Pentagon ramps up warnings as new funding deadline looms • The race to back up GPS

National security insights for space professionals.

View this email in your browser National security insights for space professionals. Delivered Tuesdays. In this week's edition: • Fiscal squeeze sparks military unease • Anti-satellite weapon threat roils D.C. • The race to back up vulnerable GPS If this newsletter was forwarded to you, sign up for free here Today's highlights: ANOTHER FUNDING DEADLINE looms and the message from the Pentagon is clear: the current fiscal uncertainty isn't just a bureaucratic inconvenience — it's a direct threat to national security and technological superiority.  With the clock ticking towards the March deadlines when the government will run out of funding, the pressure is on for Congress to pass federal appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024.  DoD insists that if Congress ends up passing a full-year continuing resolution to keep the government's lights on, defense programs would get at least $26.6 billion less than the $886.3 billion topline agreed to under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Half of those reductions, or about $13 billion, are Department of the Air Force programs, including $2.8 billion in the Space Force's budget.  Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman told reporters last week that these cuts would stall progress on new space architectures planned for operations in contested environments, and risk the nation's ability to maintain a competitive edge in space. "One of the real challenges that we're facing in the Space Force is an instability in our funding," said Saltzman.  "We buy launch services two years in advance," he noted. "If you don't have a steady stable line and funding you really can't pre-plan and buy those missions ahead of time," he said. "It's an acute problem that affects almost everything we do." THE LATEST REVELATIONS on Russia's development of an advanced anti-satellite weapon sent shockwaves through Washington last week.  The White House confirmed that Russia is working on a "troubling" anti-satellite weapon but did not shed light on its capabilities, such as whether the ASAT might be nuclear-armed.  Anti-satellite weapons have been a longstanding concern due to their potential to disrupt essential satellite-dependent services, including communications, navigation, and intelligence.  The prospect of a nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ASAT from Russia has raised alarm due to the potential for mass destruction and the violation of international law. The Atlantic Council, a think tank focused on international affairs, argues that these developments "require a firm U.S. response, not hysteria." A few takeaways from the Council's statement:  Even if fielded, a nuclear ASAT capability would not significantly revise the U.S.-Russia balance of power in space or on Earth. Still, the United States and its allies and partners must respond. This development should serve as further impetus for U.S. space planners to take seriously the prospect of nuclear use in space.  Space planners should ensure that defense plans for high-end conflicts are resilient against a loss of unhardened space systems, either by hardening a sufficient number of systems or ensuring alternate sensing and communications options are in place.  If space norms are to mean anything, then the United States must rally like-minded nations to register their concern over this potential flagrant violation of the Outer Space Treaty. THE RACE TO BACK UP GPS is accelerating amid increasing threats of jamming and spoofing. For decades, GPS has been the global gold standard for navigation. But the increased use of electronic weapons that can disrupt GPS signals has driven the Space Force to pursue alternatives. Companies are rushing to offer gap-filler solutions ranging from terrestrial networks that leverage  cell towers to new constellations of low Earth orbit small satellites that beam alternative PNT (positioning, navigation and timing) signals. The Space Force has invited commercial firms to pitch PNT products. Read more from the latest issue of SpaceNews magazine. Don't miss: Automating for SmallSat Success February 20 1 PM ET This webinar will explore how today's small-satellite industry leaders are employing automation in operations and manufacturing. REGISTER HERE In other news 🚀 BAE Systems announced last week that it completed its acquisition of Ball Aerospace. Ball Aerospace is now a BAE Systems business sector called Space & Mission Systems.   "This marks a significant milestone for the BAE Systems business, adding more than 5,200 U.S. employees," the company said. SpaceX is seeking a new launch pad for Starship. The Space Force has kicked off a study to determine what the environmental impact would be to allow the world's most powerful rocket to launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.  The study known as an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) also is being coordinated with NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard.  One option to be considered is to give SpaceX a launch pad currently leased to United Launch Alliance for Delta 4 Heavy operations. That vehicle's last flight is expected to be completed this summer.  Another option would be to build a new Space Launch Complex 50 on currently undeveloped land. Lockheed Martin is ramping up production of small satellites. While traditionally known for manufacturing GPS and giant geostationary (GEO) satellites, the company has quietly built a backlog of 100 smallsats from defense intelligence customers.  The company last year opened a new smallsat assembly facility with capacity to manufacture 180 spacecraft per year.  Taking advantage of the new production line, Lockheed funding its own space missions to demonstrate technologies.  The next experiment, called Pony Express 2, is scheduled to launch on SpaceX's upcoming Transporter 10 smallsat rideshare. Two Terran Orbital cubesats will attempt to form a Ka-band mesh network in space. Thanks for reading ! Please send comments, suggestions and tips to serwin@spacenews.com Copyright (C) 2024 Multiverse Media Inc.. All rights reserved. You signed up to receive this newsletter on Spacenews.com. At times you may receive marketing material. 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