Space Policy

The U.S. has a number of vital interests at stake in the use of space. These include protecting U.S. and allied territories against weapons based in space or that transit space, projecting U.S. military power around the world, countering space systems controlled by hostile powers, monitoring weapons programs, and intelligence gathering.

HIGHLIGHTS

Missile Defense Policy in 2012 Elections
Issues 2012 provides candidates for elected office the ability to quickly identify the key issues of the day and present clear policy recommendations, supported by facts, for addressing them. Read More.
33 Minutes: Protecting America in the New Missile Age
A one-hour documentary that tells the story of the very real threat foreign enemies pose to every one of us. No matter where on Earth a missile is launched, it would take 33 minutes or less to hit the U.S. Read More.
U.S.-China Space Cooperation: More Costs Than Benefits
The potential costs of cooperation between the U.S. and Chinese space programs far outweigh the benefits. Steps that can safely be taken to build toward future collaboration must be cautious and contingent. Read More.

Our Research & Offerings on Space Policy

WebMemo posted January 24, 2012 by Baker Spring, Michaela Bendikova More Limits on U.S. Space Systems Unacceptable
The Obama Administration launched a push for an international Code of Conduct pertaining to activities of space-faring nations, but its activities have been cloaked in secrecy. This lack of transparency caused 37 Republican Senators to request more information about the Administration’s negotiations on this issue in February 2011. According to…
WebMemo posted January 18, 2012 by Dean Cheng Meeting the Chinese Space Challenge
On December 27, the Chinese government released its third white paper on its space activities. The release of China’s Space Activities in 2011[1] seems to establish a pattern of releasing white papers on space issues about every five years (previous ones were released in 2000 and 2006) and…
Special Report posted November 3, 2011 by Lisa Curtis, Walter Lohman, Rory Medcalf, Lydia Powell, Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Ph.D., Andrew Shearer Shared Goals, Converging Interests: A Plan for U.S.–Australia–India Cooperation in the Indo–Pacific
A Joint Project by Scholars from The Heritage Foundation, the Lowy Institute for International Policy, and the Observer Research Foundation Abstract: The U.S., Australia, and India…
WebMemo posted September 29, 2011 by Dean Cheng Five Myths About China’s Space Program
As the Chinese orbit their Tiangong-1 space lab, the spotlight is once again turned on China’s space program. To help inform the discussions, it would be helpful to address a few of the myths surrounding China’s space efforts. Myth #1:…
Backgrounder posted August 16, 2011 by Dean Cheng China’s Space Program: A Growing Factor in U.S. Security Planning
Abstract: In recent years, China has made great strides in its space program. Growing Chinese counterspace capabilities are beginning to threaten U.S. space superiority and therefore the ability of the U.S. to support its friends and allies and…
Backgrounder posted May 3, 2011 by Baker Spring Sixteen Steps to Comprehensive Missile Defense: What the FY 2012 Budget Should Fund
Abstract: The U.S. missile defenses are not keeping pace with the proliferation of threats. The Obama Administration has made massive cuts in the missile defense programs, cancelled promising programs, disappointed allies by pulling out of joint programs, and negotiated an arms reduction treaty with Russia that imposes sweeping restrictions on…
Special Report posted April 5, 2011 by The Heritage Foundation A Strong National Defense: The Armed Forces America Needs and What They Will Cost
Abstract The U.S. military force structure envisioned by the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and the President’s FY 2012 budget request is inadequate to protect vital U.S. national interests. After the “procurement holiday” during the 1990s and the wear and tear…
Testimony posted February 1, 2011 by Dean Cheng China’s Active Defense Strategy and Its Regional Impact
Before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Delivered January 26, 2011 Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, other Members of the Commission. I’d like to express my appreciation for being invited to appear before you today to…
WebMemo posted July 6, 2010 by Baker Spring Obama’s National Space Policy: Subordinating National Security to Arms Control
A close examination of the White House’s National Space Policy[1] released on June 28 reveals that national security is subordinated to policies for seeking cooperation, transparency, and most of all, arms control agreements regarding space systems and operations. Putting arms control at the center of the National Space…
Backgrounder posted April 8, 2010 by Baker Spring The Obama Administration's Ballistic Missile Defense Program: Treading Water in Shark-Infested Seas
Abstract: The Obama Administration's plan for ballistic missile defense and its proposed FY 2011 budget for the missile defense program would leave the program treading water. At the same time, the threat of ballistic missile attack…

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Backgrounder posted August 16, 2011 by Dean Cheng China’s Space Program: A Growing Factor in U.S. Security Planning
Abstract: In recent years, China has made great strides in its space program. Growing Chinese counterspace capabilities are beginning to threaten U.S. space superiority and therefore the ability of the U.S. to support its friends and allies and…
Special Report posted November 3, 2011 by Lisa Curtis, Walter Lohman, Rory Medcalf, Lydia Powell, Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Ph.D., Andrew Shearer Shared Goals, Converging Interests: A Plan for U.S.–Australia–India Cooperation in the Indo–Pacific
A Joint Project by Scholars from The Heritage Foundation, the Lowy Institute for International Policy, and the Observer Research Foundation Abstract: The U.S., Australia, and India…
Backgrounder posted May 3, 2011 by Baker Spring Sixteen Steps to Comprehensive Missile Defense: What the FY 2012 Budget Should Fund
Abstract: The U.S. missile defenses are not keeping pace with the proliferation of threats. The Obama Administration has made massive cuts in the missile defense programs, cancelled promising programs, disappointed allies by pulling out of joint programs, and negotiated an arms reduction treaty with Russia that imposes sweeping restrictions on…
Special Report posted April 5, 2011 by The Heritage Foundation A Strong National Defense: The Armed Forces America Needs and What They Will Cost
Abstract The U.S. military force structure envisioned by the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and the President’s FY 2012 budget request is inadequate to protect vital U.S. national interests. After the “procurement holiday” during the 1990s and the wear and tear…
Testimony posted February 1, 2011 by Dean Cheng China’s Active Defense Strategy and Its Regional Impact
Before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Delivered January 26, 2011 Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, other Members of the Commission. I’d like to express my appreciation for being invited to appear before you today to…
WebMemo posted January 18, 2012 by Dean Cheng Meeting the Chinese Space Challenge
On December 27, the Chinese government released its third white paper on its space activities. The release of China’s Space Activities in 2011[1] seems to establish a pattern of releasing white papers on space issues about every five years (previous ones were released in 2000 and 2006) and…
WebMemo posted September 29, 2011 by Dean Cheng Five Myths About China’s Space Program
As the Chinese orbit their Tiangong-1 space lab, the spotlight is once again turned on China’s space program. To help inform the discussions, it would be helpful to address a few of the myths surrounding China’s space efforts. Myth #1:…
Backgrounder posted April 8, 2010 by Baker Spring The Obama Administration's Ballistic Missile Defense Program: Treading Water in Shark-Infested Seas
Abstract: The Obama Administration's plan for ballistic missile defense and its proposed FY 2011 budget for the missile defense program would leave the program treading water. At the same time, the threat of ballistic missile attack…
WebMemo posted January 24, 2012 by Baker Spring, Michaela Bendikova More Limits on U.S. Space Systems Unacceptable
The Obama Administration launched a push for an international Code of Conduct pertaining to activities of space-faring nations, but its activities have been cloaked in secrecy. This lack of transparency caused 37 Republican Senators to request more information about the Administration’s negotiations on this issue in February 2011. According to…
Executive Memorandum posted June 22, 2001 by Jack Spencer America Needs a New Space Launch Vehicle
In January, the U.S. Department of Defense held a futuristic war game session in Colorado Springs and concluded that America's weaknesses in space could invite attack. That same month, the bipartisan, congressionally mandated Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization, chaired by now-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, warned that America faces…

Find more work on Space Policy

WebMemo posted January 24, 2012 by Baker Spring, Michaela Bendikova More Limits on U.S. Space Systems Unacceptable
The Obama Administration launched a push for an international Code of Conduct pertaining to activities of space-faring nations, but its activities have been cloaked in secrecy. This lack of transparency caused 37 Republican Senators to request more information about the Administration’s negotiations on this issue in February 2011. According to…
WebMemo posted January 18, 2012 by Dean Cheng Meeting the Chinese Space Challenge
On December 27, the Chinese government released its third white paper on its space activities. The release of China’s Space Activities in 2011[1] seems to establish a pattern of releasing white papers on space issues about every five years (previous ones were released in 2000 and 2006) and…
Special Report posted November 3, 2011 by Lisa Curtis, Walter Lohman, Rory Medcalf, Lydia Powell, Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Ph.D., Andrew Shearer Shared Goals, Converging Interests: A Plan for U.S.–Australia–India Cooperation in the Indo–Pacific
A Joint Project by Scholars from The Heritage Foundation, the Lowy Institute for International Policy, and the Observer Research Foundation Abstract: The U.S., Australia, and India…
WebMemo posted September 29, 2011 by Dean Cheng Five Myths About China’s Space Program
As the Chinese orbit their Tiangong-1 space lab, the spotlight is once again turned on China’s space program. To help inform the discussions, it would be helpful to address a few of the myths surrounding China’s space efforts. Myth #1:…
Backgrounder posted August 16, 2011 by Dean Cheng China’s Space Program: A Growing Factor in U.S. Security Planning
Abstract: In recent years, China has made great strides in its space program. Growing Chinese counterspace capabilities are beginning to threaten U.S. space superiority and therefore the ability of the U.S. to support its friends and allies and…
Backgrounder posted May 3, 2011 by Baker Spring Sixteen Steps to Comprehensive Missile Defense: What the FY 2012 Budget Should Fund
Abstract: The U.S. missile defenses are not keeping pace with the proliferation of threats. The Obama Administration has made massive cuts in the missile defense programs, cancelled promising programs, disappointed allies by pulling out of joint programs, and negotiated an arms reduction treaty with Russia that imposes sweeping restrictions on…
Special Report posted April 5, 2011 by The Heritage Foundation A Strong National Defense: The Armed Forces America Needs and What They Will Cost
Abstract The U.S. military force structure envisioned by the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and the President’s FY 2012 budget request is inadequate to protect vital U.S. national interests. After the “procurement holiday” during the 1990s and the wear and tear…
WebMemo posted July 6, 2010 by Baker Spring Obama’s National Space Policy: Subordinating National Security to Arms Control
A close examination of the White House’s National Space Policy[1] released on June 28 reveals that national security is subordinated to policies for seeking cooperation, transparency, and most of all, arms control agreements regarding space systems and operations. Putting arms control at the center of the National Space…
Backgrounder posted April 8, 2010 by Baker Spring The Obama Administration's Ballistic Missile Defense Program: Treading Water in Shark-Infested Seas
Abstract: The Obama Administration's plan for ballistic missile defense and its proposed FY 2011 budget for the missile defense program would leave the program treading water. At the same time, the threat of ballistic missile attack…
WebMemo posted October 30, 2009 by Dean Cheng U.S.-China Space Cooperation: More Costs Than Benefits
With the delivery of the full report from the U.S. Human Space Flight Review Committee (commonly referred to as the Augustine Report), the potential for a substantial, multi-year gap in U.S. manned spaceflight capability has drawn increased attention. In light of this problem, the idea has been raised in some…

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Experts on Space Policy

Peter Brookes
Senior Fellow, National Security Affairs and Chung Ju-Yung Fellow for Policy Studies
Dean Cheng
Research Fellow, Asian Studies Center
James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies and Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies
Baker Spring
F.M. Kirby Research Fellow in National Security Policy

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