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RAND was an early leader in the field of space science, producing seminal works in the design, launch, and operation of satellites in the 1940s and '50s. RAND continues to pursue space studies: Current topics include international cooperation (and the United States' dependency on foreign components), orbital debris (or "space junk"), and the funding of space missions.

Report

Responsible Space Behavior for the New Space Era

Apr 26, 2021

The early space domain was dominated by two superpowers. Today, the world has more than 60 spacefaring nations, multiple commercial space operators, and a global economy that is inextricably linked to space. Now is the time to develop responsible space norms.
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Introducing the RAND Space Enterprise Initiative

Sep 4, 2020

RAND Space Enterprise Initiative lead Bruce McClintock describes the mission and goals of the Space Enterprise Initiative and the importance of making space research available to all.

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Journal Article

IFOG Technology for Gyrocompass Applications

Interferometric fiber optic gyros (IFOGs) were fabricated and evaluated to demonstrate the feasibility of their use as rotation rate sensors within replacement gyrocompass systems.

Jun 1, 1995
Research Brief

A Policy Direction for the Global Positioning System: Balancing National Security and Commercial Interests

The evolution of GPS into an information system with a substantial international user community has raised complex policy questions for U.S. decisionmakers on a variety of issues affecting national defense, commerce, and foreign policy.

Jan 1, 1995
Report

Modeling Global Positioning System Effects in the TLC/NLC Model

Presents a design for incorporating Global Positioning System (GPS) into RAND's theater-level combat or nonlinear combat (TLC/NLC) model, which is used for policy analysis of military operations.

Jan 1, 1994
Journal Article

Estimating Spares Requirements for Space Station Freedom: Using the M-SPARE Model

In this guide, we describe the M-SPARE methodology, operation, and analytical capabilities.

Jul 1, 1993
Report

Photogrammetric Algorithms and Software for Spacecraft Optical Imaging Systems

Describes photogrammetric algorithms and software that can be used with data obtained from spacecraft optical imaging systems.

Sep 8, 1992
Journal Article

A Rate Integrating Fiber Optic Gyro

In the past, fiber optic gyros have generally been viewed as angular rate sensors. However, for inertial navigation purposes, a rate integrating gyro characteristic is desired.

Jun 1, 1991
Report

The Geometry of a Satellite-Ballistic Missile Engagement

This Note describes in mathematical terms the dynamic geometry between a constellation of satellites deployed for ballistic missile defense (BMD) and the missiles the satellites are engaging.

Jan 1, 1988
Report

Excess Capacity in International Telecommunications: Poor Traffic Forecasting or What?

Under international cooperative arrangements, governments and private firms have been remarkably successful in building worldwide systems of communications satellites and undersea cables.

Jan 1, 1986
Report

Improving MILSATCOM Acquisition Outcomes: Lease Versus Buy

Military satellite communication systems will cost taxpayers billions of dollars. The magnitude of these costs and their distribution in the economy will be directly affected by whether public policymakers choose to lease or to buy these systems.

Jan 1, 1985
Report

Commercial and Military Communication Satellite Acquisition Practices

... tests the contention that the commercial sector consistently manages acquisition programs better than the military.

Jan 1, 1985
Report

Interference problems for nongeostationary satellites

The interference problems faced by nongeostationary satellites may be of major significance. A general discussion indicates the scope of the problems and describes several configurations of importance. Computer programs are described, which are empl...

Jan 1, 1984
Report

A Development of Logistics Management Models for the Space Transportation System

This report identifies the characteristics of logistics system capability assessment and stockage optimization methods that reflect the unique nature of NASA's Space Transportation System's (STS) launch and recovery cycle.

Jan 1, 1983
Report

PACSAT: A Passive Communication Satellite for Survivable Command and Control

Examines passive communication satellites as alternatives to active communication satellites in the hostile environment that may exist in the postattack period of a nuclear war.

Jan 1, 1981
Report

Measuring the Impact of Launch Operations Upon Satellite Effectiveness

The successful operation of a space launch system is vital to the maintenance and improvement of satellite operations. This Note demonstrates that a method exists for quantifying this dependence relationship, laying the groundwork for a cost-effectiveness analysis of alternative backup launch systems.

Jun 1, 1980
Report

Coordinates of features on the Galilean satellites

Control nets of the four Galilean satellites have been established photogrammetrically from pictures taken by the two Voyager spacecraft during their flybys of Jupiter in 1979. Coordinates of 504 points on Io, 112 points on Europa, 1,547 points on G...

Jan 1, 1980
Report

Concepts of Signal Acquisition and Processing for Use With a Passive Space Communication Array

A passive communication satellite is attractive for relaying strategic messages between distant points under conditions where active communication satellite and other terrestrial links have been negated.

Jan 1, 1980
Report

Satellite Constellations for Worldwide and Hemisphere Coverage

The satellite constellations discussed in this Note are designed to maximize the probability that one or more of the satellites in the constellation will always be at an elevation angle of 20 degrees or more above the horizon of the ground station.

Jan 1, 1979
Report

Cost-Effectiveness Measures of Replenishment Strategies for Systems of Orbital Spacecraft

Describes the differences and similarities of the three most common simulation programs employed and establishes a simpler, closed form approximation which may be implemented on a desk-top calculator.

Jan 1, 1979
Report

The Feasibility of Employing Frequencies between 20 and 300 GHz for Earth-Satellite Communications Links

Develops a model for estimating in a new way the statistical distributions of signal attenuation, sky noise temperature, and total atmospheric-induced degradation.

Jan 1, 1978
Report

Application of Electron Beams in Space for Energy Storage and Optical Beam Generation

Examination is made of the potential for in-space-propagated electron beams for storage rings that buffer solar energy collected in low-orbit-altitude satellites.

Jan 1, 1978

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