Aerospace

Capacity Building
commentary
Protecting the U.S. Supply on Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles
Bonnie L. Triezenberg
May 6, 2020
The RAND Blog
Our recent RAND report on the global heavy lift launch market highlights the potential for a near term shortage of launch vehicles needed to lift U.S. defense and intelligence satellites to orbit. These satellites are the eyes, ears, networks and timekeepers of U.S. armed services, and an inability to launch them in times of need could compromise national security.
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Delphi Method
blog
How Accurate Were Predictions for the Future?
Jul 14, 2020
Anticipating the risks and opportunities posed by all kinds of change is a RAND specialty. In 1964, using RAND's now-famous Delphi method, experts pondered topics like medical advancements, space, artificial intelligence, and controlling the weather.
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Russia
blog
Childhood Trauma, Space Traffic, China–Russia Relations: RAND Weekly Recap
Apr 26, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on a program that helps children exposed to trauma, making outer space safer, tighter China–Russia relations, and more.
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Satellite Communication
commentary
Space Safety Coordination: A Norm for All Nations
Bruce McClintock @BHMcClintock
Apr 16, 2019
Small Wars Journal
As space becomes more congested with satellites, the need for every nation to actively participate in the space safety coordination system grows. Most spacefaring countries participate, but a few countries do not—notably, Russia and China. That creates greater potential for collisions and hazards from debris.
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Communication Technology
essay
70 Years of Innovation at RAND
May 9, 2018
Seventy years ago, a group of researchers established the independent RAND Corporation. From the first satellite design, to helping ensure GPS as a public good, to laying the groundwork for the internet, RAND has been making a difference ever since.
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Ballistic Missiles
commentary
Hypersonic Missiles: A New Proliferation Challenge
Richard H. Speier
Mar 29, 2018
Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Within 10 years, hypersonic missiles are likely to be deployed and offered on the international market. But there is time for action by states that do not want hypersonic missiles to flourish in their neighborhoods. It is time to move toward heading off this threat while it is still possible to do so.
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Communication Systems
commentary
Our Reliance on Space Tech Means We Should Prepare for the Worst
James Black
Mar 12, 2018
Defense News
Space-enabled connectivity, technology, and services support a diverse array of political, military and economic activities, many of which modern life on Earth relies upon and which the public often takes for granted. How prepared is global society to deal with the growing reliance on this technology and to mitigate associated risks?
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Space Exploration
blog
Pursuing the Extraordinary Through Space Exploration
Jan 25, 2018
NASA astronaut Dr. Mae C. Jemison delivered RAND's 2018 Haskins Lecture. She discussed how the pursuit of interstellar travel benefits society, the vital role science plays in our lives, and the importance of continued investment in research and technology.
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Space Science and Technology
blog
Mert Davies: All-Star Pioneer of the Cosmos
Jan 5, 2018
Merton Davies spent his early years using satellite imagery to spy on terrestrial targets. His work led to the first successful reconnaissance satellite, Corona. Later, he used deep-space photographs to map the planets in our solar system.
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Space Science and Technology
commentary
Mining the Moon for Rocket Fuel to Get Us to Mars
Gary Li, Danielle DeLatte, Jerome Gilleron, Samuel Wald, Therese Marie Jones
May 16, 2017
The Conversation
Students from around the world participated in the 2017 Caltech Space Challenge. They proposed designs of what a lunar launch and supply station for deep space missions might look like, and how it would work.
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Space Science and Technology
commentary
The Democratization of Space
William Welser IV
Mar 28, 2016
Inside Sources
A new economic model for outer space must account for lower barriers to entry and the involvement of more and more stakeholders, such as developing countries and start-ups.
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Aerospace
commentary
RAND Conference Examines Chinese Aerospace Training and Leadership
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris
Jul 10, 2015
The RAND Blog
To help foster a better understanding of the aerospace component of China's military modernization efforts, participants from the U.S. Air Force, the DoD, and the public policy research and academic communities gathered for the inaugural China Aerospace Studies Institute conference.
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Space Science and Technology
commentary
Don't Worry About Russia Backing Away from Space and WMD Cooperation
Lisa Saum-Manning
Feb 27, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
Two symbols of U.S.-Russian cooperation are nearing the end of their life expectancies, the International Space Station and the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. But both stand as remarkable milestones of achievement and reminders of what can be accomplished when nations put aside political differences for the betterment of humanity.
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Space Science and Technology
blog
Space Talk Launches Politics Aside
Nov 14, 2014
Hundreds of guests packed the Cary Grant Theatre at Sony Studios Thursday night to kick off RAND's biennial Politics Aside event with a panel discussion on space technology, policy, and leadership.
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Supply Chain Management
commentary
Should the U.S. Rely on Russian Rocket Engines?
Jul 16, 2014
The RAND Blog
One of the two launch vehicles that lift U.S. satellites into orbit depends on a rocket engine made by a company located in Russia. Russia's recent clashes with Ukraine and its claims on the Crimean peninsula have caused friction with the United States and thereby raised questions among U.S. policymakers about the potential for an interruption in the supply of the engines.
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Transportation Safety
commentary
What if Distracted Driving Was Safe?
James M. Anderson
Jul 1, 2014
The RAND Blog
According to consumer research, the ability to consume media, write an email, or even sleep during transport is a key selling point for autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars), which could be widely available in the fairly near future. Autonomous vehicle technology could also produce a wide range of public benefits.
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Outer Space
commentary
Debris Poses Increased Threat to Exploration
William Welser IV, Dave Baiocchi
May 16, 2014
Houston Chronicle
Today, every satellite launch and maneuver is carefully coordinated because some orbits are strewn with the space-based equivalent of blown tires, abandoned vehicles, loose gravel and, of course, other traffic.
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Military Satellites
commentary
Satellites for Rent
Timothy M. Bonds, Isaac R. Porche III
Nov 8, 2013
U.S. News & World Report
Reports earlier this year that the U.S. Department of Defense leased a Chinese satellite to support military operations in Africa sparked concern that the arrangement could compromise control over U.S. military communications, or, worse, allow Chinese intelligence gatherers access to privileged military data.
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Space Exploration
blog
A Public-Private Model for Funding Space Missions
Jul 23, 2013
The future of manned space flight, including missions to Mars and other deep space destinations, will likely depend on the combined resources of governments and commercial enterprises, say Dave Baiocchi and William Welser.
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Military Budgets and Defense Spending
commentary
Kill the Space Launch System to Save Human Spaceflight
Peter A. Wilson
Apr 5, 2013
Aviation Week & Space Technology
Even in the face of a budgetary spending cap and the ever-looming possibility of new cuts, NASA continues investing in a robust and diverse human spaceflight program. But with fiscal uncertainty expected to continue, it should consider reordering its spending priorities.
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Satellites
commentary
Satellite Collision Is a Reminder of Challenges Posed by Space Debris
Dave Baiocchi, William Welser IV
Mar 15, 2013
The RAND Blog
This isn't going to be an easy problem to solve because, like spilled petroleum products, debris can spend years lurking in an environment that is foreign to most people's daily lives, write Dave Baiocchi and William Welser.
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Outer Space
commentary
The Effects of Celestial Events Go Beyond Their Impact
Dave Baiocchi, William Welser IV
Feb 20, 2013
The RAND Blog
While the event in Russia was caused by a medium-sized (10,000-ton) meteor, larger objects, like the asteroid 2012 DA14 that also passed near Earth last week, have the potential to be significantly more damaging, write Dave Baiocchi and William Welser.
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Satellite Communication
commentary
Intelsat Crash a Setback for Space Lift Competition
Dave Baiocchi, William Welser IV
Feb 12, 2013
The RAND Blog
Sea Launch's recent failure means more than just a lost payload and revenue for Intelsat: It means the status quo for launch services will continue for a while longer, write Dave Baiocchi and William Welser.
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Outer Space
commentary
Space: The Final Junkyard?
Caroline R. Milne, Peter D. Zimmerman
Apr 2, 2009
CNN
Celestial real estate is increasingly popular. Now that Iran has joined the space club, 10 countries have demonstrated the ability to launch a probe into orbit.... All in all more than 900 satellites, along with tens of thousands of bits of man-made space detritus, jockey for elbow room overhead, write Caroline S. Reilly and Peter D. Zimmerman.
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commentary
Let's Avoid Another Trans-Atlantic Feud
Seth G. Jones, F. Stephen Larrabee
Jan 13, 2006
International Herald Tribune
Published commentary by RAND staff: Let's Avoid Another Trans-Atlantic Feud, in International Herald Tribune.
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commentary
A Future for U.S.-China Space Cooperation?
John C. Baker, Kevin L. Pollpeter
Dec 13, 2004
Space News
Published commentary by RAND staff
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commentary
Atlantic Monthly and RAND View the Future
James A. Thomson @thomson0145
Aug 1, 2003
Atlantic Monthly
The Atlantic Monthly Magazine features a compilation of ten short essays written by experts at RAND, collectively titled Headlines Over the Horizon. The RAND authors examined developments in international and military affairs drawing little attention today that are expected to be major issues in the next three to five years.
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commentary
Intelligence in the Information Age; Spy Data For Sale
Kevin M. O'Connell
Apr 8, 2001
Newsday
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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