Space Force 2040: 30,000 satellites, ‘thousands’ more Guardians

By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 15 April 2026 The Space Force's projections of its needs for orbital warfare and electronic warfare are only included in the classified version of the new Objective Force plan, but Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman confirmed that the service wants new

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(Image credit: U.S. Space Force)

Space Force’s 2040 vision: a larger force to contend with larger Chinese, Russian threats

By Thomas Novelly, Published by Defense One, 15 April 2026 Officials speculate there could be 30,000 US satellites—more than twice as many as today. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The next 15 years will likely see potential adversaries crank up their space and counter-space capabilities, so the Space Force needs more

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NASA is building the first nuclear reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft. How will it work?

SR-1 Freedom Mars flyby: NASA By Robin George Andrews, Published by MIT Technology Review, 14 April 2026 Just before Artemis II began its historic slingshot around the moon, Jared Isaacman, the recently confirmed NASA administrator, made a flurry of announcements from the agency’s headquarters in Washington, DC. He said the

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Inside the European Sky Shield Initiative: Europe’s New Air Defense Architecture

Image: Hensoldt By Bea Castañeda, Published by The Defense Post, April 11, 2026 Europe’s national air forces grappled with a stark reality: no single country could efficiently defend its airspace alone against ballistic missiles, drones, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft. Enter the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) — an ambitious,

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Space security moves to forefront as threats to satellites spreadSpace Sovereignty Is No Longer Optional

Proposed Aurora spaceplane. Photo: POLARIS Raumflugzeuge By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 8 April 2026 Secure World Foundation report highlights global reliance on orbiting systems and spread of interference technologies WASHINGTON — Space security is shifting from a niche arms-control concern to a central policy issue as reliance on

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The US has declared ‘space superiority’ over Iran. What does that mean?

An Iranian satellite launched by Russia lifts off from Baikonur in Kazakhstan in August 2022. Photograph: Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty By Thomas Novelly, Published by Defense One, 2 April 2026 Iran’s nascent space program was destroyed. It's still using other nations' space intel. The U.S. military declared space superiority over Iran this

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