In the Q&A below Lesley touches on the mentor who inspired her, offers her perspective on women working in high tech careers and shares advice for those interested in building a career in the commercial space industry. SpaceNews.com

The question of how SMC is positioning itself for the future is gaining attention in light of the Pentagon’s decision to establish a Space Development Agency, which some view as a long-term existential threat to SMC. SpaceNews.com

Blue Origin has studied repurposing upper stages of its future New Glenn launch vehicle to serve as habitats or for other applications as part of a series of NASA-funded commercialization studies. SpaceNews.com

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan says the U.S. has to "grow our margin of dominance in space." SpaceNews.com

The Space Development Agency officially came into existence last week and already is causing a stir. SpaceNews.com

Arianespace’s first Ariane 6 mission will carry 30 OneWeb satellites to low Earth orbit. The launch, slated for the second half of 2020, will use the “62” version of the rocket, which has two side boosters. SpaceNews.com

The National Space Council will hold its next public meeting March 26 to discuss NASA’s human space exploration plans. SpaceNews.com

Laser communications terminal provider Mynaric says it raised 11 million euros ($12.5 million) in post-IPO funding from a mystery constellation venture that plans to buy up to 1,000 terminals. SpaceNews.com

SpaceIL’s lunar lander performed a maneuver March 19 that puts the privately developed lander on course to enter orbit around the moon next month. SpaceNews.com

With two new satellites in orbit and a third on the way, APT Satellite of Hong Kong continues to grow, but company executives remain worried about Asia-Pacific market conditions. SpaceNews.com

Inmarsat said it remain in discussion with the consortium, which under British law has until April 16 to make a binding offer. SpaceNews.com

I’m a firm believer that the commercialization of space is absolutely essential for the growth of the space economy and achieving all of the goals we espouse for human activities in space. SpaceNews.com

Long before Ruag began producing structures for OneWeb communications satellites, the Swiss aerospace equipment supplier noted the market shift toward large constellations and began investing in automation. SpaceNews.com

Regardless of whether the Airbus-OneWeb joint venture gearing up to crank out dozens of satellites a month ultimately builds just 648 satellites or closer to the 900 originally envisioned, OneWeb’s constellation is the first such project large enough to truly incorporate aviation-style mass production procedures for spacecraft. SpaceNews.com

Engineers are still trying to understand why one of the main instruments on NASA’s InSight Mars lander is stuck just below the Martian surface. SpaceNews.com

While NASA’s overall planetary sciences program is enjoying record funding levels, the agency is grappling with cost growth in two of its largest missions. SpaceNews.com

In a letter to Shanahan, lawmakers point out New Mexico is home to dozens of space-focused government and private sector organizations. SpaceNews.com

OneWeb’s dream of blanketing the globe in affordable, abundant broadband took an important step toward reality Feb. 27 when a Russian rocket lifted off from South America to deliver six French-built satellites into low Earth orbit. SpaceNews.com

Less than a month after the launch of its first six satellites, OneWeb closed a new $1.25 billion financing round to further its internet constellation. SpaceNews.com

SpaceX could begin initial tests of a prototype of the company’s next-generation Starship vehicle as soon as this week, Elon Musk said March 17. SpaceNews.com