‘Quit Building Big’: Space Force Officials Talk Need for Speed and Agility

Defense officials told senators what they think the United States must do to compete with China and other rivals in space.
Time, they agreed, is of the essence.
“The trick is to quit building big,” said Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, in answer to a question from Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) during a May 2 hearing.
“I want to be the guy who watches it, has appropriate oversight, but doesn’t get in the way and become the ‘gotcha person,’” Cramer said.
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 6, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“Big satellites take a long time to go build, and the fundamental model we need to drive to is to build much smaller satellite systems, to use existing technology, and do it [in] about three years,” Calvelli said….}