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Military Satellites

Report

Realising the Ambitions of the UK's Defence Space Strategy: Factors Shaping Implementation to 2030

This study provides an initial look at the factors influencing the implementation of the Defence Space Strategy to 2030 and the strengths and weaknesses of the UK space enterprise. It also includes a decision support tool for capability management.

Feb 17, 2022
Journal Article

Strategic and Legal Implications of Emerging Dual-Use ASAT Systems

This article addresses the dual-use conundrum of space technology, examining where the threshold lies for anti-satellite systems.

Jan 6, 2022
Journal Article

Written Evidence Submitted by RAND Europe: SPDF0020 Space Defence

This document provides RAND Europe's submission of evidence in relation to the UK House of Commons Defence Select Committee's July 2021 call for evidence on space defence.

Jul 30, 2021
Blog

Vaccine Hesitancy, Working from Home, Arctic Diplomacy: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on vaccine hesitancy as a symptom of ‘Truth Decay,’ how to make remote work beneficial for all, U.S. Arctic diplomacy, and more.

May 21, 2021
Report

Weighing the Costs of GPS Disruption and Developing Backup Capabilities

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has a key role in national positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), but it is far from the only source of capability for PNT. Would national investment in GPS backup capabilities be warranted, given the potential threats to its functioning?

May 17, 2021
Commentary

Space Safety Coordination: A Norm for All Nations

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.

Apr 16, 2019
Essay

70 Years of Innovation at RAND

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.

May 9, 2018
Blog

Mert Davies: All-Star Pioneer of the Cosmos

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.

Jan 5, 2018
Report

The U.S.-Japan Alliance and Deterring Gray Zone Coercion in the Maritime, Cyber, and Space Domains

China is trying to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific through gray zone coercion -- actions below the threshold that would trigger a military response. This report focuses on deterring such coercion in the maritime, cyber, and space domains.

Nov 20, 2017
Report

The Creation of the PLA Strategic Support Force and Its Implications for Chinese Military Space Operations

This report explores the missions and organization of China's Strategic Support Force, created in 2015 to develop and employ space capabilities, in particular launch and operation of satellites to provide C4ISR capabilities for joint operations.

Nov 10, 2017
Report

Innovation in the United States Air Force

An assessment of historical cases of Air Force innovation — or apparent failure to innovate — sheds light on whether the service is sufficiently innovative today and what can be done to make it more innovative for the future.

May 13, 2016
Report

Past Problems and Future Challenges in the Acquisition of Military Space Systems

As Department of Defense plans for the next-generation space systems in an increasingly challenging fiscal and security environment, it is important to apply lessons learned from past space acquisition, which had experienced many difficulties.

Mar 30, 2015
Commentary

What if Distracted Driving Was Safe?

According to consumer research, the ability to consume media, write an email, or even sleep during transport is a key selling point for self-driving cars, which could be available in the near future. Autonomous vehicle technology could also produce a wide range of public benefits.

Jul 1, 2014
Report

Evaluation of National Institute of Justice–Funded Geospatial Software Tools: Technical and Utility Assessments to Improve Tool Development, Dissemination, and Usage

A geospatial software tool-evaluation study assessed 14 recent tool developments funded by the National Institute of Justice. The study integrates input from tool developers and tool users with RAND's independent tool assessments.

Apr 3, 2014
Commentary

Satellites for Rent

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.

Nov 8, 2013
Journal Article

Detecting Ionospheric TEC Perturbations Caused by Natural Hazards Using a Global Network of GPS Receivers: The Tohoku Case Study

Recent advances in GPS data processing have demonstrated that ground-based GPS receivers are capable of detecting ionospheric TEC perturbations caused by surface-generated Rayleigh, acoustic and gravity waves.

Dec 1, 2012
Dissertation

Actualizing Flexible National Security Space Systems

Three essays that address some of the challenges associated with improving the flexibility of National Security Space capabilities.

Nov 15, 2011
Report

Improving the Cost Estimation of Space Systems

Why have the costs of acquiring space systems been so high? What are the sources of the problems? To answer these questions, RAND researchers examined the sources of cost growth of Air Force space systems and undertook an extensive study of two space systems.

Jul 25, 2008
Report

Space Command Sustainment Review: Improving the Balance Between Current and Future Capabilities

Space assets are vital to the economic, social, and military interests of the United States. Sustainment complexities suggest a need to define a AFSPC commandwide sustainment philosophy separating demand, supply, and integrator processes.

Jun 17, 2007
Report

New Metrics Show How Investments Affect Space System Performance

As space systems age, the U.S. Air Force Space Command needs to understand how budgeting for the maintenance and sustainment of ground segments affects the performance of their associated space systems. New metrics and models can help this process.

Apr 14, 2007

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RAND Topic:
Military Satellites

Topic Synonyms:
MILSAT