Courtney Albon
Courtney Albon is C4ISRNET’s space and emerging technology reporter. She has covered the U.S. military since 2012, with a focus on the Air Force and Space Force. During that time, she reported on some of the Defense Department’s most significant acquisition, budget and policy challenges, including the F-35 jet, hypersonic capabilities and the creation of the Space Force.
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All Stories By Courtney
Space Development Agency launches first operational satellites
The 21 spacecraft could start providing operational capability to combatant commands and other users within four to six months, according to SDA.
Space Force lays out ‘Range of the Future’ priorities as launches surge
Major launch pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center in Florida are seeing a flurry of activity.
Pentagon may rethink how it determines which space programs are classified
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb said this week the guide, which is used to determine which programs should be classified, may need to be rewritten.
Space Force releases plan for testing satellites, ground systems
The Space Force signed off on the new test enterprise vision in March, which calls for an integrated test force and a more robust space test and training range infrastructure.
DARPA seeks funding for next phase of hypersonic weapon
Initial funding for MoHAWC would fund long-lead components for four flight-test systems, technology risk-reduction efforts and early ground tests.
Defense Innovation Unit chief to resign in September
Brown has served as DIU director since 2018 and will leave his post at the end of his term in September.
Pentagon reviewing hundreds of industry proposals in effort to rapidly arm Ukraine
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said Friday the influx of proposals will help mitigate supply chain issues, speed up production lines and address strategic objectives in the region.
Atlantic Council urges Pentagon to utilize commercial space capabilities
The Atlantic Council report urges Congress to improve its oversight of how the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community adopt commercial space services.
DARPA’s nuclear space propulsion project advances to next phase
The agency wants to demonstrate the utility of more efficient, high-thrust propulsion systems for cislunar space operations and aims to fly a nuclear-powered space vehicle in fiscal 2026.
Space Force seeks $3.7 billion for narrowband communication satellites
The service says the two satellites will extend the service-life of the Mobile User Objective System constellation to at least 2034.
