People

Former Ambassador Barbara Barrett tapped to replace Heather Wilson as Air Force secretary
From 2013 until 2017, Barrett served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Aerospace Corporation

Q&A: The changing assumptions of the small launch market
Do small launcher companies need megaconstellation business to survive? How should they approach a market that sometimes feels like its changing faster than the rockets themselves? Five launch companies discussed these topics March 13 at a Washington Space Business Roundtable discussion moderated by SpaceNews.

Shanahan’s nomination to be defense secretary gives continuity to space reorganization
Shanahan: “I am honored by today’s announcement of President Trump’s intent to nominate."

Air Force unmanned aircraft developer Mike Leahy tapped to replace Fred Kennedy at DARPA
Leahy is best known in defense technology circles as the “father of the X-45."

Senate Intelligence Committee leaders voice support for NRO nominee Scolese
Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) told Scolese that he supports his nomination.

Why a Space Force could be good for business
Wallis Laughrey, vice president of space systems at Raytheon, said a Space Force could help better align contractors with DoD space needs.

DoD IG: Air Force Secretary questioned ethics of Shanahan’s 2018 meeting with Elon Musk
DoD IG report says Musk told Shanahan that SpaceX did not win an Air Force launch service contract because it had written a poor proposal that “missed the mark.”

Space Development Agency a huge win for Griffin in his war against the status quo
Griffin has scoffed at SDA naysayers. “I’m not personally trying to shake up anybody or anything."

Op-ed | Ensuring peaceful use of space an important goal for U.S. and allies
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Goldfein: 'Our goal is to prevent and deter conflict'

A clearer outlook for NOAA weather satellite programs
To plan future constellations, the agency is conducting the NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) study. What has it revealed so far? And how will commercial satellites and data products feed into future architectures?