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
Pentagon Eyes Canceling ‘Troubled’ GPS Ground System
Amid persistent development and testing delays, the Space Force is considering canceling a long-delayed effort to develop a ground system to manage its newest GPS satellites, a spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Data Centers in Space Could Enable Golden Dome: Experts
The tech industry’s pursuit of space-based AI data centers could have positive implications for military space operations, potentially enabling faster communication speeds from multiple orbits for programs like Golden Dome, industry and defense officials said March 24.
Space Force Seeks Proposals for Physical Test and Training Range
The Space Force is moving ahead with plans to build a physical test and training range that will feature a mix of ground and space-based systems, releasing a formal solicitation for a multi-vendor contract worth $981 million to design, develop, integrate, and sustain those capabilities.
Space Force Exercise Aims to Solidify Responsive Space Processes
Space Systems Command just conducted its second Tactically Responsive Space mission, Victus Diem—but this time, instead of preparing and launching a live rocket and satellite on rapid timelines, the exercise was a simulation designed to refine its processes for repeatable rapid launch missions.
More Launches, More Cyber Threats: Space Force Stands Up Units to Defend Ranges
The Space Force this month established a squadron dedicated to defending against cyber intrusions at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., as concerns about threats to the service’s physical and digital launch infrastructure are on the rise.
Key Space Force C2 Upgrade Still Faces Issues: Pentagon Report
The Space Force is still not ready to decommission a 1980s-era command and control system, despite approving a next-generation upgrade for initial operations last year, according to a new report from the Pentagon's top weapons tester.
Space Force Switches From ULA to SpaceX Rocket for Upcoming GPS Launch
The Space Force is changing launch providers for an upcoming GPS III launch amid an ongoing investigation into United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket. The payload, initially slated to fly this month on Vulcan, will now launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no sooner than ...
Industry Consortium Conducts Live C2 Demonstration for Golden Dome
A consortium of nine defense firms building the command and control layer for the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile defense shield recently conducted a live demonstration, and according to the program’s director Gen. Michael Guetlein, proved it’s on target to deliver an operational capability by 2028.
Space Command to Launch Wargame Series for Industry
U.S. Space Command will host the first in a series of “commercial wargames” on March 23, inviting industry participants to engage with “hard problems in orbit” at a classified level, according to SPACECOM’s director for joint force development.
Space Force ‘Serious’ About Planning for Cislunar Operations
As NASA prepares for a slew of lunar missions over the next few years, the Space Force is contemplating its role in future operations around the moon and developing a plan to increase focus on cislunar operations, according to Thomas Ainsworth, who is performing the ...
Pentagon’s Golden Dome Cost Estimate Grows to $185 Billion
The Pentagon has increased its baseline cost projection for its Golden Dome advanced missile defense shield by $10 billion in recent months due to demand for more space sensing, tracking, and data transport capabilities, the general in charge of the effort said March 17.
Air Force Eyes Advanced Propulsion Tech with Program Worth Up to $16B
The Air Force’s propulsion directorate wants to rapidly develop and field new propulsion technologies in the coming years, and plans to use a new, $16 billion contract vehicle to do so, according to a March 13 notice.
Space Force Components Building Up Units to ‘Surge’ Forward
As Space Force leaders call for the service to double in size in the coming years, the commander in charge of presenting forces to U.S. Space Command said part of that growth will need to go toward increasing the footprint of forward-operating units.
Pentagon’s Efforts to Boost Industrial Base Not Moving the Needle Yet: Report
While the Pentagon has signaled its intent to scale technology, field new systems faster, and work more with nontraditional vendors, a new report identifies persistent manufacturing capacity, resourcing, workforce, and modernization challenges that could hinder its ability to deliver on those goals.
Anduril Bolstering Space Portfolio by Buying Sensing Firm
In a move to expand its space portfolio, Anduril announced March 11 it has signed a definitive agreement to buy ExoAnalytic Solutions, a longtime provider of commercial and government space domain awareness and modeling and simulations capabilities.
