory’ draft EU space law as imperiling NATO cooperation
The State Department's damning critique argues that, if enacted, the draft law would imperil cooperation on "space weather, remote sensing, space exploration, spaceflight safety, space debris mitigation and remediation, [and] communications."
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Next-generation C2 won’t be next-gen without the network transport
The network transport architecture for NGC2 could be a hybrid approach that combines high assurance communications with 5G, WiFi, and multi-orbit satellites.
Defense to ‘anchor’ exploding satellite market over next decade: NovaSpace
The defense sector is projected to account for only nine percent of the satellites going up between 2024 and 2035, but at the same time representing a whopping 48 percent of total market value.
Space Force taps SpaceX, ULA for first set of critical launches beyond FY27
SpaceX was assigned seven NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches under a contract worth $714 million; ULA two launches worth $428 million.
EXCLUSIVE: Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear steps down
In an exclusive interview with Breaking Defense, outgoing SDA Director Derek Tournear said the agency's three biggest technological successes have been proving the viability of space-based Link 16; missile tracking from LEO; and low-cost laser links.
Air Force, Space Force seek $16B extra for FY26 ‘unfunded priorities’
The services’ unfunded requests, obtained by Breaking Defense, reflect sharp increases compared to last year.
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Data overload threatens decisionmakers as autonomy expands
Reducing cognitive overload on warfighters while improving “time to trust” for autonomous systems is a matter of design.
Integration, existing weapons and uncertainty: In Paris, industry makes its Golden Dome pitch
Executives from both Lockheed and Raytheon indicated interest in building a space-based interceptor, and hinted at their broad approaches to Golden Dome.
Space Force ponders shakeup to LEO satellite strategy, potentially hiring SpaceX for data relay
Contracts for the next-generation Tranche 3, which will replace the earliest Transport Layer satellites, have been paused until the Space Force study is completed, five sources with knowledge of the program told Breaking Defense.
Space Force is contracting with SpaceX for new, secretive MILNET SATCOM network
The MILNET contract with SpaceX is being paid for by the Space Force but managed by the National Reconnaissance Office, sources said.
Amid Trump, Musk blowup, canceling SpaceX contracts could cripple DoD launch program
Elon Musk's SpaceX is already expected to conduct more than two dozen national security-related space launches over the next few years.
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GPS: Still the gold standard in global navigation
The GPS network continues to prove its unmatched reliability, and it’s only getting stronger.
Trump: Golden Dome to cost $175 billion, will be led by Space Force’s Guetlein
President Donald Trump said the project to develop a missile defense shield should be "fully operational" before the end of his term, and claimed Canada has asked to join the project.
Space stalwart Troy Meink confirmed as Air Force secretary
Meink, most recently the principal deputy director for the National Reconnaissance Office, is a relative anomaly amongst President Donald Trump’s picks for top Defense Department leaders, having an extensive history of working within the US government.
Amazon launches first 27 operational Kuiper satellites to compete with Starlink
There are a lot of hopes within DoD and the Space Force for Project Kuiper's success, with officials seeing the constellation as offering diversity beyond Starlink in the supplier base for so-called proliferated LEO services.
Elon Musk sat in on job interview for Air Force’s top civilian
“I have no relationship with Space X or Mr. Musk outside of a professional relationship in execution of my current duties,” Meink stated in written responses to questions from Sen. Elizabeth Warren.