| 04/01/2025 | | National security insights for space professionals. Delivered Tuesdays. | | Welcome to this week's edition of SpaceNews Military Space, your source for the latest developments at the intersection of space and national security.
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|  | | | Space & defense brief ๐ฐ๏ธ
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Space Force welcomes Vulcan; SpaceX dominance highlighted on Capitol Hill
In a significant milestone for the U.S. space industrial base, the Space Force announced Wednesday that United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan rocket has been certified for national security launches, officially creating a second option for military space access that officials have long sought.
Vulcan's certification marks a crucial turning point for ULA, the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture that has seen its market position severely eroded during the lengthy Vulcan development period as SpaceX captured an increasing share of government and commercial launches with its lower-cost, higher-frequency Falcon rockets.
On the same day the U.S. Space Force approved Vulcan, comments during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing provided a revealing look at the scale of SpaceX's dominance.
Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, testified before lawmakers, describing the U.S. commercial space industry as a "massive advantage" that has expanded rapidly in recent years.
Pressed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) to quantify that advantage, Whiting pointed to the sheer pace of U.S. launch activity. "If you go back probably five to 10 years, the number of launches we were executing compared to those in China or Russia looked very similar," Whiting said. "But over time, the U.S. has massively increased the number of launches."
Whiting noted that the cost per pound of payload delivered to space has dropped, further widening the U.S. lead. He emphasized the Pentagon's priority of maintaining a diverse stable of launch providers.
Cotton, however, zeroed in on the driver of the expansion. "Was it SpaceX or ULA predominantly responsible for that?" he asked.
"Predominantly SpaceX," Whiting said. -
SpaceX upended the economics of spaceflight with its reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, launching at an unprecedented cadence. Much of that activity has been devoted to deploying SpaceX's Starlink broadband satellite constellation. -
SpaceX's dominance has raised strategic considerations for the Pentagon. While military leaders frequently tout the advantages of robust U.S. commercial space activity, they also seek to avoid over-reliance on a single provider. -
Still, SpaceX's ability to launch satellites at a rate unmatched by any competitor remains central to U.S. space strategy. Whiting told lawmakers that without the company's rapid innovation and scaling, the U.S. might still be on par with China and Russia in launch capacity, rather than far ahead. -
"They certainly have been innovative and rapidly changed that market," Whiting said.
| | |  | | | | Air Force nominee: U.S. at risk of losing space superiority
Troy Meink, President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Air Force, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee March 27. His nomination received a generally positive reception from senators, some of whom cited his technical background and experience running space programs at the the National Reconnaissance Office as critical assets.
"Space is critical," Meink told lawmakers. "This is actually one of the areas where we're most challenged, particularly by the rapidly evolving threat from China and others โ both the direct threat to our systems as well as the broader operational risks they pose to our military capabilities."
Meink stressed the need for a skilled workforce in space acquisition and operations, calling it essential to maintaining America's strategic advantage. "These are some of the most complicated systems, and if the U.S. is to sustain our lead in space, we must ensure we have the right talent," he said. He pledged to advocate for increased resources for the Space Force, emphasizing that beyond just expanding the ranks of the service's Guardians, investment in training and support is paramount.
Meink argued that accelerating innovation across the Department of the Air Force would be a priority. "At the NRO, I spent the last decade increasing competition and expanding the industry base, which significantly sped up capability delivery while lowering costs," he said. "I intend to bring that same drive for innovation to the department."
Potential shift in space acquisition strategy
In an exchange with Meink during the hearing, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) revealed that the Department of the Air Force is considering a shift in its space acquisition strategy that could replace planned military satellite purchases from multiple defense contractors with SpaceX's Starshield satellites. The potential change comes as the Pentagon scrutinizes its funding plans for fiscal year 2026.
Meink told Cramer he could not comment on that issue as he was not familiar with internal discussions about satellite procurements. A Department of the Air Force spokesperson said in a statement that "no decisions have been made."
| | |  | | | | | | Hegseth orders civilian workforce overhaul
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 28 issued a directive to reshape the Pentagon's civilian workforce, marking the administration's latest push to streamline government operations. In a memorandum titled "Initiating the Workforce Acceleration and Recapitalization Initiative," Hegseth ordered a strategic realignment of the Defense Department's civilian workforce, citing a need to eliminate redundancy, cut bureaucracy and harness automation โ particularly at headquarters.
"The net effect will be a reduction in the number of civilian full-time equivalent positions and increased resources in the areas where we need them most," the memo states.
Hegseth directed two immediate actions:
A reopened exit program: The undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness has been directed to re-implement the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and offer voluntary early retirement to all eligible Pentagon civilians. First introduced by the Office of Personnel Management in January, the DRP granted most federal employees the option to resign with full pay and benefits until Sept. 30. Hegseth is reviving the program under DoD authority, with exemptions to be kept to a minimum.
Long-term plans for cuts: Senior Pentagon leaders must submit proposed organizational charts for their respective offices by April 11. These reports will outline functional areas and streamlined management structures in anticipation of workforce reductions.
While the memo does not set a specific reduction target, it signals a clear intent to cut civilian positions as part of a broader push to modernize DOD's structure.
| | |  | | | In other news ๐ | | Booz Allen Hamilton unveiled a concept for a mega-constellation of satellites designed to fulfill the Trump administration's "Golden Dome" vision for a comprehensive missile-defense shield to protect the United States.
The concept, dubbed "Brilliant Swarms," would consist of up to 2,000 small satellites operating as an interconnected network powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, according to company executives.
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Rocket Lab and Stoke Space were selected to compete for national security launch contracts as the U.S. Space Force seeks to expand the roster of private firms to meet growing launch demand.
Rocket Lab and Stoke Space will join Blue Origin, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance (ULA) in the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program. This contract allows companies to bid on launch service orders through 2029, with at least 30 missions expected to be awarded, amounting to an estimated $5.6 billion in task orders.
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