Hector Bayron’s Post

Sierra Space’s mission is to build a commercial business and technology platform in space to benefit all of humanity - to solve our toughest challenges here on Earth. We believe commercial business platforms in space will be the catalyst for the next and most profound industrial revolution. However, to transform Low Earth Orbit into the vibrant economic environment we envision, our company is applying our innovative technologies to ensure space is protected and remains free. Today we are witnessing a significant increase in hostile aggressions around the world. These aggressors are accelerating the introduction of even more capable military systems into operations, especially systems that are aimed at holding space freedom at risk. Sierra Space is committed to innovating at speed to bring affordable national security solutions online to address these risks. We are applying our commercial practices, disruptive technologies, industry leading expertise in advanced autonomy and artificial intelligence, and multi-domain battle management, command and control, and fire control systems, to ensure our Nation and our Allies have the overmatch capabilities they need, when they need it. The defense industrial base, led by next generation defense-tech companies like Sierra Space, are ready to build the future of a strong U.S. Defense readiness, and one we can afford. Press Release: https://bit.ly/3TxqBXc

The rigor needed to get from good idea to actually mitigating threats with warfighter capability is crucial to space power— there is not an easy fix and the equation includes acquisition/ requirements generation/ science and technology and a long term strategy— hard choices impacting greater power competition — Forward..

If you haven't listened to this week's episode of Real Space Strategy, here's a quote to encourage you to do so.... “… people need to keep in perspective how dependent we have become on space … those 10,200 satellites on-orbit of every nation’s registry are up there doing 24/7 365 day operations and it becomes awfully easy for our sister services to look at the Space Force as a service provider … there is not going to be any support to the warfighter if we get into a war because our satellites are absolutely undefended … the enemy has more weapons than we have satellites that they need to defend. Space Force only operates an average of 70 satellites. The Chinese have 400 satellites. We are a second-rate Space Force; we took our eyes off the ball … right now the Space Force is getting about 3.5% of the entire DoD budget and we have to catch up. We are so far behind the curve plus we have over- bureaucratized our management of space … we have to provide space superiority in challenged and contested space, or we won’t be able to provide services to anyone anywhere … we don’t have the types of weapons to hold at risk enemies who would challenge us in space. Therefore, we have no deterrent capability, no deterrent credibility. We are sitting ducks.” Dr. M.V. "Coyote Smith, Professor of Strategic Space Studies, Air Command and Staff College – Real Space Strategy Podcast 24 Jun 2024 https://lnkd.in/d7zyf8Ai

🚀 Excited to share my latest Via Satellite article on the evolving landscape of space defence! 🛰 From cutting-edge technologies to strategic defence initiatives, the article provides a guide to what's next in space defence. Let me know in the comments what you think and if I missed anything pivotal. For insights and a deeper conversation on the subject, or to learn about Access Partnership's capabilities here, feel free to reach out to me directly! #SpaceDefence #space #defence #Innovation #PolicyTrends #SatelliteTechnology

As U.S. launch rates surge at the Defense Department’s two coastal ranges, House lawmakers are pushing the military to consider alternative sites for sending space payloads to orbit. In the House Armed Services Committee’s draft fiscal 2025 defense policy bill, lawmakers raised concerns about the ability of DOD’s most in-demand spaceports at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to meet military and commercial capacity needs in the coming years. “Given the emerging needs of department and commercial launch operators, the [National Security Space Launch] program must meet requirements that enable payload processing and launch beyond the current NSSL-capable locations on the Western and Eastern ranges,” the committee said. The U.S. launched 103 missions in 2023 — up from 76 the previous year. According to a May 8 report from the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington, DC think tank, two thirds of all U.S. launches last year lifted off from Cape Canaveral. “The sharp increase in launches from this location has raised questions about how many launches the location can support without undue impact on the support services provided by the US Space Force and the busy air corridor that passes through this region,” the report said. That growing demand has driven the Space Force to explore options to increase the number of launches its existing ranges can support and invest in the infrastructure at those bases through an initiative called Spaceport of the Future. #SpaceForce #LaunchRates #Spaceports

For an insight into the complex interplay between government needs and private sector innovation when it comes to #satellite and defense, see Lea Pavlovic's article in Via Satellite 🛰👇 https://lnkd.in/eadXC9bb

Australia's approach to space for defense is shifting after canceling a GEO milsatcom program. Experts discussed Australia's space defense strategy last week at the Indo-Pacific Space and Earth Conference in Perth. https://lnkd.in/eTk_Hihq

"Currently, the National Reconnaissance Office #NRO is in charge of buying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance imagery from commercial space providers, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency #NGA in charge of purchasing analytic products. But in the five years since the Space Force was created, the young service has increasingly pushed for funds and leeway to work directly with commercial firms, arguing that it can more quickly get important information to combatant commands." This entire, somewhat overstated, debate is heavily burdened by outdated Clauswitzian concepts like levels of war, a mass delusion that the DoD is primarily a warfighting organization, and a complete disregard for the fact that the "#IntelligenceCommunity" is overwhelmingly comprised of DoD organizations. Here's the thing, the defense industrial base now includes much of the commercial tech industry and nearly all of the space industry. Our national security depends on the wide-open use of these commercial assets and the strength and resilience of industrial base is dependent on low barriers of entry.

U.S. Space Force renews call for ‘reserve’ of commercial satellite providers Gen. Michael Guetlein said the military for centuries has relied on private sector contractors during wars, and the same should apply to operations in space - Guetlein was an early proponent of what the Space Force calls the “Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve,” or CASR.  - He said efforts to implement CASR are moving forward, fueled by the realization that when the U.S. military goes to war, the commercial satellites it uses for communications, surveillance or other purposes are considered legitimate military targets.  - “Russia has said anybody in space is going to be a target,” said Guetlein. “So I can no longer say that’s a commercial asset. Don’t touch it. That’s an international asset. Don’t touch it. That’s a DoD asset. Don’t touch it. We’re all going to be operating in the same domain fighting for the same real estate, subject to the same threats.” - And if that’s going to be a new reality, he added,”then we’d better learn how to partner.” - https://lnkd.in/ehAynVth

🛰️ US Space Force Seeks $1 Billion In Additional Funding For Key Projects... the U.S. Space Force has requested over $1 billion from Congress, highlighting the strategic importance of further investment in space defense and resilience. Key Highlights: 🔹A significant portion, $846 million, is earmarked for classified projects, underscoring the critical nature of these initiatives. 🔹$305 million is allocated towards boosting the resilience of Space Force systems and enhancing training facilities, ensuring the U.S. maintains its edge in space. 🔹Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall stresses the importance of improving positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities, alongside communication enhancements, to counter potential threats. 🔹The request includes investments in commercial satellite communications, the Space Development Agency's satellite fleet, and energy efficiency projects at Buckley Space Force Base. This appeal reflects the Space Force's commitment to adapting and advancing in the face of evolving space threats, ensuring the U.S. remains a leader in space security and technology. https://lnkd.in/e-NYekJ5 #SpaceForce #NationalSecurity #SpaceExploration #DefenseInnovation