The Week In National Security Air and Space
Congress / White House
Senate passes $914B defense bill. On October 9, in a bipartisan 77-20 vote, the Senate passed its version of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The House and Senate Armed Services Committees may now begin the conference process in resolving the differences between their respective bills, as the House passed its version last month. The key priorities in the conference process will be finalizing the language on acquisition reform and resolving the DoD topline, as the Senate NDAA provides $32B more to the Pentagon budget than the House NDAA version. SASC Chair Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) stated, “We are ready to show on both sides of the aisle that the Senate can act in the interest of national security and get something done on a bipartisan basis.” Sen. Wicker’s counterpart, HASC Chair Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), said leaders of the two committees aim to have a compromise bill ready by Thanksgiving.
Space Force
Space Force plans “Maneuverable GEO” competition. On October 8, the Space Force released a notice to industry, announcing plans to start a competition in January 2026 for commercial satellites that can maneuver in GEO. This maneuverability is particularly important for SATCOM missions. The intent behind the competition is to create a pool of contractors for the service to tap into. “Combined with the need to supplement aging military satellite resources, the ability to provide these types of smaller, quicker satellite builds with maneuvering capabilities that are capable of providing access to, in particular, scarce military frequency bands is paramount to successfully supporting DOD operations and communications needs,” the service said in an earlier September 15 notice.
Working capital fund established to boost commercial space services. On October 8, the Space Force established a $120M working capital fund to streamline the purchase of commercial space capabilities like satellite communications. Managed by Space Systems Command, the fund is expected to support over $1.2B in annual commercial services once operational. Modeled after Air Force financial systems, it allows more flexible, revolving purchases instead of relying on yearly budgets, which is part of a broader push to deepen partnerships with industry and enhance mission resilience.
SSC awards $78.2M to Blue Origin for Cape Canaveral expansion. On October 7, Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded Blue Origin $78.2M under the National Security Space Launch program to expand satellite processing infrastructure at Cape Canaveral. The public-private partnership aims to boost spacecraft processing capacity by 2028 to support multiple launch providers. It follows a $77.5M award to Astrotech in April for similar upgrades at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
International
UK Space Command developing sensors to protect critical national satellites from adversary laser threats. The Ministry of Defence’s US$672,000 investment and partnership with UK’s Space Agency “Unlocking Space for Government” program will develop sensor technology to determine characteristics of lasers in space or on the ground and whether they pose a threat to satellites. UK Space Command’s Maj. Gen. Paul Tedman said in a release. “In this new era of threats, UK Space Command is competing against a growing arsenal of adversary counterspace systems and requires new and innovative edge technology to protect and defend our satellites.”
Rocket Lab partnership with Japan’s iQPS SAR constellation strengthens. Rocket Lab and Japan’s Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) have added three Electron missions, making Rocket Lab the primary launch provider for the QPS-SAR constellation. With four QPS-SAR launches earlier this year, the next one is slated for November, putting Rocket Lab on cadence for over 20 Electron missions in 2025. iQPS CEO, Dr. Shunsuke Onishi said the Rocket Lab agreement “marks an important step toward the realization of our QPS-SAR constellation. We will continue to make steady progress with unwavering dedication to achieving this goal.”
Autonomous defense platform launched to protect European space assets. Europe’s Neuraspace has launched Neuraspace DEF, a system designed to deliver autonomous, rapid responses to threats against space-based infrastructure. Neuraspace DEF integrates artificial intelligence, multi-source sensing, and automated analytics to deliver: real-time detection of non-cooperative or suspicious satellite activity, precision tracking of national and allied spacecraft for infrastructure protection, automatic alerts for unauthorized incursions into sensitive orbital zones, actionable data to inform tactical and operational military decisions, and predictive monitoring to anticipate and mitigate escalating threats.
The Week Ahead
Wednesday, 15 October
Space Innovation Summit and Hyten Award Reception w/ Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. George Whitesides, Rep. Mike Haridopolos, Gen Chance Saltzman, Jessica Powers, et. al. Washington, D.C. (more)
Thursday, 16 October
Hudson Institute on the State of US-China Relations w/ Rep. John Moolenaar. Washington, D.C. & Virtual. (more)
Friday, 17 October
AFCEA NOVA 2025 Golf Tournament. Clifton, VA. (more)
Upcoming Events
(** = new additions)
October 2025
19-20: LATSAT, Bogotá, Columbia (more)
21-22: NDIA 2025 Space Coast Contracting Summit, Patrick SFB, FL (more)
21-23: NRO Forum for Innovative Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), TBD (more)
**22: WSBR Luncheon: China, Space, and Geopolitics, Washington, D.C. (more)
22: NDIA AI for Requirements: Modernizing DoD’s Requirements Process, Virtual (more)
22: NDIA Space Division Peter B. Teets Award Dinner, Los Angeles, CA (more)
22: SFA October Rocket City Chapter Meeting, Huntsville, AL (more)
22-23: AFCEA SSC Space Industry Days, Los Angeles, CA (more)
22-23: 7th Summit for Space Sustainability, Paris, France (more)
**23: CNAS Stuck in the Cul-de-Sac: How U.S. Defense Spending Prioritizes Innovation over Deterrence, Virtual (more)
24: Air & Space Warfighters in Action: Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, Virtual (more)
25-26: SmallSat Education Conference, Merrit Island, FL (more)
27-30: Silicon Valley Space Week / MILSAT Symposium, Mountain View, CA (more)
**28-29: Defence in Space (DiSC) 2025, London, UK (more)
28-29: ESPI Europe as a Space Power – Directionality & Priorities of Strategic Action, Vienna, Austria (more)
November 2025
3-7: COSPAR Symposium 2025, Nicosia, Cyprus (more)
3-7: USSF WEPTAC Conference 2025 (TS//SCI), Colorado Springs, CO (more)
3-6: SMG Global MILSATCOM 2025, London, UK (more)
4-6: Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition, Sydney, Australia (more)
4-6: Security for Space Systems, Noordwijk, The Netherlands (more)
5-6: DSI Joint Space Operations, National Harbor, MD
6: SFA Guardian Industry Night 2025, Peterson SFB, CO (more)
13: Mitchell Institute 4th Annual Spacepower Security Forum, Arlington, VA (more)
13-14: 11th Annual AFA Schriever Space Futures Forum, Beverly Hills, CA
14: 5th Annual AFA Space Force Ball, Beverly Hills, CA
**18: Defense One State of Defense Business Acquisition Summit, Washington, D.C. (more)
18: Space Foundation: FAGA Forum, Chantilly, VA (more)
18-20: MilCIS2025, Military Communications and Information Systems, Canberra, Australia (more)
19: Defense Talks, Washington, D.C. (more)
20: 11th Annual AFA Schriever Space Futures Forum (classified session), Redondo Beach, CA
**20: NDIA U.S. & Japan Defense Industry Dialogue Series, Arlington, VA (more)
December 2025
2-4: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab: Cislunar Security Conference 2025, Laurel, MD (more)
3: Schriever Spacepower Series: Maj Gen Chris Povak, Virtual (more)
3-4: Space-Comm Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland (more)
9: SFA Spacepower Golf Tournament, Orlando, FL (more)
10: SFA Spacepower Conference 2025, Orlando, FL (more)
11: WIA Awards Dinner, Arlington, VA (more)
12: SFA Space Force T-10 Miler Pasta Dinner, Orlando, FL (more)
Congress / White House
Democratic troop pay bill blocked in House amid shutdown
Politico, 10 October
Senate passes $914B defense policy bill after resolving gridlock on amendments
Breaking Defense, 9 October
Air
Wilsbach: F-15EX Delayed by Strike; Fourth-Gen Fighters Still Bring Value
Air & Space Forces Magazine, 9 October
Wilsbach, Trump’s pick for Air Force chief, notes retention and training of cyber experts ‘suffering’
Defense Scoop, 9 October
IOT&E for MH-139A Completed, As Boeing Announces $173 Million Contract for Eight
Defense Daily, 8 October
Why the Air Force Opted to Skip a Tanker Competition: Costs, Delay, and Need for NGAS
Air & Space Forces Magazine, 8 October
DoD / Other Services
Acquisition Reform Top Priority for Department of Air Force General Counsel Nominee
Defense Daily, 8 October
Interagency / Other Departments
Space Policy / Commentary
Op-Ed Turner and Wheatley | Britain’s space security needs more than government funding
SpaceNews, 7 October
FCC Chair Targets Satellite Licensing and Spectrum Reform in ‘Space Month’
Via Satellite, 7 October
Space Acquisition
Space Force Plans 2026 Competition for Commercial Satellites That Can Maneuver
Air & Space Forces Magazine, 9 October
Space Force Pushes for FMS Reform as Case Load Spikes
Air & Space Forces Magazine, 8 October
Space Force sets up ‘working capital fund’ for commercial space services
SpaceNews, 8 October
How the Space Force Is Getting a Head Start on Defense Acquisition Reform
Air & Space Forces Magazine, 7 October
Industry
Stoke Space Says $510M Round Will Fund Nova Rocket Through First Flights
Defense Daily, 9 October
Viasat Plans To Demonstrate PTS-G Design by Middle of Next Year
Defense Daily, 8 October
Defense to ‘anchor’ exploding satellite market over next decade: NovaSpace
Breaking Defense, 7 October
Cubic targets military satcom market with ‘Vector’ terminals
SpaceNews, 6 October
Startup Firefly Makes Move to Expand into Golden Dome, Dynamic Satellites
Air & Space Forces Magazine, 6 October
International
Australian Space Command considers ‘space control’ options: Senior officer
Breaking Defense, 9 October
Defense budgets on both sides of the Atlantic reshape space industry
SpaceNews, 9 October
Space infrastructure investments surge to five-quarter high
SpaceNews, 8 October
Rocket Lab widens iQPS partnership with three more dedicated Electron launches starting 2026
SpaceDaily.com, 9 October
Neuraspace launches autonomous defence platform to protect European space assets
Space Daily, 7 October
UK Space Command Developing Sensors to Protect Satellites from Laser Threats
Via Satellite, 7 October
Threats
U.S. Space Force Flags China’s Expanding Web of On-Orbit Assets
Aviation Week Network, 7 October
Combat Power Projection
U.S. Space Force Considering Upgrades for Three Electromagnetic Warfare Systems
Defense Daily, 6 October
Environmental Monitoring
Space Force taps Muon’s wildfire monitoring satellites for weather imaging
SpaceNews, 8 October
Launch
Blue Origin wins $78.2 million contract to expand satellite processing infrastructure at Cape Canaveral
SpaceNews, 7 October
Golden Dome
Flood of questions leads Missile Defense Agency to push Golden Dome deadline one week
Defense One, 6 October