Vivienne Machi
February 13, 2026

commercial satellite

Since its inception in 2019, the U.S. Space Force has been an early and frequent adopter of commercial technology across its programs.

Credit: Alones Creative/Getty Images

For the U.S. Space Force, using commercially derived technology is no longer a recommendation; in 2026, it is an imperative. The Pentagon is embracing commercial acquisition processes and technology at a greater level, as the six-year-old Space Force has capitalized on a robust market and a growing…

Vivienne Machi

Vivienne Machi is the military space editor for Aviation Week based in Los Angeles.

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