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About the Transportation, Space, and Technology Program

Technological innovation is central to counterterrorism, critical infrastructures like transportation and energy systems, space enterprise, and nearly every other aspect of society. The Transportation, Space, and Technology Program will manage research on new technologies and their implications for the nation and the world. Projects in this program will focus on transportation systems and regulation, ports, space exploration, information and telecommunications technologies and regulation, federal research and development allocation, and social implications of emerging technologies.

Recent News and Publications

Evaluating the Viability of 100 Percent Container Inspection at America’s Ports — May 3, 2006

Currently, only 5 percent of containers arriving at U.S. seaports are inspected. A cost-benefit analysis indicates that 100 percent scanning is not currently feasible, but future technologies and process improvements may improve the cost effectiveness of inspection.

Summary Full Document

Do Federal Grant Programs Have a Gender Bias? — Sep. 12, 2005

Title IX ensures equal opportunities for women in any U.S. educational activity, including the distribution of federal R&D funding. An analysis of three federal grant programs reveals no gender bias in awards, with two possible exceptions.

Full Document Research Brief

Explaining the Potential of Hydrogen Fuel Cells — Jul. 26, 2005

Hydrogen fuel cells have the potential to produce electrical energy and power vehicles, but decisionmakers need to be better informed as to the benefits and risks of hydrogen-related programs and policies.

Full Document

Study Finds Airliner Anti-Missile Systems Too Expensive and Unreliable — Jan. 25, 2005

Equipping America's commercial airliners with systems to guard against attacks from shoulder-fired missiles is currently not cost-effective, but RAND-initiated research suggests the investment could be justified later if anti-missile systems are made more economical and reliable.

Full Document News Release

Radio Frequency Identification Reduces Workplace Privacy — Jan. 25, 2005

Companies use RFID workplace access cards to do more than just open doors, but explicit, written policies regarding card use are rare. Although these cards have public safety benefits, they also raise privacy concerns.

Full Document Research Brief