Space Force to Finalize Partnership Strategy With Commercial Space Sector

The U.S. Space Force’s deputy chief of space operations said the agency is finalizing a strategy document describing how the organization would work with the commercial space industry.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt said the Space Force is “days away from signing off on the strategy.” According to Burt, the strategy includes finding ways to buy commercially available space products as a service so the service would not be compelled to own systems.

Work on the strategy began in February, but the service had to revise the initial drafts because of a lack of details for industry partners. In a separate event, Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations and a 2023 Wash100 winner, said the guidance must answer questions on data procurement, asset ownership and the division of responsibilities between government and commercial entities, SpaceNews reported.

The anticipated final strategy comes months after the Government Accountability Office urged the Space Force to increase its use of commercially available data and tools. According to a GAO report, the Space Force is not fully aware of existing commercial space situational awareness capabilities because of the lack of a process for identifying and evaluating offerings regularly.