?? Report Warns Doubling Space Force Budget Is America’s Only Way to Stay on Top
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The National Security Space Association (NSSA) 's recent report urges doubling the United States Space Force budget to $60 billion annually by 2030 to maintain U.S. space dominance and counter growing threats.
Supporting the NSSA report's arguments, this week, China was reportedly seen conducting satellite maneuvers that resemble “dogfighting in space," a sign of the country’s growing capabilities in orbital warfare, according to General Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force. As competition and activity in orbit increase, national defence continues to grow as a priority in the space sector.
Read on to learn more about the NSSA's recent report, China's "dogfighting" practices in space, and your weekly news round-up.
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Space News Highlight ?
China Practices ‘Dogfighting’ In Space, U.S. Space Force Reports
General Michael A. Guetlein spoke at the 16th Annual McAleese "Defense Programs" Conference where he described in-orbit activity by Chinese satellites that resembling “dogfighting in space.
“With our commercial assets, we have observed five different objects in space maneuvering in and out around each other, in synchronicity and in control. That’s what we call dogfighting in space,” Guetlein said. “They are practicing tactics, techniques, and procedures to do on-orbit space operations from one satellite to another.”
The U.S. Space Force warns that adversaries, including China and Russia, are deploying counterspace capabilities such as jamming, cyberattacks, and anti-satellite weapons. To counter emerging threats, the Space Force is focusing on space superiority, domain awareness, and resilient communications while expanding partnerships with commercial and allied entities.
?? Report Warns Doubling Space Force Budget Is America’s Only Way to Stay on Top
The United States must double the Space Force’s budget over the next five years or risk losing dominance in the most critical domain of modern warfare, according to a recent report by the National Security Space Association (NSSA). The report warns that adversaries, particularly China and Russia, are rapidly advancing their military space capabilities while the U.S. response has been too slow.
The NSSA report, titled Accelerate or Lose, calls for the Space Force budget to increase from approximately $30 billion to $60 billion annually by 2030. Without this investment, the report argues, the U.S. will be unable to defend its interests in orbit and beyond, potentially ceding strategic control of space to its rivals.
Growing Threats from China and Russia
China has launched more than 400 satellites since 2022, with many designed for military applications, according to the NSSA. These include intelligence-gathering platforms, satellite jammers, and even satellites capable of physically attacking or disabling U.S. assets in space.
Russia, despite its focus on the war in Ukraine, remains an active threat in space. The NSSA warns of reports that Moscow is developing nuclear anti-satellite weapons that could devastate global satellite networks, including its own.
Both countries have ignored international norms, the NSSA argues, citing Russia’s destructive anti-satellite missile tests and China’s advances in space-based weapons.
U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command Need More Funding
The report states: “Neither the U.S. Space Force nor USSPACECOM is currently sized and structured to deliver the forces needed to deter or defeat adversaries in orbit and beyond.”
To meet the challenge, the NSSA recommends expanding the Space Force’s ability to rapidly acquire and deploy new technologies. The report criticizes the Pentagon’s slow acquisition process, arguing that China and Russia have exploited bureaucratic inefficiencies to outpace the U.S. in key areas. It calls for more flexible procurement strategies, including greater use of fixed-price contracts and partnerships with private industry.
A Call for Immediate Action
The NSSA report outlines several key recommendations, including:
The report warns that failing to act will allow China and Russia to dictate the future of space security. It suggests that, without urgent investment, the U.S. could lose the ability to protect its national security interests in space. It calls for decisive action from both Congress and the White House to double the Space Force’s budget, streamline procurement, and ensure that the U.S. remains the world’s leading space power.
“The time to act is now. If we fail to accelerate, we will lose,” the report concludes.
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Space Industry Quote of the Week ??
“There used to be a significant capability gap between us and our near peers. That capability gap has significantly narrowed, and we’ve got to change the way we’re looking at space where that capability gap may reverse and not be in our favor anymore.”
- General Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force
Weekly News Roundup
Arkadia Space has successfully launched its hydrogen peroxide-based propulsion system, positioning it as the first European company to demonstrate the viability of green propulsion for space vehicles. The launch took place aboard D-Orbit ’s ION satellite during SpaceX ’s Transporter 13 mission, which lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Arkadia is also working on developing a high-performance bipropellant engine, which promises to deliver the same level of performance as hydrazine-based systems but at a significantly lower cost. The company is also expanding its test facilities in Castellón, Spain, with plans to have the new center operational by mid-2025.
Rocket Lab has successfully deployed its third Pioneer spacecraft for Varda Space Industries , supporting in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing and rapid reentry operations. The W-3 mission launched on March 14 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, just 15 days after the successful return of Varda’s W-2 mission, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s ability to maintain high-cadence space missions.
Rocket Lab’s Pioneer spacecraft provides essential functions including power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control, enabling Varda to manufacture materials in microgravity and return them safely to Earth, with a fourth mission currently in final assembly.
Digital twins could improve the design, testing, and real-time monitoring of Hall thrusters, reducing costs and increasing reliability for space missions. Researchers from Imperial College London propose a multi-model computing framework integrating real-world data and machine learning to enhance predictive capabilities.
Challenges include the high computational cost of plasma simulations and the need for standardized validation, but cloud-based solutions and industry collaboration may help scale digital twin adoption.
印孚瑟斯 is reportedly bidding for a government-backed satellite project, marking its first major step into India’s space technology sector. A consortium including Infosys, GalaxEye , and an undisclosed firm is among six private teams shortlisted by IN-SPACe for a ?1,500 crore ($173.13 million) satellite constellation project.
The project follows a public-private partnership model, with the winning team designing, building, and operating the satellite network while leveraging geospatial data for commercial applications.
Pangea Aerospace has secured a €23 million Series A funding round led by Hyperion Fund to accelerate its expansion in the European market and further develop its advanced propulsion technologies. The Barcelona and Toulouse-based company specializes in high-efficiency, reusable rocket engines using sustainable propellants, and has been selected by the European Space Agency - ESA for strategic projects, including the integration of its ARCOS aerospike engine technology. With the funding, Pangea Aerospace aims to reinforce European technological sovereignty in the aerospace sector and enhance manufacturing and testing capabilities.
AROBS Polska has secured a contract with the European Space Agency to develop post-quantum cryptographic systems for satellite communications. The PQC ASTrAL project aims to develop encryption systems resistant to quantum computing threats, ensuring the long-term security of satellite communications.
The project will be carried out under the ESA Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) program within ESA’s Connectivity and Secure Communications directorate.
European Companies Win €3 Million ESA Contract For Satellite Deorbiting Drag Sail Device Development
Portuguese aerospace company SPACEO has secured a €3 million European Space Agency contract to develop SWIFT, an inflatable deorbiting system designed to remove defunct satellites from orbit. The SWIFT system will deploy a 1.5-square-meter drag sail to enable controlled descent of satellites up to 24 kg, reducing space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO) and mitigating risks posed by inactive spacecraft.
Supported by ESA’s ARTES program, the project involves Luxembourg’s GomSpace , France’s SpaceLocker , and the Netherlands’ Solidflow ; with development slated for completion by 2028, potentially making SWIFT a global standard for satellite deorbiting.
German space and technology firm OHB SE has launched a new subsidiary in the United Kingdom, establishing a presence in Bristol to develop innovative space products and systems for national and European markets. The investment, which will create up to 50 specialist jobs, aligns with OHB’s strategy to expand its collaborations with UK-based companies and institutions in the European Space Agency (ESA) ecosystem.
The Bristol-based operation aims to enhance Europe’s sovereignty in space technology, with a focus on security-related programs and partnerships with entities such as SaxaVord Spaceport and Rocket Factory Augsburg.
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