Saltzman’s farewell warning: Prepare for war in space to preserve peace

In his final public address as chief of space operations, Gen. Chance Saltzman warned that any conflict extending into orbit would put the satellites of every nation at risk. Speaking in London, he argued that the best way to deter a space war is to field military forces that can fight and prevail there if deterrence fails. Saltzman cast the Space Force’s recent evolution as a shift from a support organization toward one explicitly preparing for competition with China and Russia. He also urged allies to share responsibility for keeping the space domain safe, secure and stable because orbital mechanics would spread the consequences of conflict far beyond the combatants.

Office of Space Commerce makes its case for mission authorization

The Office of Space Commerce used a House Science subcommittee hearing to defend its proposed mission-authorization framework for novel commercial space activities. Officials said the voluntary Space Commerce Certification model would give companies a clearer path for activities such as satellite servicing and commercial stations that do not fit neatly under existing FAA or FCC licensing regimes. The office argued that without a defined process, U.S. firms risk regulatory uncertainty just as new business models are moving from concept to deployment.

White House lobbies skeptical Republicans on reconciliation bill

Vice President JD Vance and White House aides pressed House Republicans to back a $95 billion reconciliation package that would fund the Iran war, farm aid and voter-ID measures. The House Budget Committee planned to mark up the fiscal 2027 budget resolution even as support inside the GOP remained uncertain. The proposal would advance a major defense spending increase, but internal disputes over both budget tactics and election-related provisions threatened to complicate the package’s path.

Swissto12 raises $70 million to accelerate small GEO satellite production

Swissto12 said it raised $70 million in Series C financing to expand production of its HummingSat small geostationary satellites and related payload hardware. The company said it already has more than $500 million in contracts spanning antennas, multi-orbit payloads and seven HummingSat orders, including a spacecraft for SES slated for completion in 2027. The funding reflects continued demand for more affordable GEO platforms as operators look for alternatives to traditional, much larger spacecraft.

Move over, GPS: Navigation satellites in low-Earth orbit are making a comeback

Ars Technica reported that California-based Xona Space Systems is preparing to launch the first six production satellites in a low-Earth-orbit navigation network this October, with early service expected in 2027. The company says its planned 258-satellite Pulsar constellation would deliver signals roughly 100 times stronger than GPS, improving positioning in dense urban terrain, indoors and in jamming-prone environments. Xona is pitching the architecture as both a commercial navigation product and a more resilient alternative or complement to traditional higher-orbit PNT systems.

UK “Did Not Buy” F-35A For Nuclear Role: RAF

A Royal Air Force official said Britain’s new F-35A purchase was not made for the aircraft’s dual-capable nuclear mission, despite London’s parallel pledge to re-enter NATO’s nuclear role. The statement introduced new uncertainty about how the United Kingdom intends to restore that mission and whether the F-35A fleet will eventually support it. The clarification came at a moment of heightened allied attention to deterrence, force posture and burden-sharing across Europe.