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Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

Tom Ainsworth named Air Force top space acquisition officer as leaders prep for FY27 budget jump

Tom Ainsworth has been named the Air Force’s top space acquisition officer, succeeding Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, who will remain as Ainsworth’s military deputy. The move comes as Space Force and Air Force acquisition teams prepare for an anticipated FY27 budget increase and personnel growth.

2026-01-23T10:20:04.154320-08:00

Spaceflight Now

Eastern Range clears same-day fueling for SLS and Vulcan, enabling denser Space Coast cadence

2026-01-22T19:12:07.053530-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Force acquisition arm races to rebuild contracting workforce after civilian cuts

2026-01-22T16:13:29.931516-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Force accelerates warfighting shift with commercial MTI, STARCOM build-up and personnel growth

2026-01-22T12:36:41.111022-08:00

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Breaking Defense

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Tom Ainsworth named Air Force top space acquisition officer as leaders prep for FY27 budget jump Tom Ainsworth has been named the Air Force’s top space acquisition officer, succeeding Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, who will remain as Ainsworth’s military deputy. The move comes as Space Force and Air Force acquisition teams prepare for an anticipated FY27 budget increase and personnel growth.

2026-01-23T10:20:04.154320-08:00

Tom Ainsworth named Air Force top space acquisition officer as leaders prep for FY27 budget jump

Spaceflight Now

Eastern Range clears same-day fueling for SLS and Vulcan, enabling denser Space Coast cadence The Eastern Range approved same-day fueling for NASA's Space Launch System and ULA's Vulcan, removing a major operational constraint and enabling tighter sequencing of heavy rockets on Florida's Space Coast. The clearance supports a packed February 2026 manifest featuring Blue Origin, ULA, SpaceX and a potential SLS flight.

2026-01-22T19:12:07.053530-08:00

Eastern Range clears same-day fueling for SLS and Vulcan, enabling denser Space Coast cadence

SpaceNews.com

Space Force acquisition arm races to rebuild contracting workforce after civilian cuts The Space Force's acquisition arm is scrambling to rebuild its contracting workforce after recent civilian reductions, accelerating hiring and backfilling to restore contracting capacity. Officials warn the gap risks slowing procurement execution and complicating oversight as the service implements broader acquisition reforms.

2026-01-22T16:13:29.931516-08:00

Space Force acquisition arm races to rebuild contracting workforce after civilian cuts

Payload

Colorado Springs groups oppose lawsuit seeking to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters Multiple Colorado Springs–based groups say the tug-of-war over the location of U.S. Space Command headquarters must end, opposing a lawsuit that seeks to keep the command at Peterson Space Force Base. They argue continued litigation undermines America’s military space mission and operational readiness.

2026-01-22T14:35:45.642045-08:00

Colorado Springs groups oppose lawsuit seeking to keep U.S. Space Command headquarters

SpaceNews.com

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Space Force accelerates warfighting shift with commercial MTI, STARCOM build-up and personnel growth The U.S. Space Force is accelerating a warfighting transition—partnering with commercial firms and intelligence agencies to field moving-target indication (MTI) and broader space-domain sensing—while planning to roughly double personnel over the next decade and directing STARCOM to build combat-ready forces to counter rising threats to satellites.

2026-01-22T12:36:41.111022-08:00

Space Force accelerates warfighting shift with commercial MTI, STARCOM build-up and personnel growth

SpaceNews.com

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Starfish wins ~$52M SDA contract to provide first operational deorbit‑as‑a‑service for PWSA; Otter set to launch in 2027 The Space Development Agency has awarded Starfish Space a roughly $52–52.5 million contract—its first operational deorbit‑as‑a‑service—to remove Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture satellites at end‑of‑life. Starfish plans to launch its Otter servicing vehicle in 2027 and could perform multiple disposal orbits.

2026-01-21T06:12:15.700958-08:00

Starfish wins ~$52M SDA contract to provide first operational deorbit‑as‑a‑service for PWSA; Otter set to launch in 2027

SpaceNews.com

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New report warns U.S. space assets vulnerable to Russian escalation A new report warns that U.S. space assets are vulnerable to Russian escalation in orbit, exposing weaknesses in resilience and deterrence that could threaten military, intelligence and communications capabilities. The assessment calls attention to urgent gaps in U.S. preparedness against intentional on‑orbit hostilities.

2026-01-21T05:15:57.390108-08:00

New report warns U.S. space assets vulnerable to Russian escalation

SpaceNews.com

Appropriations set Space Force at $26B for FY2026 and press Pentagon on Golden Dome oversight A FY2026 defense appropriations conference agreement funds the U.S. Space Force at $26 billion and includes directives increasing Pentagon oversight and reporting on the Golden Dome space‑based missile‑defense effort, signaling Congress will actively monitor the program as it moves through prototyping and milestones.

2026-01-20T14:19:00.482812-08:00

Appropriations set Space Force at $26B for FY2026 and press Pentagon on Golden Dome oversight

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Space Force News

Tom Ainsworth named Air Force top space acquisition officer as leaders prep for FY27 budget jump

Eastern Range clears same-day fueling for SLS and Vulcan, enabling denser Space Coast cadence

Space Force acquisition arm races to rebuild contracting workforce after civilian cuts

Space Force accelerates warfighting shift with commercial MTI, STARCOM build-up and personnel growth

News Timeline