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
Boeing, Millennium Roll Out Mid-Sized Satellite amid Space Force Production Push
Boeing and its subsidiary Millennium Space Systems are rolling out a new mid-class satellite bus they say will provide commercial and defense customers flexibility at a time when the Pentagon is pushing for more production and speed.
Space Force Kicks Off Effort to Build Airborne Targeting Satellites by Selecting Vendor Pool
The Space Force has selected an initial pool of vendors that will compete to build sensors and satellites that track airborne targets, as Pentagon officials push to transform the capability from a prototyping effort to an operational one.
Space Force Lays Out Vision For What It Thinks It Needs in 2040
The Space Force on April 15 released two highly anticipated future-casting documents that describe what the service expects the space environment will look like in the year 2040 and lay out the force structure it thinks it will need to operate in that environment.
Space Force Accepts Upgrade to Deep-Space Telescope on Hawaii
The Space Force has accepted an upgrade to its Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance telescope for operations, bringing increased visibility into orbit to its Maui Space Surveillance Complex in Hawaii. The modernized variant, called the Ground-Based Optical Sensor System, has double the field of view ...
Space Force Urges Industry to Invest in Satellite Production Capacity
The Space Force is preparing for significant growth to its procurement budget in fiscal 2027, and the head of the service’s largest acquisition organization said April 14 he is asking companies to invest now in facilities and production capacity so they’re ready to execute when ...
BAE Unveils Highly Maneuverable, Refuelable Satellite, Eyes 2027 Delivery
BAE Systems unveiled a new high-thrust, refuelable satellite designed to support dynamic space operations–a demand company officials say is coming not only from the Space Force, but from commercial and civil customers as well.
STARCOM Aims to Fill 400 Civilian Positions in Hiring Surge
Space Training and Readiness Command announced plans to hire 400 civilians in the coming months at its hubs around the country.
How Vandenberg’s Range Is Scaling to Meet Launch Demand
In the last five years, the annual launch rate at the Space Force’s West Coast range has surged from a handful of missions to 66 in 2025. Now, Vandenberg Space Force Base in California expects to support 150 launches in the next five years and ...
Space Force Picks 14 Firms to Compete to Build Reconnaissance Satellites
The Space Force chose an initial pool of 14 contractors to compete to build a constellation of maneuverable satellites designed to observe and track activity in geosynchronous orbit.
Space Force Awards GPS Ground Contract amid OCX Uncertainty
The Space Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $105 million contract to continue supporting its interim GPS ground system as the Pentagon considers the future of a broader, long-delayed modernization effort.
New Report Highlights Global Trend Toward ‘Bodyguard’ Satellites
As the list of countries developing both kinetic and nonkinetic space weapons grows, more nations are investing in “bodyguard” capabilities designed to protect and respond to threats against their space assets, according to a new report.
Space Force Poised for 80 Percent Funding Boost in 2027 Budget
The Space Force is requesting $71 billion for fiscal 2027 in the White House's newly released budget proposal, a topline that would bring with it major funding increases for missile warning programs, launch procurement, and end strength.
Space Force to Create Futures-Like Group on HQ Staff
The Space Force plans to establish a new headquarters staff group focused on force design and analysis that will oversee and guide a number of future-oriented organizations, including the Space Warfighting Analysis Center and the Chief Science Officer.
Space Force Resets Modernization Plan for Its Aging Satellite Control Network
After canceling a program to modernize the network of antennas that track and manage Defense Department and other U.S. government satellites, the Space Force has issued a notice to industry seeking input on what existing infrastructure might be available to meet that need.
Saltzman: Space Force Guardians ‘Integrated Throughout’ Iran Ops
Space Force capabilities are deployed “inside the threat zone” and deeply integrated into joint operations against Iran, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said April 1.
