Research Areas
Our independent, objective analyses provide the technical underpinnings and detailed analytics to support the development, deployment, and implementation of space policy and strategy.

National Security
Space has become a contested domain and remains critical to ensuring US national security and security of our allies. CSPS research aims to evolve understanding of the threat, potential responses, and the agile strategies and defense partnerships needed to enable success.
Issue Brief: Fiscal Year 2023 Space Force Budget Analysis: Missile Warning and Tracking Looms Large
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/issue-brief-fiscal-year-2023-space-force-budget-analysis-missile-warning-and-tracking-looms
Reinventing the Western Range
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode115-reinventing-western-range
Reinventing Assured Access to Space
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode113-reinventing-assured-access-space
Space Traffic Operations & Debris
The increase of orbital debris and spectrum competition are just a couple of the ways that space is growing more crowded. To address the growing risks to operating in space safely and to our ability to sustain current and future space activities, CSPS research raises awareness of these issues and explores solutions for safe and sustainable space operations.
Space Traffic Management Terminology
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/space-traffic-management-terminology
A Safety Framework for Commercial Human Spaceflight
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2023-06-01-safety-framework-commercial-human-spaceflight
1 big thing: The future of private human spaceflight
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2023-01-10-1-big-thing-future-private-human-spaceflight
National Policies & International Relations
U.S. national space policy must continue to benefit from our current international partnerships as well as leverage those of emerging space nations. CSPS looks at how space activities are addressed through governance and policy at national and international levels.
Competition In The Pacific
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/2021-12-02-competition-pacific
Competing Globally: Technology Promotion & Export Control
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode117-competing-globally-technology-promotion-export-control
ASATs, Diplomats, and More Than That
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode116-asats-diplomats-and-more-0
The Business of Space
From cislunar development to public-private-partnerships, building up the space enterprise to meet future demands will require flexible workforce and business models, and acceptance of new economic drivers and players. CSPS explores the business of space from a strategic perspective.
Public-Private Synergy in the Space Sector: Risks and Rewards
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/2023-06-29-public-private-synergy-space-sector-risks-and-rewards
A Safety Framework for Commercial Human Spaceflight
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2023-06-01-safety-framework-commercial-human-spaceflight
Competing Globally: Technology Promotion & Export Control
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode117-competing-globally-technology-promotion-export-control
Science & Technology
The space enterprise encompasses a broad range of scientific research and new space technology development and application. CSPS research emphasizes the policy and regulatory implications of how new science and technology influences this fast changing environment.
Space-based solar power is getting serious—can it solve Earth’s energy woes?
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-10-19-space-based-solar-power-getting-serious-can-it-solve-earths-energy-woes
Space-based solar power is getting serious—can it solve Earth’s energy woes?
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2022-10-19-space-based-solar-power-getting-serious-can-it-solve-earths-energy-woes-0
Space Based Solar Power: Why Now?
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode101-space-based-solar-power-why-now
Exploration, Society, & the Future
As we look to expand our presence beyond Earth, cross-cutting technological, policy, and societal considerations need to be addressed. CSPS research examines the methodologies and implications of potential futures, the changing nature of civil space exploration, and the role society plays in both.
A Safety Framework for Commercial Human Spaceflight
https://csps.aerospace.org/news/2023-06-01-safety-framework-commercial-human-spaceflight
Mapping Our Way to Sustainable Cislunar
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode114-mapping-our-way-sustainable-cislunar
Fact or (Science) Fiction of Space Diplomacy
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode112-fact-or-science-fiction-space-diplomacy
Climate Change & the Environment
Environmental and weather monitoring has been a long-standing cornerstone of the space sector, however the earth faces increasingly drastic consequences to climate change. CSPS research investigates how the space sector can address those challenges and align with global and national environmental priorities.
The Green Circularity: Life Cycle Assessments for the Space Industry
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/green-circularity-life-cycle-assessments-space-industry
Space Matters in the Arctic
https://csps.aerospace.org/events/show/episode096-space-matters-arctic
Implications of a Growing Spaceflight Industry: Climate Change
https://csps.aerospace.org/papers/implications-growing-spaceflight-industry-climate-change