United States space policy encompasses a myriad of commercial, national security and scientific objectives that range from returning Americans to the Moon and Mars missions as part of an expansionist agenda, to supporting an innovative private sector while protecting U.S. and allied interests in space.
This policy prioritizes responsible space usage and promotes domestic industry competitiveness by exploring equitable, effective and verifiable arms control measures.
Artemis Program
The Artemis Program, named for the Greek goddess of the Moon and sister of Apollo, is the most ambitious human space exploration effort ever attempted. It aims to establish a permanent human lunar base by 2024 as well as sending astronauts to Mars via robotic lunar missions and deep space gateways.
Project Artemis has gained widespread support among bipartisan lawmakers, such as U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington who co-sponsored the NASA Authorization Act of 2020 which officially recognized Artemis Program within US law for the first time and mandates strict oversight requirements for it.
This survey illustrates America’s broadening leadership role in space exploration since the International Space Station began. From there it expanded with multilateral efforts to land humans on the moon and eventually reach Mars, as well as its importance across parties; majorities of both Republicans and Democrats (and those leaning toward both) agree on monitoring asteroids which threaten Earth as one of NASA‘s top priorities.
However, many Americans remain uncertain as to the value of returning to the moon or setting sail for Mars and are concerned with its possible negative repercussions for local and state communities and national economies.
National Security Space Strategy
Space capabilities play a critical role in our military operations and strategic advantage, providing access to and freedom of operation in space. To guarantee such access, the Department created the U.S. Space Force as part of our Armed Forces, established USSPACECOM as a combatant command, and carried out significant acquisition reform across Dodo protect our national security, it is vital that we promote and expand responsible global norms of behavior in space. This requires shaping and increasing pressure on potential adversaries to accept global standards for acceptable space-based behavior. Furthermore, the National Space Strategy mandates continued development, testing and fielding of rapid response space capabilities to deter conflict, counter aggression or provide decisive military advantages in battlespace environments.
Cooperate with likeminded nations and industry to block the transfer of sensitive space technologies to unauthorized parties and bolster America’s domestic space industry in accordance with international law. Furthermore, this strategy calls for collaboration among commercial space companies and international partners in pursuit of best practices to prevent on-orbit collisions, long-lived debris accumulation and expand satellite-based tracking services to deeper space.
Commercial Space Activities
The US government plays an essential role in the commercial space industry. Not only does it fund NASA and supply rockets, but they also provide infrastructure support. Furthermore, policy is set regarding how it will interact with private space companies as well as how it will regulate them.
Some definitions of commercial space activities limit them solely to activities that provide services primarily to nongovernmental entities, like direct-to-home satellite TV (DirecTV and Dish Network), satellite radio (Sirius XM), and commercial communications satellites that transmit voice, data, and video transmission. Others consider any space activity which puts capital at risk in order to supply goods or services directly to consumers a form of commercial activity – this may include companies like Boeing-Lockheed Martin United Launch Alliance which utilize market incentives for controlling costs while optimizing returns.
As commercialization of space continues, policymakers must address how best to develop an economy in which all participants can thrive. This involves broadening policy discussions to include less powerful participants of the new space industry – for instance when discussing mega-constellations projects it should seek input not just from commercial space companies but also rural populations with limited internet access and communities that depend on night sky as cultural practices.
International Space Partnerships
As our scientific, technological and commercial capabilities advance, international partnerships become ever more essential to expanding human space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. From research conducted aboard the International Space Station National Laboratory to commercial crew flights to Mars – private-public partnerships drive innovation and open doors for our nation’s workers, students, and innovators.
Public-private partnerships foster greater diversity of ideas when devising solutions to modern challenges, while opening doors to international cooperation that wouldn’t otherwise exist without our global partners’ help.
International partners share our commitment to the safety, stability, security and long-term sustainability of space activities. Together with likeminded nations we are working on setting standards of responsible behavior such as openness, transparency and predictability in space to facilitate detection and attribution of actions that violate these principles in space.
As part of its efforts, DOT is working toward the mutual recognition of launch safety approvals between nations in order to avoid double licensing for an activity. We will also collaborate closely with our partners on efforts aimed at managing environmental risks related to space activities such as crowding in low Earth orbit and debris build-up.
Space Traffic Management
Space traffic management encompasses a comprehensive set of practices, standards and procedures designed to safely navigate space from all directions to avoid collisions, space debris or the loss of essential satellites. To be effective it requires international cooperation to coordinate activities and establish norms of behavior. US departments and agencies should encourage positive behaviors by offering incentives like free NOAA maps or weather updates when using an AIS system while discouraging malign ones by employing diplomacy as a form of national power.
SSA and STM both require continuous investments in research, development, and technology in order to better characterize the space environment, develop hardware and software to enhance SSA capabilities, expand beyond Earth orbit into deep space, and prevent advanced space technology from falling into unauthorized hands while safeguarding America’s competitive advantage in space industrial production. They must work alongside likeminded international and private partners in order to prevent technology transfer without authorization while safeguarding competitiveness within America’s space industrial base.
Companies specializing in on-orbit servicing often struggle to navigate the regulatory environment. The government’s mission authorization process is complex and involves different agencies overseeing launch and communications activities – one company noted the difficulty in trying to negotiate contracts with multiple agency heads at once.
Space Exploration and Scientific Research
National space programs traditionally focused on scientific research in outer space. This activity was often considered an indicator of a country’s technological prowess and organizational ability; many governments prioritized their space programs with hopes of accomplishing dramatic feats like landing people on the Moon – further showing off their technological prowess and organizational prowess.
Governments have also shown their concern for their nations’ ability to defend themselves in space, by investing in military capabilities related to space defense and planning for potential hostile actions in outer space. Deterring aggression or attacks through outer space requires coordination among diplomatic, information, military, economic strategies which discourage hostile behavior.
As part of its efforts to maintain its leadership and preeminence in space technology, the United States has sought to protect its advanced space technology from falling into unauthorized hands. For this purpose, they are working closely with like-minded international and private partners on best practices for SSA, STM, debris mitigation. Agency heads will work diligently in supporting these activities as necessary – specifically providing opportunities for research in these fields both commercially and academically.
Space Policy Directives
An active, competitive, and innovative commercial space sector is integral to national security objectives, economic development, scientific discovery, international partnerships and collaboration, and the growth of our global economy. President Trump and the National Space Council (NSC) will continue their support by creating an environment conducive to innovative entrepreneurship while maintaining America’s leadership role in creating new markets.
Maintain a timely and responsive regulatory environment for licensing commercial space activities without using Federal subsidies, while taking an active leadership role in international fora to advocate policies that promote full and open access to environmental data on equitable terms.
Encourage government space operations practices which counter cyber threats and ensure continuity of operations, and support the creation of a Space Force as a means to address emerging threats to our constantly changing universe.
Executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall implement space policy guidelines according to their missions and authorities, taking into account aspects such as space station operations (SSA, STM), national security considerations and object transparency considerations (U.S. Space Object Registry). Furthermore, agencies shall lead on matters such as international engagement on issues like object transparency. Finally, agencies shall advocate for norms of behavior, best practices and standards which promote safe and responsible spaceflight.
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