InternationalMilitarySatcom

What’s Next With The Head of Gilat Defense

Israeli satcom firm Gilat Satellite Networks is preparing to move hundreds of employees to the US as part of its new defense division, according to Gilad Landsberg, the head of the new division.

Business

Symposium Still On Despite Trump’s Travel Ban, Organizers Say

The Trump administration’s executive order requiring agencies to justify non-essential travel in a bid to cut costs was a top conversation topic at the Satellite conference in DC this week.

LaunchMilitary

ULA CEO Responds to ‘Inaccurate’ AF Report

“When that was written, it was inaccurate. As we sit here today, it is certainly overtaken by events.”

MilitaryPolaris

Industry, VC, DoD on Future of Space Conflict

“If you want private capital flowing into specific sectors, that’s a very good way to encourage it,” Morales said. “Just tell startups that if they build what you want, you’ll buy it and then buy it. It’s that simple.”

CivilPolicy

NASA Cutting Policy, Science, and DEI Departments

The space agency will fully close two offices, as well as the branch of a third to comply with a Trump executive order.

Launch

Intuitive Machines Touches Down—But Its Position Is Unclear

“We think that we’ve been very successful to this point, however I do have to tell you that we don’t believe we’re in the correct attitude on the surface of the Moon yet again,” CEO Steve Altemus said at a press conference on Thursday. 

Military

Satellite Adds Military Track to Expand Scope of Show

The GovMilSpace track will include panels with industry representatives on a number of national security topics, including improving resilience in orbit, driving competition in military launch capabilities, and addressing threats in space.

Polaris

Dems Sound the Alarm on FAA’s Dealings With Starlink

Democratic lawmakers are sounding the alarm about SpaceX’s Starlink potentially winning a multi-billion FAA contract—a move that “would stink of corruption” because of Elon Musk’s position in the Trump administration, according to one member.

Policy

Office of Space Commerce ACES Committee Cut By Trump Order

“This morning, we received from the Department of Commerce a ‘stop work’ order on ACES,” according to a memo reviewed by Payload.

LunarPolicy

NASA Must Speed Up Decision Making to Beat China to the Moon, Experts Say

“There is not a global competition yet for Mars, so we need to take the right thing at the right time,” Dumbacher said. “The Moon first, then Mars.”

EOEuropeMilitaryPolaris

Nations Lock Down EO Capabilities As Ukraine War Continues

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago this week catapulted EO tech into the spotlight, providing a bird’s eye view of everything from Russia’s build up of military equipment along the border to the theft of Ukrainian grain.  Seeing the benefits of EO before and during the conflict, industry officials said other countries have been…

CivilPolicy

Space Advocates Seek To Protect NASA Workforce

“These public servants—many of whom are just starting their careers—represent the future of NASA.”

Polaris

Rep. Brian Babin on SLS, Artemis, and Committee To-Dos

“There’s no other way we’re going to get back to the surface of the Moon before the Chinese without the SLS. It’s not going to happen,” he said.