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Military Satellites

Commentary
Encouraging Consistency in National Security Transparency
The United States remains the leader in space in both national security and commercial capabilities. Greater transparency about existing on-orbit systems that are already detected by many is an important next step that could bolster U.S. credibility while also aiding deterrence.
Oct 16, 2023
Report
Leveraging Commercial Space Services: Opportunities and Risks for the Department of the Air Force
RAND researchers evaluated two commercial space markets to understand opportunities, challenges, and risks that the Department of the Air Force could encounter when making decisions to invest in commercial space capabilities.
Sep 6, 2023
Report
The Resilience Assessment Framework: Assessing Commercial Contributions to U.S. Space Force Mission Resilience
This report describes the resilience assessment framework that RAND Project AIR FORCE developed to assess the potential impact of integrating select commercial space services on U.S. Space Force mission performance.
Apr 27, 2023
Report
First Mover Typology for the Space Domain: Building a Foundation for Future Analysis
The authors offer a categorization and nuanced views of first moves in military strategy as a basis for understanding and further analysis of first mover advantage in the space domain.
Jan 25, 2023
Report
Cross-Domain Lessons for Space Traffic Management: An Analysis of Air and Maritime Treaty Governance Mechanisms
In this report, the authors examine the treaty-based governance systems from both the air and maritime domains as potential models for the development of an international space traffic management system.
Jan 25, 2023
Commercial Book
Practical Geolocation for Electronic Warfare Using MATLAB
This text explores the practical realities that arise from the employment of geolocation for electronic warfare in real-world systems.
Sep 2, 2022
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

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RAND Topic:
Military Satellites

Topic Synonyms:
MILSAT

Researcher Spotlight

Mel Eisman

Senior Operations Research Analyst

Mel Eisman is a senior operations research analyst at the RAND Corporation. He has generated system life-cycle cost estimates for analysis of alternative studies on future Air Force airborne tanker and airborne electronic attack options, and participated in cost-effectiveness studies of (1)…
Michelle D. Ziegler

Senior Technical Analyst

Michelle Ziegler is a senior technical analyst working with the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She has an extensive background with quantitative and qualitative analyses, methodology development, and a robust publication history. Ziegler’s work ranges from…

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