Illustration of co-orbital satellite attack. Credit: GuardianSat

In matters of national defense and credible deterrence, some capabilities are simply too vital to outsource. If they falter, armies lose battles and nations can lose wars.

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Charles Beames is an aerospace investor, chairman of the SmallSat Alliance and York Space Systems, and the executive chairman of SpiderOak and TrustPoint Inc.

Angel Smith is the executive director of the SmallSat Alliance and currently serves as general manager of Strategic Global Enablement at Microsoft.