Daily Report

The Space Force on Aug. 10 rolled out its inaugural policy document that will govern how it organizes, trains, and equips service members for military space operations. The new doctrine solidifies the interdependence of civil, military, intelligence, and commercial players as the U.S. tries to return to the moon and push farther to Mars, as well as protect its satellites and other spacecraft from attack and support a growing number of private-sector ventures past the Earth’s atmosphere. “Preserving freedom of action in space is the essence of military space power and must be the first priority of military space forces,” said the Space Capstone Publication, the product of a year’s worth of work.

The Department of the Air Force recently released an assessment of public education quality in school districts serving USAF installations, and of how supportive states are of Airmen, space professionals, and their families when it comes to transferring professional licenses. The department will use the findings, based on data available as of 2019, to inform future basing decisions, and hopes the results will motivate communities to lessen the challenges military families face in the areas of education and military spouse unemployment, a background document about the effort explained. “In turn, these efforts will strengthen member retention, improve quality of life and ease transitions for our Airmen and Space professionals,” the document stated.

The AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW), the Air Force’s first hypersonic weapon, completed its last captive-carry test flight on a B-52 on Aug. 8. During the test, which was conducted off the coast of Southern California, the AGM-183A Instrumented Measurement Vehicle-2 transmitted telemetry and GPS data to ground stations at the Point Mugu Sea Range verifying the weapon’s integration with the B-52. During the test, the AGM-183A also practiced a concept of operations that will be used in its first Booster Test Flight, to be held later this year, according to an Air Force release. The AGM-183A ARRW is a rapid prototype effort, with initial operational capability expected by 2022.

Stephen L. Kitay, deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, will leave his job at the end of the month, he said in an Aug. 8 letter posted to social media. “While the department’s critical mission will never be complete, I have a very exciting opportunity in the private sector that my family and I decided to pursue,” he wrote. Kitay’s resignation as one of the Pentagon’s top space policy officials takes effect Aug. 21. The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who will fill the position once he leaves. He has held the job since June 2017.

Eight groups of hackers attempted to to take control of a Defense Department satellite on Aug. 9. The weekend-long event, called “Hack-A-Sat,” was intended to spur interest in cybersecurity and help the DOD and the Air Force learn about unforeseen security risks. The event was in collaboration with DEF CON Safe Mode, an annual hacking convention that was run virtually this year due to COVID-19 concerns. The competition consisted of five hacking challenges that culminated in taking control of an active satellite and taking a photo of the moon. “Letting experts hack an orbiting satellite will teach us how to build more secure systems in the future,” Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics said in an Aug. 3 press release.

On March 23, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will host a virtual Nuclear Deterrence Series event featuring Scowcroft Group Principal Frank Miller. At a time when nuclear modernization programs are accelerating around the world, proposals to recapitalize the U.S. nuclear arsenal are at the forefront of debates over defense spending. Miller will share his insights into the prospects for U.S. nuclear modernization programs and the value of nuclear deterrence in today's competitive security environment. The think tank will post event video on its website and YouTube page after the live event.