The Space Force Wake-Up Call: Security Breaches, Cost Battles, and the Next Space Race

Space Technology and Policy

Good morning,

This week’s space news highlights a growing tension between innovation, security, and cost control across the defense and commercial space sectors.

On the security front, White Hat hackers have exposed vulnerabilities in Iridium’s satellite network, underscoring the persistent cybersecurity risks in space-based communications. This comes at a time when the U.S. military is increasingly reliant on commercial providers for satellite connectivity—particularly for unsecured communications. Meanwhile, super-precise satellite synchronization reaching picosecond accuracy, with broad applications for improving navigation and GPS. Of course, at the same time, it’s important that we build resilient, terrestrial capabilities for redundancy (e.g., eLORAN).

In acquisition, the Space Force is sending clear signals to industry that cost overruns won’t be tolerated. The warning that some "pricey" programs may shift to fixed-price contracts suggests growing frustration with escalating bu…