New directions for national security space programs

Space capabilities are increasingly central to United States national security operations. In the coming decades, as commercial space importance rises, the U.S. national security community must come to grips with how to protect these vital economic elements. To do this the United States Air Force (USAF) should assume this protection role and develop the necessary means for rapid affordable access to space and maneuver in space. These technical capabilities include reusable launch vehicles - space-planes and 100kg-class maneuverable satellites - micros-satellites. As the USAF assumes more non-warfighting roles it should also assume, as part of its necessary space control functions responsibility for identification and mitigation of natural space threats such as Near-Earth Asteroids or NEOs.