NewSpace Sadler Report

What is the NewSpace Sadler Report?

The NewSpace Sadler Report is your essential guide to navigating the complexities and opportunities within the commercial space frontier. Each week, our expert team member Scott Sadler curates and analyzes critical developments across the industry, ensuring you receive unbiased, actionable intelligence directly to your inbox.

We cover everything from groundbreaking technological advancements and market trends to policy updates, investment insights, emerging opportunities, and in-depth company profiles. Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, policymaker, researcher, or simply a passionate space enthusiast, our report provides the clarity and foresight you need to make informed decisions.

Key Benefits:

• Stay informed on critical industry developments.
• Gain a competitive edge with expert analysis.
• Discover emerging technologies and market opportunities.
• Connect with the pulse of the NewSpace ecosystem.

This Week’s Featured Report Summary

SBIR/STTR draft bill extension being considered; Hegseth at Rocket Lab: “The future of the battlefield starts right here with dominance of space”; Draft bill to extend SBIR and STTR programs in works; Mastalir on how space environment has evolved

Acquisition professionals and military leaders anticipate that 2026 will be a defining year for the Space Force as it shifts toward a model where “speed wins.” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently emphasized this transition during his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, visiting companies like Rocket Lab and SpaceX to highlight a preference for commercial startups that prioritize manufacturing capacity over traditional corporate dividends. This strategic pivot is supported by the selection of Owen West, a former Marine and Wall Street trader, to lead the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), placing the office at the center of a transformation toward venture-backed, software-powered weaponry. As the administration moves to reward delivery speed, the Space Force has already begun executing this vision by awarding SpaceX contracts for 44 missile-tracking satellites and various National Reconnaissance Office launches through the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program.

Military and policy experts are concurrently pushing for a larger share of the proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget to bolster space superiority and counterspace capabilities. While some analysts argue that program execution is a greater challenge than funding, others suggest that increased investment is vital to scale production for the “Golden Dome” sensor layer and space-based interceptors.Major General Anthony Mastalir and other leaders warn that space superiority is no longer guaranteed, as adversaries develop weapons specifically designed to negate U.S. advantages. Consequently, there is a growing call for a formal review of roles and missions across the enterprise to ensure that space is treated as a contested warfighting domain rather than a background enabler, requiring more integrated training and clearer command relationships.

On the civilian side, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is framing the high ground of space as a competitive race with significant geopolitical and economic stakes, particularly regarding lunar resources like helium-3. The agency remains focused on the Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts farther into space than ever before as a precursor to sustained lunar operations. Meanwhile, in Congress, the House passed a $900.6 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), exceeding the initial White House request by $8 billion. Legislators are also working on a three-year extension of the SBIR and STTR programs—essential for the Space Force’s small-business innovation pipeline—while navigating a razor-thin 218-213 House majority that leaves Speaker Mike Johnson with almost no margin for error as several vacancies await special elections.

Beyond immediate funding and missions, the Space Force continues to refine its operational identity amidst ongoing scrutiny. While the service has received praise from the President for its rapid progress, some policy experts point to its early organizational struggles as a cautionary tale for those advocating for a separate Cyber Force. Despite these growing pains, the service is advancing practical capabilities, such as upgrading counter-unmanned aerial systems at Cape Canaveral and planning on-orbit refueling demonstrations for 2026. These efforts coincide with reports that China is largely on track to meet its 2027 space strategy goals, spending approximately $20 billion annually to rapidly expand its infrastructure and human spaceflight capabilities, further underscoring the urgency for U.S. acquisition and operational reform.

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Insights from the Capital: Meet Scott Sadler

Scott Sadler is an accomplished communicator and leader with extensive experience in domestic, intelligence, and international affairs. He possesses deep expertise in crisis communications and has held senior roles across the Federal government, Capitol Hill, and two military theaters of operation.

A native of Mathews, Virginia, Mr. Sadler is a graduate of Christopher Newport University. He recently served as a key advisor to senior United States Air Force leaders, guiding communications during the successful establishment of the U.S. Space Force—the first new branch of the Armed Services since 1947. In 2022, he provided communications and messaging counsel to the President’s nominee for Chief of Space Operations during the U.S. Senate confirmation process. Additionally, he consulted directly with former House Armed Services Committee member Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee on a forthcoming book about the Space Force’s formation.

In 2012, Mr. Sadler deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, where he served as senior communications and policy advisor to General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF HQ), and Brigadier General Stephen Twitty. His tour included providing critical crisis communications support during significant events such as the February 2012 Koran mishandling incident, the March 2012 alleged mass murder in Kandahar Province, and the April 2012 attack on Kabul, working closely with ISAF Afghan Ministers of Religious Affairs, Border and Tribal Affairs, Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs, and Public Affairs. During the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, Mr. Sadler personally facilitated the safe passage of his Afghan partner and their family, along with four unaccompanied children, from Kabul to the United States. Following a seven-week stay at Fort Bliss Army Base, he and his family resettled in Dallas, Texas.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Sadler served as deputy press secretary to the late U.S. Senator John W. Warner (R-VA), who was the former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.