RAND Space Enterprise Initiative

Focus Areas

The initiative builds on long-standing RAND relationships across the national and international space domains to marshal the broad perspectives necessary for optimizing the exercise of space power.

Space Policy and Strategy

The initiative offers U.S. space policy sponsors unmatched synergies by connecting the results of space policy research done for a wide spectrum of U.S. agencies, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Intelligence Community, the Space Force, and USSPACECOM. RAND's research spans the work of these and other U.S. agencies. The initiative links, informs, and reinforces projects of mutual interest.

Space Operations

The initiative offers uniquely high value to sponsors seeking assistance with space operations, given the RAND operations research already being performed for U.S. military services and RAND's ability to spot the linkages between service operations and space operations, even when the topic of a service project is not directly related to space.

Space Capabilities and Resources

RAND's extensive engineering expertise drives capability and resource decisions across numerous U.S. and allied defense agencies. By serving as a hub for research on space capabilities and resources, with expertise emanating from all programs across RAND, the initiative offers sponsors greater insights than those that could be obtained by relying on any single research division.

Space Allies and Partners

Drawing on its international reach and experience, RAND provides valuable insights and recommendations to national security sponsors around the world. The RAND Space Enterprise Initiative provides an additional means for sponsors to collaborate with global allies and partners to create mutually beneficial relationships and opportunities in space.

Latest Space Publications

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  Assessing the Readiness of Contractor-Provided Space Operations Capabilities January 3, 2022

  Anthony D. Rosello, Muharrem Mane, Paul Emslie

  There are a significant number of private contractors performing space operations functions and tasks for the Air Force. The Air Force has systems to track the readiness of operational military units, but no equivalent readiness information exists for contractors and the missions they perform to support space operations. The authors of this report provide recommendations on how the Air Force can better monitor the readiness of these personnel.

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  Launching into the Future: 75 Years of Excellence in Space Research at RAND November 23, 2021

  RAND is proud to celebrate 75 years of excellence in space research and analysis. In this document, we spotlight a small number of reports to highlight the range of our contributions and celebrate our commitment to making a difference for decades to come.

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  Tailoring Deterrence for China in Space July 27, 2021

  Krista Langeland, Derek Grossman

  As the United States has become increasingly reliant on space-based capabilities, protecting them has become vital to national security, especially in the face of China's ambitions for superiority in space. Considering the application of classical deterrence theory to the space domain, the authors show how and why China's own objectives should be considered in building a tailored deterrence strategy for China in space.

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  Responsible Space Behavior for the New Space Era: Preserving the Province of Humanity April 26, 2021

  Bruce McClintock, Katie Feistel, Douglas C. Ligor, Kathryn O'Connor

  The past two decades have seen the start of a New Space Era characterized by more spacefaring nations and companies and a growing risk of collisions and conflict, yet the basic mechanisms for governing space activities have only marginally changed since their creation 50 years ago. The authors of this Perspective assess problem areas and barriers to progress and offer suggestions to improve space governance and responsible space behavior.

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  West Coast Aerospace Forum 2020: Aerospace Vision for the Future February 19, 2021

  David Abba, Richard Danzig, David A. Deptula, Mackenzie Eaglen, Eric Fanning, Tim Grayson, Bob Hale, Todd Harrison, Edward R. Harshberger, Clinton Hinote, et al.

  The 6th annual West Coast Aerospace Forum in December 2020 featured discussions between some of the Department of the Air Force's most senior and experienced leaders and top civilian national security experts. The theme of this event was "An Aerospace Vision for the Future." Topics included the future shape of the world order, the U.S. defense budget outlook, the changing national security landscape, and the new National Defense Strategy.

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