White Papers

Read the pdf version What do a human exploration program, a military branch, and a federal regulatory body have in common? Each of these entities contributed significantly to the development of space policy and U.S. space strategy in the past year and continue to be major contributors in 2022. This paper provides an overview and…

On-orbit satellite servicing is a complex topic that intersects many policy areas, such as space traffic management, space situational awareness, debris management, and the development of international standards and norms. This paper is an initial overview and reference point to on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. The paper covers the legislative history, regulatory environment, the main…

The space environment is a unique and critically important domain for our nation’s vital interests. With innovative platforms and satellite systems, space is an economic sphere and a high ground used for purposes of observation, communication, command and control, and positioning, navigation, and timing. The microgravity environment of space is critical for important research and…

Weather satellites are an essential component of U.S. weather monitoring and forecasting, generating billions of dollars in benefits for the nation every year. The next generation of weather satellites is currently being built, and both the polar-orbiting and geostationary programs are on track to meet their most recent estimated launch dates. However, a gap in…