Sirotin Intelligence Briefing: APR 7 – APR 11, 2025: “Golden Dome” Gains Momentum, NASA Funding Under Siege, and On-Orbit Refueling Accelerates

In this week’s Sirotin Intelligence Briefing, we tackle the unprecedented $1 trillion defense budget on the horizon, new details on the “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative, and how the Space Force is rapidly expanding on-orbit refueling and commercial procurement plans. We also explore the global context—from looming cuts to NASA science programs in the U.S. to China’s accelerating satellite launches and Europe’s potential space-industry consolidations.

Be sure to catch our special guest segments:

• Ambassador Henry Cooper, former Director of President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, who will discuss the revival of space-based missile defense and lessons from the SDI era.
• Andrew Parlock, CEO of Space Phoenix Systems, unpacking his quest to build the logistics infrastructure that could power a future $1.6 trillion LEO economy.

Whether you’re following defense acquisitions, international partnerships, or commercial space breakthroughs, this edition provides the insights you need to navigate rapidly shifting horizons in low Earth orbit and beyond.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense Gains Momentum: The U.S. Space Command has finalized options for President Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense system and sent recommendations to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. If successful, this would mark the first time the U.S. would place weapons in space designed to destroy ground-based missiles within seconds of launch. The program was previously known as Iron Dome but was renamed by the Pentagon in February to Golden Dome.
• Space Force Chief Confirms ‘Golden Dome’ as a Multi-System Architecture: Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, clarified that the Golden Dome missile defense initiative is not a single system but a "system of systems" that will involve multiple contract vehicles. The Pentagon is still in early planning stages, looking at what resources might be available and which existing programs could contribute to it.
• Space Force Receives Its First Meadowlands Satellite Jammer: The Space Force has accepted delivery of the first mobile Meadowlands satellite jammer from L3Harris, about six months earlier than planned. Meadowlands is a major upgrade to the Space Force's Counter Communication System (CCS), which has been operational since 2004. The new system provides multi-frequency jamming in S-band and X-band and offers increased mobility.
• On-Orbit Refueling Efforts Accelerate: The Space Force is moving forward with three projects to prove the technical feasibility of on-orbit satellite refueling. The service has contracted with Northrop Grumman for two separate experiments and with Astroscale US for the first on-orbit refueling operation involving a military satellite. These efforts aim to extend the operational life of satellites and enhance their maneuverability.
• Commercial Reserve Fleet Program Expansion: The Space Force plans to launch three additional Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) pilot programs in 2025, focusing on satellite communications, small launch providers, and tactical surveillance, reconnaissance, and tracking. CASR allows the service to contract space-based services from commercial vendors during peacetime, which could then be used to augment military operations during crises.
• Millennium Space Systems Boosts Production Capacity: Boeing subsidiary Millennium Space Systems is nearly doubling its satellite manufacturing capacity to meet defense contract demands. The company aims to increase production from one or two satellites monthly to between six and twelve, expanding its production space from 22,000 to nearly 42,000 square feet.
• Warnings About Procurement Delays in Space: Retired Gen. John Hyten and other defense leaders warn that bureaucratic obstacles and slow procurement processes are preventing the Pentagon from keeping pace with China's expanding space capabilities. Despite rhetoric about accelerating development, U.S. military space capabilities remain largely unchanged over the past decade while China has dramatically expanded its satellite deployments.
• Trump Administration Signals $1 Trillion Defense Budget: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that a $1 trillion defense budget is forthcoming, a significant increase from the current $892 billion. President Trump mentioned this figure during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House, stating "We're going to be approving a budget, and I'm proud to say, actually, the biggest one we've ever done for the military."
• Greenland Base Distances Itself from VP Vance’s Remarks: Col. Susan Meyers, commander of the 821st Space Base Group at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, sent an email to base personnel distancing the installation from Vice President JD Vance's criticism of Denmark's oversight of Greenland. Meyers wrote that "concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base."
• Fisica Broadens Defense Portfolio with Space Vector Acquisition: Defense products manufacturer Fisica has acquired Space Vector for an undisclosed sum to broaden its capabilities in the defense and space domains. Space Vector designs and manufactures rechargeable batteries, flight termination systems, and mission-critical radio frequency systems for the aerospace and defense industries.
• U.S. Space Command Leader Calls for Space-Based Weaponry: Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of U.S. Space Command, has explicitly called for weapons to be deployed in space, stating "We need space fires and we need weapon systems. We need orbital interceptors." This marks the most explicit call yet for offensive space capabilities from a senior U.S. military leader.
• V2X Provides Key Support for Missile Defense and Space Monitoring: V2X Inc. has been awarded a $62 million contract to maintain the operational readiness of the COBRA DANE radar system in Alaska. The company will provide operational readiness, capability enhancements, and engineering support for this critical Space Force radar that can detect and track objects up to 2,000 miles away in support of U.S. ballistic missile defense while also providing space domain awareness by identifying satellites and debris in Earth's orbit.

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• Budget Proposal Endangers NASA Science Missions: The Trump administration’s draft 2026 budget proposes a 20% cut to NASA’s overall funding—and nearly a 50% slash to its Science Mission Directorate. The proposal, sent to NASA by the OMB on April 10, 2025, threatens to cancel major missions and derail key scientific research.
• NATO’s Defense Buildup Could Supercharge Space Industry: At the 40th Space Symposium, NATO leaders signaled that increased defense spending—potentially up to 3.5% of GDP—could funnel billions into space capabilities. With slow timelines for traditional defense assets, officials say commercial space is best positioned to quickly absorb and deploy this investment. Amid rising threats, including cyberattacks like those seen in Ukraine, NATO is aligning member space programs and emphasizing military-commercial space solidarity in future conflicts.
• President’s Order Backs Space Force’s Commercial Technology Approach: A Space Force official stated that President Trump's recent executive order instructing the Pentagon to prioritize commercial technologies validates the service's ongoing efforts to integrate private-sector space technologies. Col. Richard Kniseley described the directive as "an exclamation point" on initiatives already underway.
• Texas Senators Seek Shuttle Discovery for Houston: U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have filed the "Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act," which would authorize the transfer of Space Shuttle Discovery from Virginia's Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to Space Center Houston near NASA's Johnson Space Center.
• Space Force Prepares Global Strategy Amid Tense Ally Relations: The U.S. Space Force plans to unveil an "International Space Strategy" in the coming weeks, aiming to build a multi-national space coalition. This comes amid strained relations between the U.S. and its allies due to President Trump's NATO policies and approach to Russia.
• EU Official Urges Mergers for Europe’s Space Sector: European Union Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has expressed support for European space companies merging to create stronger players in the global market, implicitly backing ongoing merger talks between Airbus Defense and Space and Thales Alenia Space.
• Expert Calls for Deeper U.S.-Japan Space Cooperation: CSIS Senior Associate Sean Wilson offers recommendations to strengthen the U.S.-Japan space alliance, focusing on space security architectures, exploration, and investment. The article highlights the alliance's importance following the February 2025 meeting between President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, noting their commitment to continue cooperation in civil space programs and human exploration missions. Csis
• Europe Falling Behind SpaceX, Commissioner Warns: European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius stated that the EU is in a "deep crisis" over its space launch capabilities and has fallen behind Elon Musk's SpaceX. Speaking at a forum in Brussels, Kubilius acknowledged that while Europe excels in certain space programs like Galileo and Copernicus, it is significantly lagging in launch technology.
• Report: Russia, China Develop Tools to Target Starlink: A 316-page report published April 3 by the nonpartisan Secure World Foundation reveals that Russia and China are developing counterspace capabilities targeting SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation after it demonstrated military utility in Ukraine. The report notes that despite these efforts, "As of February 2025, the Starlink service appears to have been remarkably resistant to further cyber attacks."
• Russian Envoy Praises Ongoing US-Russia Space Efforts: President Vladimir Putin's investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed continued US-Russia space cooperation after a Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft carrying NASA astronaut Jonathan Kim and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Ryzhikov and Alexei Zubritsky launched to the International Space Station on April 8, 2025. Dmitriev, who held talks in Washington the previous week, called this launch "the latest example of an enduring relationship" in space that dates back to 1975, despite ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine.
• “Traitor in Orbit”: Ukrainian Defector Joins Russian Space Crew: Aleksey Zubritsky, a former Ukrainian military pilot turned Russian cosmonaut, arrived at the ISS on April 9, 2025, aboard Soyuz MS-27. Convicted of treason by a Ukrainian court just weeks earlier, he faces 15 years in prison if captured. Born in now-contested Zaporozhye and a Crimea-based pilot during the 2014 coup, Zubritsky sided with Russia and joined its space program in 2017. While Ukrainian media brands him a “traitor-cosmonaut,” Russian outlets note he’s officially a draft dodger—but out of reach “because he is in space.”
• Türkiye’s Space Ambitions: Progress and Challenges: Türkiye is rapidly advancing its space program—launching Türksat 5A, sending its first astronaut to the ISS on Axiom Mission 3, and boosting its space budget by 30%. It’s building infrastructure like the Gökmen Training Center, but still faces hurdles: a weak private sector, limited global partnerships, and talent gaps. Experts recommend a hybrid strategy—combine international cooperation with private sector development—to strengthen Türkiye’s position ahead of hosting the 2026 International Astronautical Congress.

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• Space Force, NRO Nearing Shared Commercial Satellite Deal: After two years of talks, the U.S. Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office are nearing a formal agreement to jointly fund and access commercial satellite imagery. The streamlined deal will enable both agencies to share contracts and data through a simplified payment system—bypassing a lengthy MOA. A similar pact is now being explored with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. While the deal clarifies short-term collaboration, broader questions remain over who controls long-term space-based ISR between the military and intelligence community.
• Hawai‘i Guardsman Earns First-Ever Space Force Association Award: Capt. My-Randa Quinata of the Hawai‘i Air National Guard has become the first HIANG Airman to receive the Space Force Association Award, recognizing her groundbreaking leadership in space intelligence operations. From building the 109th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron’s first tailored Space EW training program to mentoring future leaders, Quinata has played a pivotal role in advancing mission readiness and setting a new standard for excellence in the Guard’s space mission support.
• Executive Order Underscores Space Force’s Commercial Shift: A Space Force official stated that President Trump's recent executive order on modernizing defense acquisitions validates the service's ongoing efforts to integrate commercial space technologies. Col. Richard Kniseley, head of the Commercial Space Office, described the directive as "an exclamation point" on initiatives already underway to transform how the Pentagon procures space-based capabilities.
• SPACECOM Uses Experimentation to Deliver Critical Capabilities Faster: U.S. Space Command is leveraging experimentation to rapidly field capabilities addressing high-priority missions including missile threat tracking, command and control, and domain awareness. Gen. Stephen Whiting revealed that the command recently produced its first-ever strategies for experimentation and AI, completing an experimentation strategy in December 2024 and signing an AI strategy in March 2025.
• Space Force: ‘Business as Usual’ with European Allies': Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman stated that military-to-military relationships with European counterparts remain unchanged despite broader geopolitical tensions. The Space Force is preparing to release an international partnership strategy in the coming weeks aimed at building a multi-national space coalition.
• New ‘Orbital Watch’ Program Shares Threat Insights with Industry: The Space Force has launched a new program called Orbital Watch to share unclassified threat information with commercial space companies. The initiative began in March 2025 when the Space Systems Command's Front Door office released a threat fact sheet to over 900 commercial providers, aiming to help companies build more resilient systems against evolving threats like cyber intrusions, electronic warfare, and adversarial on-orbit activities.
• GITAI Creates U.S. Defense Division to Seek Prime Contracts: Space robotics company GITAI has established a defense-focused subsidiary at its Torrance, California headquarters to pursue prime contractor roles with the U.S. government. The company already designs and builds robotic arms, satellites, and rovers entirely within the United States, but created the new entity to address requirements for prime contractors to be majority-owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• Fisica Buys Space Vector for Deeper Defense & Aerospace Capabilities: Defense products manufacturer Fisica has acquired Space Vector Corporation for an undisclosed sum to expand its capabilities in the defense and space domains. Space Vector, founded in 1969 and based in Chatsworth, California, designs and manufactures rechargeable batteries, flight termination systems, and mission-critical radio frequency systems for the aerospace and defense industries.
• L3Harris Ready for Full-Scale Missile Tracking Sensor Production: L3Harris is ready to begin high-volume production of its Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS), which has been on orbit since February 2024. Speaking at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Ed Zoiss, president of space and airborne systems at L3Harris, proposed increased HBTSS production as part of the company's recommendation for the Pentagon's "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative.
• SES Space & Defense Appoints Retired Maj. Gen. Teague to Board: SES Space & Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, has appointed Maj. Gen. Roger W. Teague, USAF (Ret), to its Board of Directors. Teague served over three decades in the U.S. Air Force, where he led advanced satellite programs like MILSTAR and Space Based Infrared Systems, and has held executive roles at several aerospace companies including Terran Orbital Corp., PredaSAR Corp., and Boeing since his retirement in 2017.
• Space Force Reviews Acquisition Plans for Potential Commercial Transition: The Space Force is reviewing its portfolio of major acquisition programs to determine which could be fulfilled using commercially available technologies rather than traditional defense procurement approaches. This review comes as the service faces potential budget restrictions, with Lt. Gen. Phillip Garrant, commander of Space Systems Command, stating that "everything's on the table" for potential commercialization.
• New Senior Adviser to Integrate Military Space Systems: The Department of the Air Force's acting space acquisition chief has added a new senior adviser tasked with integrating and making interoperable the military space enterprise. This role, mandated in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, will advise on space command and control, enterprise system-of-systems integration, and space domain awareness.
• China Adds TJS-17 to Its Classified Satellite Fleet: China launched a Long March 3B rocket carrying the TJS-17 satellite toward geostationary orbit on April 10, 2025. This appears to be the third satellite for a subset of China's classified experimental satellite program, with Western analysts suggesting the TJS series may support military missions including signals intelligence, early warning, and satellite inspection activities for the People's Liberation Army.

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

Intelligence Contributor, Senior Editor at Sirotin Intelligence

This eventful Space Symposium week started with POTUS announcing the first TRILLION dollar DoD budget. The DoD released its "Workforce Acceleration & Recapitalization Initiative Organizational Review" with seven lines of effort: Mission-First Alignment, Consolidated Functions, Flattened Hierarchies, Speed Over Process, Fiscal Discipline, No Vestiges of the Past, Digital-First Operations.

General Stephen Whiting, Commander, U.S. Space Command, went on a communication blitz about being “dominant at war fighting and war winning” while emphasising urgent modernisations with artificial intelligence and operational experimentation. 

Todd Harrison, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, expressed his views in the media   and on LinkedIn that the US "need to have a serious conversation about how to reform the Space Force personnel system." 

General Chance Saltzman said he will soon release an “International Partnership Strategy” to enhance collaboration with allies such as embedding allied personnel and expanding joint exercises and personnel exchanges from NATO to Japan.

Maj. General Philippe Adam, space commander, Air and Space Force, French Space Command, echoed General Saltzman partnership intentions: "We are not fighting space for space. We are fighting in space for the world. But also we have to be concerned that we provide the best support we can from space.” POTUS signed the Executive Order "Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base" directing SecDef to submit a plan to reform the DoD acquisition process by: (1) using existing authorities to expedite acquisitions, such as a first preference for commercial solutions; (2) cutting unnecessary tasks, reducing duplicative approvals, and centralizing decision making; and (3) managing risk while encouraging innovation. 

Yet, according to the Seraphim Space Index data for Q1 2025 and as reported by Reuters, “federal budget cuts have started to have some early impact on space startups after funding for such companies dropped 12.5% in the first quarter. Within certain government departments, uncertainty is causing delays as they assess which contracts to move forward with.”

And while Jared Isaacman pledged scientific continuity during his Senate Nomination Hearing for NASA Administrator, a White House proposal to slash NASA science budget and cancel major missions has generated widespread concern.  

Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guests

Special Edition: Tuesday, April 15th – Ambassador Henry Cooper on Reviving America’s Space-Based Missile Defense

In a rare and timely interview, we sit down with Ambassador Henry F. Cooper, the last Director of President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), to discuss why the United States abandoned its most promising missile defense system—and why it’s time to bring it back.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• Why Reagan’s “Brilliant Pebbles” concept was dismantled for political—not technical—reasons
• How today’s commercial space advances make a space-based shield cheaper and faster to deploy than ever before
• The threat of hypersonic missiles, nuclear cruise missiles, and EMPs—and how space interceptors can stop them
• What President Trump’s “Golden Dome” initiative must learn from the SDI era to avoid failure
• Why bypassing bureaucracies and empowering small, agile teams is the only way to build effective defenses
• Cooper’s firsthand stories of negotiating with Gorbachev, briefing Reagan, and launching the Clementine mission

Don’t miss this powerful conversation with the man who led America’s last serious effort to build a real nuclear shield—and believes we now have one final chance to get it right.

Friday, April 18th: Andrew Parlock on Building the Invisible Backbone of the Space Economy

Andrew Parlock, Founder & CEO of Space Phoenix Systems, joins us to unpack his mission to create the logistics infrastructure powering the $1.6 trillion Low Earth Orbit economy. From reusable spacecraft to circular economy models, Parlock is building the "railroads" of the space gold rush—and redefining how we move, retrieve, and monetize materials in orbit.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• Why infrastructure—not payloads—will define the next space industrial revolution
• Space Phoenix’s “49er Strategy” and its unsexy but vital role in LEO logistics
• The importance of building circular economy platforms that retrieve everything launched
• How Space Phoenix is scaling from small to large payload platforms (Hermes → Athena → Zeus)
• His critique of vertical integration and the need for business model innovation over tech hype
• Why space piracy, not kinetic attacks, may be the next major security threat in orbit

Parlock’s background spans Northrop Grumman, Space Forge, and ICEYE. With deep roots in both aerospace engineering and business strategy, he’s quietly building what may become the FedEx of the space economy.

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

Missed a beat? These groundbreaking conversations are must-reads:

"Every Country Has a Border with Space"

Dr. Paul Bate discusses the UK's growing £18.9 billion space industry and their geographical advantage for rocket launches from the Shetland Islands.

"The Future of Space Is Reusable, Fast, And Built To Last"

Christopher Janette shares his journey from Air Force mechanic to Blackstar Orbital founder, focusing on revolutionary satellite technology.

"The Baltic and Taiwan Cable Cuts Were No Accident"

Guy Thomas, S-AIS inventor, explains how we're detecting covert maritime operations and discusses vulnerabilities in our subsea infrastructure.

"The Next Great Power War Won't Last Four Years—It Will Last Four Weeks"

Bill Bruner of New Frontier Aerospace warns about America's hypersonic technology gap and his company's efforts to address it.

"We're Treating Satellites Like They're Still In The 1990s" 

Niha Agarwalla, Director of Commercial Space, explains why traditional satellites are obsolete and how resilient constellations will transform space economics.

"When People See Space Guardians in Uniform, They Ask If They're Real" 

Colonel Bill Woolf, 25-year space defense veteran, reveals his mission to build public support for the newest military branch defending America's orbital assets.

"One Kilogram of Helium-3 Is Worth $50 Million" 

Jeffrey Max, Magna Petra CEO, explains how lunar resource extraction could revolutionize Earth's energy production and fuel humanity's expansion across the solar system.

"I'm Building a Rocket Engine That Could Reach Alpha Centauri" 

Michael Paluszek, Princeton Satellite Systems President, reveals how fusion propulsion could reduce travel times throughout our solar system and enable humanity's first interstellar missions.

"Space Has a Scottish Accent"

Chris Newlands, CEO of Space Aye, discusses how his company's satellite technology is revolutionizing wildlife conservation and helping to combat illegal fishing and poaching.

"I Learned From the Last Generation of Manhattan Project Veterans”

Patrick McClure, former Kilopower Project Lead at Los Alamos National Laboratory, explains how small nuclear reactors could power future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

"We're Being Attacked Every Day" 

Christopher Stone, Former Pentagon Space Advisor, warns about America's vulnerabilities in orbit and explains why China's "attack to deter" doctrine makes space conflict more likely than many realize.

"I Helped SpaceX Secure Their First Commercial Contracts" 

Serial entrepreneur Robert Feierbach discusses building billion-dollar space ventures across four continents and developing North America's newest spaceport.

"We Can Fly 8,000 Miles In 2 Hours" 

Jess Sponable, Ex-DARPA PM & President of NFA, explains how rocket-powered aircraft will revolutionize global travel through simplified hypersonic technology.​​ 

"This Could Be Our Biggest Economy"

Kevin O'Connell, Former Space Commerce Director, reveals how space is transforming from a government domain to a $1.8 trillion market.

​​"How Do You Win a War in Space?" 

Ram Riojas, Ex-Nuclear Commander and Space Defense Expert, explains why the next war will start in space and how nations are preparing their defenses.

"First Day on the Job, Hubble Was Broken" 

Mike Kaplan, James Webb Space Telescope Pioneer, reveals how early setbacks with Hubble shaped NASA's approach to complex space missions. 

The Future of Human Space Habitation 

Jules Ross reveals how her journey from artist to space visionary is reshaping human adaptation to space through Earth's first artificial gravity station.

Space Law's New Frontier 

Attorney Michael J. Listner unpacks the complex legal challenges facing modern space activities. From resource rights to orbital debris management

Making Oceans Transparent From Space

Navy Legend Guy Thomas, inventor of S-AIS, shares how his invention transformed global maritime surveillance and security.

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