The new space race

By Defense Tech Now Staff

OCTOBER 2026

A Falcon 9 rocket lifting off at night, its exhaust lighting the pad and towers around it. — A Falcon 9 carrying the GPS III-8 mission lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. Credit: U.S. Space Force photo by Gwendolyn Kurzen

New satellite constellations are making space more connected, more persistent and increasingly contested.

Satellites are becoming more than communications platforms. New constellations are being designed to track, connect and support military forces in real time.

Companies are racing to make space systems smaller, cheaper and easier to replace.