The Moon Is Back In Play – Musk And Bezos Ready For Next Leap

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – SpaceX and Blue Origin abruptly shift priorities amid U.S. Golden Dome push. Just a year ago, SpaceX’s majority owner, Elon Musk, dismissed going to the moon as a “distraction.” Now, SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are racing toward it, and the Pentagon may be the reason why.

Within weeks of each other, the two largest U.S. commercial space companies abruptly shifted their priorities toward lunar development.

In early February, SpaceX announced it would redirect plans for a future city on Mars to one on the moon. Reversal was striking, as Musk previously insisted Mars was the only meaningful destination.

Just days prior, Blue Origin quietly paused its New Shepard tourism program for at least two years to focus on lunar development, framing the move as part of the nation’s goal of returning to the moon.

However, timing may suggest a more strategic approach. In December 2025, White House issued an executive order calling for a missile shield prototype by 2028, critical for the Golden Dome initiative.

This order also set a timeline for U.S. manned lunar return by 2028, with elements of permanent moon presence by 2030.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Future U.S. government responses in cyberspace will be “linked to adversary actions” and will involve coordination between the private sector and smaller governments, says White House.

When GPS goes dark: Building a force that navigates from orbit to seabed. GPS denial is no longer a theoretical future threat. It is the environment in which modern forces increasingly operate.

HOMELAND DEFENSE

Golden Dome will fail without software-defined warfare. If the U.S. wants to defend its homeland against next-generation missiles and aerial threats, hardware alone will not save us. Sensors, radars, and interceptors are necessary but no longer sufficient.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Due to fierce opposition, VA has retreated from enforcing a controversial regulation rolled out Tuesday that required medical examiners to factor in the effects of medication when weighing disability ratings decisions.

Three Vietnam War veterans sued the federal government seeking to block construction of Trump’s proposed massive new 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery, arguing it will block the view of the landmark military cemetery.

US POWER OVERSEAS

U.S.-led NATO artillery units linked up their guns across European training grounds, testing their abilities to strike targets and repel a deluge of drones and missiles in an exercise scenario reminiscent of combat in Ukraine.

IRAN THREAT

U.S. military assets flock to the Middle East amid an Iran standoff with a warning from Trump that, should the Islamic Republic refuse the nuclear deal, a U.S. assault “far worse” than last June’s Operation Midnight Hammer will be the consequence.

The UK is blocking the U.S. use of two key bases for an attack on Iran. Both Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, and RAF Fairford, a base in the U.K., would be important to any U.S. plans to use long-range bombers in a sustained campaign against Iran.

MIDDLE EAST THREATS

At the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, President Trump announced that nine members pledged $7 billion toward a Gaza relief package, and five countries agreed to deploy troops as part of an international stabilization force for the war-battered Palestinian territory.

With most of the senior leadership killed by Israeli strikes, Hamas holds a vote to choose a new interim leader, even as U.S. and international mediators plan a future for Gaza without the terror group.

Inside Story of The Power Struggle within Hamas: Meshaal’s pragmatism VS Al-Hayya’s rifle.

Nizar Awadallah: “Hidden Key” in the Gaza Negotiations.

CHINA THREAT

China’s largest modern naval gun to date just appeared on a test ship. The 155mm naval gun is larger than any gun currently found on People’s Liberation Army Navy warships. The weapon could boost the naval gunfire support capability of future amphibious operations, as well as provide additional firepower against enemy ships and aerial threats, including possibly incoming missiles.

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

Kenyan families demand the return of loved ones recruited into the Russian army. Official intelligence report revealed more than 1,000 citizens had been lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE BUILDUP

Pentagon aggressively lobbies the EU against the Buy European weapons push. In previously unreported remarks, the Trump administration warned Brussels that it will retaliate if Europeans “strong-arm American companies out of the market.” This contradicts the story from yesterday that the U.S. was more accepting of buying European efforts for defense items.

Airbus is open to a “two-fighter solution” to break the deadlock on the future air-combat system (FCAS) that France, Germany, and Spain are developing, and keep the program alive. This, as work on the next-generation fighter that’s part of the program has stalled amid infighting between Airbus and Dassault Aviation.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unveiled a battery of huge nuclear-capable rocket launchers ahead of the key congress of the nation’s ruling party. The 600-mm multiple launch system was front and center in preparations for the once-in-five-year gathering.

South Korea may reinstate a no-fly zone along the DMZ near the border with North Korea to curtail illicit drone flights.

SPACE THREATS

Space Force wants a better pipeline for mature space domain awareness tools and advanced battle management capabilities to move from the lab into the hands of operators.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Amphibious assault ship FS Dixmude and frigate FS Aconit departed from Toulon Naval Base to begin the French Navy’s Jeanne d’Arc 2026 deployment, expected to take the task group to the Middle East, East Africa, and Indo-Pacific.

US MILITARY

Army says it’s using AI to help produce doctrine but acknowledges the technology’s flaws.

Soldiers from across the Army showcased drone warfare skills and ideas in the service’s first annual Best Drone Warfighter Competition.

From massive formations to four Marines in a dune buggy, the Marine Corps is working with the joint force to craft a single network to prepare for a digitized battlefield.

Navy seeks new anti-radar (anti-radiation) missiles, compatible with F-18 and F-35 aircraft, with a longer range than existing weapons.

The Air Force has initiated a new effort to modernize its central Air Ops command-and-control systems and centers with new capabilities, including AI and enhanced data fusion.

Giving military commanders clear, specific procedures to follow in critical hours after service members unexpectedly go missing could improve the odds of saving their lives, watchdog agency says.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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