Tupper Hyde

I agree with Tim Trimailo and Scott Sadler: the establishment of a United States Space Force Working Capital Fund is a major step forward. To understand why, see my in-depth paper with Nate Skvoretz of the power of Working Capital Funds to develop Spacepower. https://lnkd.in/eCmjFv87

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I added some new features to the Space Data Navigator tool, including a guided tour to show what it allows you to do and the ability to share links (like this) to custom charts you make. This chart shows the NRO's Starshield satellites and how quickly they launched.

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The CSA's Space Technology Development Program (STDP) aims to strengthen industrial capabilities (new concepts, products and/or know-how) related to basic R&D of space technologies (space application segment). The following activities are not eligible as they are or will be supported through other funding opportunities: Applications related to developing earth observation data processing solutions, eligible through CSA's smartEarth initiative. Development of space-related medical technologies. Development of prospecting and In Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) related technologies. Development of space-related food production technologies. Development of space-related life support systems. Technologies already funded by CSA through another contract, contribution, or grant. Projects aiming at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) higher than TRL-6 are not eligible.

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Timely and important, Alex. Thanks for flagging this. In the end, the debate isn’t really about whether to invest in unmanned systems—it’s about how much to commit now versus how much optionality to preserve. That tension matters. A hedge strategy makes sense when technologies, CONOPS, and industrial pathways are still maturing. But hedging too long carries its own risk: slow learning, thin production lines, and a defense industrial base that never quite scales. For unmanned surface and undersea systems, the real question isn’t exquisite capability versus experimentation. It’s whether the Navy can move fast enough from prototypes and exercises into repeatable production, sustainment, and operator confidence—before our adversaries do. To leverage autonomy requires more than just innovation. It requires deliberate decisions at the levels of strategy, acquisition, and industry.

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Tamas Rev, PhD provides some great insights on stray light in space in the latest podcast on satsearch. This conversation is covering: The causes and effects of stray light in today’s space missions How it can be reduced, mitigated, or protected from entirely The nuances in stray light impacts in different mission profiles (e.g. LEO vs. deep space) https://lnkd.in/gBfZprHR

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Great article from Aviation Week Network on the US's efforts to keep up in a new dynamic space domain, including some features on us at Portal Space Systems. "The U.S. wants satellites that can 'maneuver without regret' to support space domain awareness missions and to build on-orbit interceptors within the next half decade" https://lnkd.in/dcQJf3cD

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The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2026 priorities highlight the key forces shaping the aerospace and defense sector. What stands out is how many of these priorities are less about individual technologies and more about system level constraints including supply chain resilience, workforce capacity, infrastructure, and the ability to transition capability from development into operational systems. As platforms become more complex, the challenge is no longer just advancing performance at the component level but ensuring those advancements can be produced, integrated, and sustained at scale. In practice, this is often where programs are won or lost. This is especially critical across space and defense systems where reliability, manufacturability, and lifecycle performance ultimately determine operational impact. The convergence of national priorities, industrial base constraints, and increasing system complexity will continue to define how effectively new technologies move from concept to deployment. https://lnkd.in/esHcUsrt

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