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Outer Space

Outer Space

RAND's research on outer space addresses the security, economic, and policy challenges of space exploration, commercialization, and governance. It provides insights to guide decisionmakers on maintaining space safety, sustainability, and international cooperation in an evolving global space environment.

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Research

Aug 31, 2026

Breaking Glass, Missing Hands: Addressing Workforce Constraints That Threaten the Resilience of the Space Industrial Base

U.S. space defense industrial base workforce shortfalls threaten the ability to reconstitute space capabilities after a conflict. The U.S. Space Force must invest now in STEM pipelines, technician training, and automation to build surge capacity.
Expert Insights

Jul 21, 2026

The Men and Women of Project Firestar—How the United States Developed the Labor Force to Colonize Titan: A Backcasting Analysis of Labor Force Requirements for U.S. Technoeconomic Leadership Through 2050

The authors examine the changes necessary to produce a U.S. labor force sufficient to sustain technoeconomic leadership through 2050 while achieving a prestige technoeconomic marvel comparable to the successful manned mission to the moon in 1969.
Research

Jul 14, 2026

Blind Spot Indicators for Space: Methodologies for Assessing the Competitive Balance Between the United States and China

In this report, the authors present methodologies for synthesizing space-related research and development efforts by the United States and China to project trends in future capabilities and operations that use space.
Research

Jul 10, 2026

The Weaponisation of Space and the Prospects for Insecurity Beyond Earth

As space assets increasingly serve dual-use purposes, the growing entanglement of commercial and military satellites and other infrastructures is creating a domain where ambiguity is not only a feature, but a weapon.
Research

Jul 9, 2026

Lessons for Europe and Italy from Other Space Powers: The Civil-Military Interconnection

The study examines how five space powers structure the civil-military interconnection in space, focusing on governance models, strategic priorities, the role of private actors, and implications for security and technological competitiveness.
Research

Jun 9, 2026

Navigating Duality in Space: Establishing a Foundational Understanding of Dual-Use Space Activities

This report synthesizes findings from a baseline report, three international stakeholder workshops, and other team engagements to examine the global landscape of dual-use space systems and offers recommendations for future norms.
Research

May 26, 2026

Challenges When Collaborating with China on Space Research and Technology: Common Practices and Risks

The authors present risks of participating in space sector research with research institutions based in China and share considerations for assessing international research collaboration opportunities.
Commentary

Mar 5, 2026

The Race to Mine the Moon Is On—And It Urgently Needs Some Clear International Rules

Binding international agreements—particularly between the great space powers—which emphasise principles of stewardship, clarify access rights, and support common benefits from lunar development would ensure the Moon becomes a proving ground for the equitable and sustainable development of space.
Commentary

Mar 2, 2026

How Russia Is Intercepting Communications from European Satellites

Russia has been secretly stalking European spacecraft since its invasion of Ukraine in 2014. What can Europe do about it?
Video

Feb 3, 2026

Duality in Space

RAND researchers discuss the challenges of defining and governing dual-use space systems—technologies that can serve both civilian and military purposes—across geographic regions and political contexts.
Expert Insights

Feb 3, 2026

Surveying Duality in Space: Volume II, Europe-Eurasia Workshop Insights on Developing, Deploying, and Governing Dual-Use Space Systems

These proceedings share details on a workshop about dual-use space systems (those capable of performing both civilian and military operations) with space stakeholders from Europe and the Middle East from government, private, and research sectors.
Expert Insights

Feb 3, 2026

Surveying Duality in Space: Volume III, Indo-Pacific Workshop Insights on Developing, Deploying, and Governing Dual-Use Space Systems

These proceedings share details on a workshop examining dual-use space systems (those capable of performing both civilian and military operations) that included space stakeholders from the Indo-Pacific from government, private, and research sectors.

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