Op-ed | U.S. satellites increasingly vulnerable to China’s ground-based lasers

Of the world’s 50 satellite laser ranging stations, five fixed stations are in Shanghai, Changchun, Beijing, Wuhan and Kuming

Commentary | Mars 2020 Mission another step closer to Launch

On June 10, NASA IV&V participated in the Mars 2020 Safety and Mission Success Review (SMSR) where final mission assurance conclusions were provided, culminating in an affirmative “Go” from NASA IV&V, providing concurrence for the project to move forward to the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) in July. This milestone is the culmination of years of hard work by JPL and NASA IV&V to confirm Mars 2020 mission readiness for launch currently set for July 30.

Op-ed | Is the future of space ops officeless?

Satellite experts should be asking: why is the space industry, the original ‘remote’ industry, behind the curve when it comes to truly remote operations?

Foust Forward | How will the pandemic change NASA?

Three months after the coronavirus pandemic upended American society, there are signs of recovery. NASA is also taking the first initial steps back to normal operations.

Op-ed | On the verge of a new era for space exploration? Assessing the impact of the ongoing crisis

Establishing an international long-term sustainable lunar presence in partnership with the private sector remains the core focus in space exploration

On National Security | The promise and perils of LEO constellations

DoD’s Space Development Agency is leading the way as it prepares to put up a communications transport layer and a surveillance and tracking layer for hypersonic missile defense.

Op-ed | Time to Move ICBM and missile defense units to the Space Force

The integration of ICBMs and space operations creates synergy and also signals a commitment by the U.S. to deterrence in and out of the space domain.

Op-ed | Satellites are data companies, too

Satellite network operators will soon be saddled with the same regulatory responsibilities as terrestrial network players.

Op-ed | Rocket science was the easy part. What can other domains teach us about space?

Because we consider space unique, we often fail to look at other domains for inspiration and to avoid potential pitfalls. That’s a mistake.

Op-ed | In the heart of disaster, satellite communication keeps working

In life, it’s the connections that count.

It’s the phone call and the text message. The emails for work. The online shopping and the credit card in the store.Th e visit to the ATM, the airplane trip, the medical emergency.

Withou…

Op-ed | UK-U.S. space cooperation soars to new heights

On June 16, after two years of negotiations, the United Kingdom and United States have signed their new “U.K.-U.S. Technology Safeguards Agreement,” which is sure to enable even more inspirational space endeavor on both sides of the Atlantic.

Op-ed | The Space Development Agency must be a constructive disruptor

SDA must be allowed to operate outside of legacy acquisition systems until it has had time to innovate, flourish and deliver.

Op-ed | To deter attacks on satellites, U.S. needs a strategy to identify bad actors

A trusted attribution process underpins a credible deterrence strategy.

Op-ed | Space Force should bring in expertise from other military services

The Space Force should leverage the infrastructure and accessions pipeline from the Army and the Navy.

Foust Forward | Tom Cruise, the ISS, and the challenges of making movies in space

The entertainment publication Deadline reported Tom Cruise was in talks with both NASA and SpaceX to film an action adventure movie on the International Space Station. The article suggested that Cruise, known for doing many of his own stunts, would go to the station.

On National Security | U.S. space industry takes one-two punch from China and the virus

The economic downturn precipitated by the pandemic has opened a window of opportunity to what the Pentagon calls “adversarial capital.” Space startups that are part of the defense market make especially attractive targets because they are likely to give China access to valuable technology, at the same time making those startups ineligible to sell that technology to the Pentagon.