Ars Technica — “Sooner or later, we’re gonna see bad things happening here,” said Aerospace’s John Langer. The U.S. Space Force’s SpaceWerx organization, the FAA, and the Defense Innovation Unit are running challenges to support alternative technologies.

Aviation Week — United Launch Alliance (ULA) President and CEO Tory Bruno is joining Blue Origin as its new president of national security. Bruno will report to Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp in the new role.

Air and Space Forces Magazine — The Space Force’s work to establish a pool of at-the-ready commercial satellite capacity during a crisis is moving out of the pilot phase as the service prepares to award its next batch of contracts in 2026. Participating companies get access to threat intelligence and will be included in training events and wargames.

Air and Space Forces Magazine — A White House executive order, “Ensuring American Space Superiority,” calls for a 2028 deadline for NASA astronauts to return to the Moon; calls for U.S. space agencies to embrace technologies like nuclear propulsion; and pledges to attract at least $50 billion in additional investment to U.S. space markets over the next two years.

The Dec. 22 episode of T-Minus podcast discussed DiskSat, the U.S. Space Force awarding Rocket Lab an $816 million prime contract, and the Space Development Agency making multiple awards to build 72 Tracking Layer satellites for Tranche 3.

Aviation Week — Rocket Lab is making its missile defense development debut, as the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded the company one of four contracts for the next phase of its Tracking Layer, for satellites due to launch in 2029.

The Gazette — With the newly passed and signed National Defense Authorization Act, Congress increased the number of guardians the U.S. Space Force can employ from 9,800 in 2025 to 10,400. The service also got an additional $1.1 billion for research and development, boosting that piece of its budget up to about $16 billion.

DefenseNews — The U.S. Space Force is looking for advanced technologies for space-based interceptors that can intercept ballistic missiles during their boost phase inside the atmosphere, based on a recent Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation. The problem with existing antimissile interceptors is that they are too big and expensive, according to the SBIR.

Air and Space Forces Magazine — The U.S. Space Force wants to emphasize small, low-cost systems and commercial capabilities in the next generation of Silent Barker surveillance satellites, drawing lessons from its work to replace the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness program.

Space.com — Rocket Lab initially planned to launch the “Don’t Be Such a Square” mission in April 2026 but expedited it at the Space Force’s request, the company said. “With its ability to fly continuously with one face pointing at the Earth, the DiskSat can also have a very low drag, making them capable of very-low-altitude missions (less than 300 kilometers) such as those necessary for some Earth-observation missions,” said NASA.