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Outer Space

Transportation Safety

commentary
Enter Outer Space at Your Own Risk?
Since 2004, federal law has barred most participant safety regulations and leaves nearly all issues of safety up to the discretion of the company providing the service. It's time to allow the moratorium on regulation to expire and allow the development of safety standards, led by the FAA.
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May 16, 2023
Space News
Douglas C. Ligor @DougLigor, Josh Becker

Emerging Technologies

blog
RAND Turns 75: A Look Through the Decades At World-Changing Research
From anticipating the Space Age in the 1940s to studying gun policy and COVID-19 responses in the 2020s, RAND is celebrating 75 years of research that has made a difference.
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May 8, 2023
Space Exploration

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Regulating Space, Threats to Critical Infrastructure, Psychedelics: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the need for governance in outer space, why the recent FAA system failure was a wake-up call, the changing policy landscape around psychedelic therapies, and more.
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Jan 20, 2023
Gun Policy

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U.S. Gun Laws, China's COVID Outbreak, Space in 2050: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on gun policy in America, the myth of America's “Ukraine fatigue,” the COVID outbreak in China, and more.
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Jan 13, 2023
Space Science and Technology

essay
What Might Space Look Like in 2050?
It would not take huge technological breakthroughs to make space and space travel a much bigger part of everyday life. Instead, it would take a steady progression of incremental advances—and one development in particular could provide the tipping point.
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Jan 5, 2023
International Law

essay
The Calls for More Progress on Space Governance Are Growing Louder
Space may seem infinite, but the narrow band that hugs the Earth, where satellites and space stations operate, is not. Existing space treaties won't be enough to keep satellites safe, to prevent crowding and collisions, and to preserve the promise of outer space.
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Jan 5, 2023
China

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Taiwan, Putin's Holy War, Mining the Moon: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on why China likely won't attack Taiwan anytime soon, Vladimir Putin's “holy war” in Ukraine, why it's time to make rules for space-mining, and more.
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Nov 25, 2022
Space Exploration

commentary
Governance in Space: Mining the Moon and Beyond
Without further cooperation and agreement among space powers, multiple, competing governance systems may end up being established, further increasing potential for conflict. The time to address this issue is now, so that the use of deep-space resources contributes to prosperity, security, and freedom on Earth and throughout the solar system.
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Nov 18, 2022
The Hill
Jan Osburg, Mary Lee @MaryLee_PhD
Global Climate Change

commentary
Why Not Space Mirrors?
Giant space mirrors can reflect solar radiation away from Earth, potentially helping to address the effects of climate change. But decisionmakers need more information about this technology to determine if it's a viable option.
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Oct 19, 2022
The RAND Blog
Emmi Yonekura
Cannabis

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Legalizing Cannabis, the Russian Nuclear Threat, Digital Offshoring: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on cannabis legalization, the Russian nuclear threat, the effects of digital offshoring, and more.
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Oct 14, 2022
Taiwan

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Microchips, Ukraine, Outer Space: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on how safeguarding Taiwan is the answer to America's microchip problem, a moment of clarity in Ukraine, new rules in space, and more.
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Oct 7, 2022
Veterans Health Care

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Veterans Health Care, Media Literacy, Sleep Retreats: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the challenges of VA community care, the importance of improving middle schoolers' media literacy skills, tips to improve sleep, and more.
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Sep 9, 2022
Teachers and Teaching

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Back to School, Vaccinating Kids, Space Security: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the well-being of America's educators, the effort to vaccinate kids and teens, security in outer space, and more.
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Sep 2, 2022
Security Cooperation

commentary
Reduce Friction in Space by Amending the 1967 Outer Space Treaty
Space has the potential to be a domain in which current great-power competitions and frictions can be mediated. The international community might consider updating the existing space legal regime to ensure it meets current political, economic, social, and technical challenges.
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Aug 26, 2022
War on the Rocks
Douglas C. Ligor @DougLigor
Teachers and Teaching

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Politicized Topics in School, the War in Ukraine, Post-Quantum Cryptography: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on the intrusion of politicized topics in America's schools, where the war in Ukraine may be headed, post-quantum cryptography, and more.
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Aug 12, 2022
Space Science and Technology

commentary
Russia's Withdrawal from the ISS: Another Sign of Its Space Decline?
Russia's threatened exit from the International Space Station could simply be more bluster from Moscow at a time of heightened tension between Russia and the West over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But it also appears to be another signal that Russia's profile in space is in decline, a trend that is likely to continue and that the United States could be preparing for now.
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Aug 4, 2022
United Press International
Bruce McClintock @BHMcClintock, Jan Osburg

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