olicies and studies call for more private sector innovation in military space, yet real action lags behind.
Industry consultant Mandy Vaughn highlighted that the DoD hasn’t fully embraced commercial capabilities in their budgeting processes yet.
During a SpaceNews webinar, Vaughn mentioned that truly integrating commercial tech would need a big cultural shift within government structures.
We think changing culture takes a lot of effort and time.
She used NASA’s Commercial Cargo and Crew programs as examples of successful private sector collaboration, unlike the Space Force which mainly buys launch services.
Aerospace expert Brian Weeden stressed understanding the commercial space industry’s true capabilities and avoiding over-hyped promises.
“We as the space community, and in particular policy makers, need to really think about how we measure the commercial space sector, both in terms of its size and its value,” Weeden said. He suggested better data on the industry’s economic contributions and strategic government investments in crucial areas.
Retired General John Shaw praised groups like the Space Development Agency for working with commercial firms but noted the military still hasn’t fully tapped into commercial potential for security.
Shaw agreed that while there are security concerns, the advantages often outweigh the risks.
