Courtney Albon
Courtney Albon is the Space Editor at Air & Space Forces Magazine. She has been covering the U.S. military since 2012, with a focus on the Air Force and Space Force. During that time, she has reported on some of the Defense Department’s most significant acquisition, budget and policy challenges, including the F-35 fighter jet, hypersonic capability development and the creation of the Space Force.
Recent stories by Courtney Albon
ULA’s Interim Leader Focused on Increasing Launch Rate in 2026
United Launch Alliance executives say the firm is “well positioned for the future” despite falling short of its projected launch cadence in 2025 and seeing longtime CEO Tory Bruno depart in early January for competitor Blue Origin.
GAO: Pentagon and Services Need to Get on Same Page When It Comes to Tech Priorities
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer to have budget certification authority over the military services’ research and development accounts—a move the services say would add a burdensome and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
Pentagon’s Commercial Tech Hub on the Hunt for Missile Tracking Sensors, Satellite Disposal
The Defense Innovation Unit, the Pentagon’s commercial technology hub, plans to demonstrate low-cost, commercially derived missile defense sensors on orbit within the next two years, according to a new notice to industry.
With New START Set to Expire, Experts Foresee a ‘New Era’ of Nuclear Policy
Days before the New START Treaty is set to expire, experts, lawmakers, and former defense officials have varied perspectives on how President Donald Trump’s administration should proceed as it considers future arms control agreements with nuclear weapon states.
Congress Passes $839 Billion Budget for Defense
Congress officially passed the fiscal 2026 defense spending bill Feb. 3 after a House of Representatives vote, approving $839 billion in Pentagon funding and sending the package to President Donald Trump for his signature.
NRO Pulls Back the Veil On Cold War-Era Intelligence Satellite Program
The Pentagon agency charged with building and operating U.S. spy satellites recently declassified some details about a Cold War-era surveillance program called Jumpseat—a revelation it says sheds light on the importance of satellite imaging technology and how it has advanced in the decades since.
Partial Government Shutdown Hits Pentagon
The Pentagon and several other federal agencies suffered a lapse in appropriations Jan. 31, as a full-year fiscal 2026 spending package awaits passage in the House after a last-minute approval in the Senate. The odds are high, however, that the partial government shutdown is quickly ...
Space Force Activates NORTHCOM Component Amid Homeland Defense Shift
The Space Force activated its U.S. Northern Command component Jan. 30, which will provide the combatant command greater access to space capabilities and expertise amid the Pentagon’s increasing focus on homeland defense.
Space Command Puts 2-Star in Charge of New Office to Oversee HQ Move
U.S. Space Command has established a program management office, headed by a two-star Army general, to lead the transition of its headquarters from Colorado to Alabama.
Defense Primes ‘Committed to the Dividend’ but Pledge More Production
Following the Trump administration’s call for defense companies to prioritize investments in production capacity and technology development over shareholder payouts, some of the Pentagon’s largest prime contractors say they’re attempting to strike a balance between the government’s needs and investor demands.
Space Force Launches Ninth GPS III Satellite amid Push for Resilient PNT
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a GPS III spacecraft on Jan. 27, the ninth of 10 planned GPS III spacecraft to reach orbit. The GPS III satellites bring increased accuracy and anti-jam capabilities to the GPS constellation, which now numbers 32satellites.
Boeing Takes First KC-46 Charge Since 2024
Boeing announced a new $565 million charge on its contract for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker, its first loss on the program since 2024. In a Jan. 27 earnings call, company leaders said the charge is due to cost growth on the 767 airliner, which is ...
Space Force’s Newest Reconnaissance Satellites Could Come Online by 2030
The Space Force plans to award initial contracts as soon as next month for a fleet of small, maneuverable satellites designed to monitor activity in geosynchronous orbit that could be online as soon as 2030, service officials said Jan. 23.
Golden Dome Czar Charts Two-Year Plan Focused on Command and Control, Interceptors
The Pentagon’s Golden Dome Director said Jan. 23 his top priorities for the advanced homeland missile defense shield over the next two years are establishing a baseline command-and-control capability and integrating interceptors into that system.
Vice Chief: Space Force Should Be Thinking About Cislunar ‘a Lot Right Now’
The Space Force’s small size has limited its capacity to consider what role it will play in future operations on and around the moon. That needs to change, according to Vice Chief of Operations Gen. Shawn Bratton.
