Strengthening a Solid Foundation: U.S. Advantages from Commercial Space

The commercial space economy is growing and increasingly driving new space-based capabilities. U.S. government actions, during the Cold War and after, created a vibrant commercial space industry that still leads internationally. However, the space domain is undergoing rapid changes and great power competitors seek to overtake the United States and/or threaten the nation’s space capabilities. This chapter employs a strategic planning framework to describe the current competitive state of the United States and other nations, examine several current or potential U.S. government strategic actions, and explain the value of leveraging the domestic commercial industry for national security. 

Author: Geoff Reber

This paper was published in Space Agenda 2025, an effort by the Center for Space Policy and Strategy (CSPS) at The Aerospace Corporation to highlight and provide insights into some of the major space challenges facing policymakers. You can read the entire list of Space Agenda 2025 papers here.