Aerospace and Defense Review : News

Out of the total Space Force personnel, approximately 16,000 are airmen who were previously part of the Air Force Space Command. Another 6,000 staff are expected to be asked to leave the Air Force and transfer to the Space Force over the next year after administrative issues are sorted out U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has submitted a USD 740.5 billion budget request for national defense for the year 2021, which includes USD 15.4 billion for the U.S. Space Force, according to documents released by the Pentagon. The U.S Space Force was established as an independent wing under the Department of Air Force in December 2020. The U.S. Air Force transferred USD 15.4 billion to the Space Force from existing funds as part of the 2021 budget. The USD 15.4 billion budget will be used for the continued funding of projects that were managed by the U.S. Air Force . The budget has been developed based on substantial inputs from the U.S. Space Force. “I personally worked on this budget very closely in both of my hats as commander of U.S. Space Command and chief of the Space Force,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond. However, the budget is not inclusive of around USD 800 million in personnel costs, which for now remain in the Air Force budget because the Space Force does not yet have a separate accounting system. “The mechanics of this budget was such that the money was still in the Air Force because we hadn’t stood up the Space Force yet,” Raymond added. "But, we shaped this budget." Out of the total Space Force personnel, approximately 16,000 are airmen who were previously part of the Air Force Space Command. Another 6,000 staff are expected to be asked to leave the Air Force and transfer to the Space Force over the next year after administrative issues are sorted out. The assigning process to the U.S. Space Force is similar to Air Force personnel being assigned to combatant commands or the Joint Staff. As per Department of Defense (DoD) budget documents, the standup of the Space Force will continue through the upcoming fiscal year 2025. Due to the projected transfer of personnel, the Air Force active duty ranks are expected to drop from 511,000 to 505,000. The 2021 budget will fund 553 staff to standup the U.S. Space Force headquarters. As per DoD projections, the headquarters will grow to 1,800 personnel by 2025. As per the budget documents, the U.S. Space Force will continue to rely on the Air Force for foundational and infrastructure support, except in performing those functions unique to the space domain or central to its independence. See Also: Top Aerospace Tech Solution Companies ...Read more

ISACs have been existent since the 1990s across various industries like aviation, financial services, and energy. They were established with the aim of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information about security threats that affect specific sectors The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center, or Space ISAC, established in April 2019, is set to hold its first meeting with representatives from the government to discuss cybersecurity concerns across the national security, civil, and commercial space sectors. The space organization was set up to share intelligence on cyber threats. The organization is expected to start operations this spring with the launch of an unclassified portal where companies can share and analyze cybersecurity information . ISACs have been existent since the 1990s across various industries like aviation , financial services, and energy. They were established with the aim of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information about security threats that affect specific sectors. "There is growing urgency to bring in commercial space companies into the ISAC as massive new constellations get built," said Sam Visner, director of the National Cybersecurity Federally Funded R&D Center at the MITRE Corp. "We’re seeing the expansion in commercial space and proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) systems ," said Visner. "Given the unprecedented numbers of platforms in these new constellations there has to be a serious discussion about the potential cyber vulnerabilities," he added. According to Frank Backes, chairman of the board for the space ISAC and senior vice president of Kratos, the need for a space focused ISAC was raised by officials from several government agencies and the National Space Council about two years ago. This was due to the importance of space as a critical infrastructure. Kratos was one of the founding members of the space ISAC, along with ten other companies, including the likes of Booz Allen Hamilton, SES, Lockheed Martin, MITRE, and Parsons Corp. According to ISAC board members, the goal of the organization is to help companies and government agencies prepare and respond to cyber incidents, and disseminate intelligence among member firms. The data sharing and analysis portal is expected to be up and running by late spring. Once the portal is in operation, the Space ISAC will work to recruit and vet potential members. The goal is to sign up as many as 200 companies from the commercial, civil, and national security space sectors. ...Read more

A byproduct of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Accion Systems aims to redefine in-space propulsion systems. The company's TILE (Tiled Ionic Liquid Electrospray) propulsion system is designed to increase the lifespan and maneuverability of satellites and other vehicles in space In- space propulsion system startup, Accion Systems raised USD 11 million in a Series B funding round, co-led by Boeing HorizonX Ventures and Shasta Ventures. The Series B funding takes the company's total raised capital to USD 36 million, which includes USD 14 million in the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA contracts. The newly built capital will be used to ramp up production of Accion’s next-generation product and to expand the hiring process. “At the size of a postage stamp, our propulsion system is re-writing the rules of smallsat navigation and maneuverability,” according to Natalya Bailey, CEO of Accion Systems. “We’re excited to ramp up production and offer our clients benefits such as extending mission lifetime, station-keeping, and de-orbiting capabilities.” A byproduct of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Accion aims to redefine in-space propulsion systems. The company's TILE (Tiled Ionic Liquid Electrospray) propulsion system is designed to increase the lifespan and maneuverability of satellites and other vehicles in space . By leveraging a non-toxic, ionic liquid propellant and postage stamp-size thrusters, the TILE system is smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective than traditional ion engines. Co-leaders Boeing HorizonX Ventures is an innovation and venture organization with Boeing, which is aimed at discovering, shaping, and accelerating the next generation of game-changing ideas, products, and markets through venture investments, partnerships and trend discovery. “Accion’s propulsion system brings new capabilities to satellites , space vehicles, and ultimately, our customers," said Brian Schettler, senior managing director of Boeing HorizonX Ventures. “Our support of Accion supports Boeing’s leadership in adopting next-generation technologies to advance satellite capabilities.” Shasta Ventures led Accion's Series A round, and Rob Coneybeer is on the Accion Board of Directors. “Only sixty satellites were launched during the first nine years of space exploration, but now there are that many smallsats launched in a single mission,” said Rob Coneybeer, managing director at Shasta Ventures. “A new approach to in-space propulsion and smallsat mobility is in order, and I believe Accion has the solution.” See also:  Top Aerospace Tech Solution Companies ...Read more