Jeff Thornburg

Hot off the presses: "Building an Enduring Advantage in the Third Space Age." Some key findings: - The United States accounted for roughly half of global launches in 2023, and it made up 81% of effective launch capacity. - More satellites were launched in the past five years (2019–23) than in all previous years combined. - In 2023, 78% of satellites launched were from the United States and 84% were for commercial missions. - The US advantage in space rests largely on America’s lead in space technology. - To turn this temporary lead into an enduring advantage, the United States must build on sources of national power that run deeper than technology: the combination of free markets, an open society, and access to capital, which enable the engine of innovation behind this technology. Three Areas of Recommendations: 1. Reduce obstacles for new launch vehicles and companies. - Expand the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation. - Increase Space Force funding for launch-range operations and infrastructure modernization. - Revise the Space Force’s launch acquisition strategy to create more opportunities for new entrants. 2. Press the advantage to accelerate US military and intelligence space missions. - Develop much larger intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. - Deploy a tactical ISR layer as part of the Space Force’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). - Accelerate the development and use of space logistics, in-space servicing, and spacelift. - Begin using commercial ISR capabilities for immediate combatant command support and to better inform PWSA tactical ISR layer requirements. 3. Enhance the lure of international partnerships with NASA to achieve broader space policy goals. - Expand opportunities in the Artemis program. - Develop novel deep-space missions that take advantage of new super-heavy launch vehicles. - Negotiate a new multilateral agreement that builds on the Artemis Accords and includes more specific and binding requirements. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gy7aiUT3

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Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is seeking industry feedback for a “Swarm Carrier” uncrewed aircraft system capable of launching from a C-130 and deploying drones of it own, according to a new notice published Wednesday. AFSOC eventually plans to seek input on drones in sizes between Group 2 and Group 3, Pentagon parlance for small- to mid-size UAS. One drone would be a Group 2 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drone, which could be internally carried and launched by the Group 3 “Swarm Carrier.” The Swarm Carrier itself should be capable of launching as a palletized effect from a C-130. And a separate Group 3 drone would be “signature managed” — denoting stealth qualities that could hide it from detection — and deployed from a Group 5 UAS, the largest drone class, to act as a command node for a swarm and relay data back from a contested or denied environment.

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Leading space technology company Sierra Space, best known for its Space Plane, has now developed a new idea that promises to deliver freight anywhere on Earth within 90 minutes of receiving a request. It is said that this technology will transform space logistics. How does it operate? The system would entail manufacturing supply units that would contain cargo. After that, these units would be sent into orbit and kept there for a maximum of 5 years until someone requests the cargo. The orbiting unit will execute brake burns to slow down and deorbit towards the earth's surface under gravity as soon as the delivery request is received. A thermal shield would be fitted to the unit to shield the cargo from the extreme heat and plasma produced during reentry. The shield will separate in the last stage, allowing a parafoil with a rudder to open and guide the unit to its intended landing location. The company wants the unit to land no more than 100 meters from the delivery location. What worries people about this technology? Without strong legislation, the technology's application in humanitarian aid efforts would be restricted, even though its goals include both supplying weapons to combat zones and aiding in relief efforts in disaster-prone areas. It may be difficult for the general public, particularly in rural areas, to locate and handle a landed space payload in the case of a natural catastrophe, as communication lines are typically the first to be damaged. The government or other administrative body may view the space payload as a possible threat if it carries weapons or warheads and is providing relief assistance to areas affected by war or other man-made calamities. No nation dealing with such a situation would take the chance of permitting an unidentified foreign body to set foot inside its boundaries. Therefore, even though the technology has enormous potential, it does not seem to be practical enough to be achieved. There's a concern that this technology will spark a rush to militarize space. As soon as one government begins to store weapons in space, other spacefaring nations will soon be competing to store their own arsenal. Furthermore, it wouldn't take long for simple weapon storage to give way to the storage of nuclear bombs in orbit. What benefits does technology offer? It is unfounded, even though it may appear at times that there are more hazards associated with technology than advantages. This concept has the capacity to completely alter the field of space logistics. The system is not merely for delivering supplies; it can also be used to return the space station's modules and experiments from orbit. Moreover, the technology can be utilized for returning small satellites to Earth for data collecting and reuse (in whole or in part). Way forward? Legislation restricting the militarization of space can be introduced by space-faring nations without impeding the advancement of technology. #space #spacetourism

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