Sandra Erwin

Sandra Erwin covers the military and national security beat as a Senior Staff Writer at SpaceNews. Sandra, based in Arlington, Virginia, specializes in Defense Department and Intelligence Community space programs, policy, budgets, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She joined SpaceNews in October 2017. Before coming to SpaceNews, Erwin covered the U.S. military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for over two decades as editor of the National Defense Industrial Association's National Defense Magazine and Pentagon correspondent for Real Clear Defense.

Articles by: Sandra Erwin

United Launch Alliance's Atlas 5 booster sits on the mobile launch platform at the Vertical Integration Facility adjacent to Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The rocket will launch the fifth Advance dExtremely High Frequency (AEHF-5) protected communications satellite for the U.S. Air Force.

Upcoming Atlas V Mission Will Launch Air Force Cubesat Before It Releases Main Payload

By Sandra Erwin published 7 August 19

The Air Force integrated a 12U cubesat on the Centaur's aft bulkhead carrier.

Artist's concept of a Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites vehicle doing its thing in orbit.

DARPA's Satellite-Servicing Robot to Get Another Shot

By Sandra Erwin published 31 July 19

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is considering proposals from potential new partners for its program to send a robot to space to repair satellites.

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Demonstration and Science Experiments, or DSX, spacecraft in the final preparation stages before shipment to Cape Canaveral, Fla. for launch on a Space X Falcon Heavy rocket.

Air Force Experimental Satellite Billed as the 'Largest Uncrewed Structure in Space'

By Sandra Erwin published 29 July 19

The DSX satellite will collect data that will be used to study the radiation environment in space.

Vice President Pence to Visit Vandenberg Air Force Base

By Sandra Erwin published 10 July 19

Pence will meet with senior officials to discuss space launch activities, space traffic management and ongoing efforts to establish a U.S. Space Force.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle stands on Launch Complex-39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in the early morning hours of June 24, 2019.

Air Force to Continue to Push Back on Proposed Space Launch Legislation

By Sandra Erwin published 3 July 19

Col. Robert Bongiovi: "Two is the right number from a mission assurance perspective."

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane into orbit from NASA's Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Sept. 7, 2017.

SpaceX Launches New Legal Battle Against US Air Force

By Sandra Erwin published 24 May 19

Launch Service Agreement contract winners Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman and United Launch Alliance have filed 'motions to intervene' in the lawsuit filed by SpaceX.

A Delta 4 Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office prepares to lift off June 11 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Cost of Delta IV Heavy Rocket Launches is Down But the Real Price Is a Secret

By Sandra Erwin published 19 May 19

The Air Force announcement that it is paying ULA $449.8 million for three Delta 4 Heavy launches is only half the story.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan, and Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Office David L. Norquist provide testimony on the fiscal 2020 Department of Defense budget before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

Congressional Report: Space Force Would Cost Billions More Than DoD Estimated

By Sandra Erwin published 15 May 19

An independent space service under the Air Force would add up to $1.3 billion a year in costs, says CBO, far more than DoD's estimate of $500 million.

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 Heavy lifts off Jan. 19 carrying a classified payload. The delay of the launch from late 2018 helped cushion a projected decline in earnings that Lockheed Martin from ULA in 2019.

ULA Awarded $149 Million Delta IV Heavy Launch Contract for NRO Mission

By Sandra Erwin published 12 May 19

NROL-68 is the second of three missions awarded to ULA under the Launch Vehicle Production Services contract.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy will launch the STP-2 mission this year for the U.S. Air Force.

Cape Canaveral Preparing for Key Military Launches

By Sandra Erwin published 30 April 19

The Air Force 45th Space Wing is gearing up for three high-profile space launches at Cape Canaveral over the coming months.

100th Missile Defense Brigade National Guard soldiers operate missile warning satellites at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

Pentagon Wants a Space Force, Still Undecided on a Space National Guard

By Sandra Erwin published 29 April 19

The National Guard Bureau is calling for the establishment of a Space National Guard as a reserve component to the Space Force.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, and Commander of U.S. Strategic Command Gen. John Hyten testify April 11, 2019 in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Defense Officials Get a Grilling at Space Force Hearing

By Sandra Erwin published 19 April 19

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said the hearing was an "opportunity to continue to gather facts and to fully explore the proposal."

India launched an anti-satellite missile on March 27, 2019.

New Studies Provide Fresh Insights Into the Escalating Space Arms Race

By Sandra Erwin published 7 April 19

A new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies focuses on four specific countries that pose the greatest risk for the United States: China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Clockwise from left: SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, ULA's Vulcan Centaur, Northrop Grumman's OmegA and Blue Origin's New Glenn rockets are all in the running to compete for a block of launch contracts the U.S. Air Force intends to divide between two providers during phase 2 of the Launch Service Agreements (LSA) program.

Air Force Space Launch Competition Caught in Political Crossfire

By Sandra Erwin published 5 April 19

House Armed Service Committee Chairman Adam Smith on Thursday sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson questioning "what seems to be a rush to move ahead in the procurement strategy."

Lt. Gen. David Thompson, vice commander of Air Force Space Command, testified March 27, 2019, in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee's strategic forces subcommittee.

US Military Was Immediately Aware of India's Anti-Satellite Missile Test

By Sandra Erwin published 30 March 19

Once the launch was detected, U.S. Space Command right away started notifying satellite operators.

Space Development Agency Promises to Do More with Less

By Sandra Erwin published 23 March 19

The Space Development Agency officially came into existence last week and already is causing a stir.

Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russell Vought briefs reporters at the White House March 11, 2019.

Trump's 2020 Budget Funds Space Force, Increases Defense Spending by 5 Percent

By Sandra Erwin published 12 March 19

The White House said the Space Force will "initially realign existing space forces and materiel from the military services and will scale up responsibly and deliberately over the next several years."

United Launch Alliance is developing a new vehicle to replace the Atlas 5 in future national security launch competitions.

EELV Is No More. It Is Now 'National Security Space Launch'

By Sandra Erwin published 7 March 19

Col. Bongiovi, director of SMC's Launch Enterprise Directorate, says the NSSL program will seek to leverage the U.S. commercial launch industry.

Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan meets with a U.S. congressional delegation on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Munich, Germany, Feb. 16, 2019.

Space Force Proposal Officially Sent to Capitol Hill, Now Come the Questions

By Sandra Erwin published 3 March 19

Now that the proposal has been kicked over to Congress, DoD faces what could be a harder-than-expected job communicating the Space Force plan to Congress and the public.

White House: Space Force Under the Air Force Only a 'First Step,' Separate Department Not Off the Table

By Sandra Erwin published 31 January 19

Next Steps for the Pentagon's New Space Sensors for Missile Defense

By Sandra Erwin published 23 January 19

The Missile Defense Agency is evaluating nine proposals for space sensor architectures. With $73 million that Congress already appropriated, the agency will select three to continue on.

Trump Unveils Missile Defense Review, Promises Funding for Space Sensors in 2020

By Sandra Erwin published 20 January 19

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited the Pentagon on Thursday to roll out the 2019 Missile Defense Review.

Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan

New Pentagon Chief Shanahan Urges Focus on China 'Great Power Competition'

By Sandra Erwin published 6 January 19

In his first national security meeting as acting defense secretary, Patrick Shanahan said DoD should stay focused on the national defense strategy and the strategic competition with China.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan

Pentagon Analyzing Possible Missions for a New Space Development Agency

By Sandra Erwin published 24 December 18

DoD spokesman: "The intent is to ensure DoD leverages commercial space technology and accelerates the development and delivery of new capabilities."

Air Force Open to Reusable Rockets, but SpaceX Must First Demonstrate Performance

By Sandra Erwin published 23 December 18

The Air Force will need time to review SpaceX's performance as it executes EELV launches before it would consider flying military payloads on reusable rockets.