WASHINGTON — A newly drafted Senate defense bill would bar the U.S. Air Force from launching the last of its legacy weather satellites pending assurances that the mission is necessary and would direct the service to discontinue certain payments to its primary launch provider that critics have branded as a subsidy.

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Mike Gruss is SpaceNews' chief content and strategy officer. He brings a wealth of expertise in strategic content, audience engagement, and media innovation, honed through leadership roles at Sightline Media Group, where most recently he was editor-in-chief...