| 01/21/2025 | | 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. In this issue, we cover:
- Space billionaires get front row seats at Trump's inauguration - L3Harris CEO sends DOGE a list of defense procurement reforms - Retired Space Force Gen. Jay Raymond joins Planet board of directors
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|  | | | Space & defense brief 🛰️ | | |
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Trump: U.S. will send astronauts to Mars
Donald Trump on Monday was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States during a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. In his inaugural address he declared, "We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars."
The remark was met with applause, including an enthusiastic thumbs-up from Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, who had a VIP seat next to the president's family. Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos was also in attendance, signaling the administration's expected focus on the private-public partnership in space.
On the military space front, Trump announced key appointments last week.
Troy Meink, principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office, was tapped as secretary of the Air Force. Matthew Lohmeier, a former Space Force lieutenant colonel and a vocal figure on military culture issues, was selected to be undersecretary of the Air Force. Both have to be confirmed by the Senate. Meanwhile, Pentagon official Gary Ashworth has been named acting secretary of the Air Force.
More here about the incoming administration's space players and priorities.
| | | | L3Harris CEO recommends defense reforms in letter to DOGE
Chris Kubasik, CEO of top defense contractor L3Harris Technologies, published an open letter last week addressed to the nascent Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
He proposed several reforms aimed at cutting through what he called a "slow and bureaucratic" procurement process. -
One recommendation is eliminating duplicative Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) requirements. These standards, which mandate detailed tracking of expenses across defense projects, require defense contractors to maintain separate accounting systems solely for government work. Industry experts say this creates unnecessary overhead costs that ultimately get passed to taxpayers. -
Another proposal calls for centralizing contract management under the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Currently, each military service branch runs its own acquisition programs, leading sometimes to redundant efforts and inconsistent practices across the Pentagon. -
Kubasik also recommended raising thresholds for when contractors must provide certified cost and pricing data — a complex documentation process that can add months to contract negotiations. This requirement would be limited to only the largest sole-source contracts, where the government is dealing with a single supplier. -
He also suggested capping bid protests — formal challenges to contract awards — to three per contractor annually. Currently, companies can file unlimited protests, which critics say can be used tactically to delay competitors' programs.. -
Kubasik said the Trump administration and DOGE's creation present a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to enact meaningful reforms. DOGE is slated to be led by Elon Musk. Vivek Ramaswamy, initially tapped to co-lead alongside Musk, has withdrawn from the task force and is considering running for governor of Ohio.
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New Glenn poised to shape competitive landscape for commercial and natsec launch
Blue Origin's NG-1 mission Jan. 16 marked a major milestone for the company and the commercial space industry. The New Glenn heavy-lift rocket, named after astronaut John Glenn, successfully launched from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:03 a.m. Eastern.
This inaugural flight achieved its primary objective of reaching orbit. An attempt to land the first-stage booster on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean, however, was unsuccessful.
The mission carried the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload, designed to test Blue Ring's core flight, ground systems, and operational capabilities. This payload is part of the Defense Innovation Unit's Orbital Logistics prototype effort, aimed at enabling future Department of Defense missions.
Crucially, NG-1 served as the first of Blue Origin's certification flights needed for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. This certification process is essential for Blue Origin to become eligible to fly national security payloads and compete in the NSSL program against United Launch Alliance and SpaceX.
| | |  | | | In other news 🚀 | | Planet has appointed retired U.S. Space Force General John "Jay" Raymond to its board of directors, as the satellite imaging company seeks to expand its footprint in the defense and intelligence markets.
Raymond, who served as the first Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force and is currently a senior managing director at private equity firm Cerberus, brings extensive military space expertise to Planet as it competes with established players for government contracts.
| | | | Voyager Space, a Denver-based space exploration and technology company, announced a major rebranding effort, changing its name to Voyager Technologies to emphasize a broader commitment to national security and defense markets.
Voyager is restructuring its operations into three business segments: Defense and National Security; Space Solutions; and Starlab Space Stations. The latter division oversees the company's participation in NASA's commercial space station program.
| | | | John Plumb, who served as the first assistant secretary of defense for space policy from 2022 to 2024, has joined K2 Space, a California-based satellite manufacturing startup, as its head of strategy.
Plumb's appointment comes as K2 Space aims to carve out a niche in the defense satellite market, where established manufacturers have traditionally dominated large spacecraft production for military and intelligence customers.
| | | | Thanks for reading! Please send comments, suggestions and tips to serwin@spacenews.com | | | | |
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