As America’s adversaries make significant strides in their space programs, it has become abundantly clear that the United States needs a reliable space strategy to maintain its leadership on the global stage.
Without a coherent plan, its national security — both through military and diplomatic power — could be placed at severe risk.
China’s Stunning Progress
China’s steady march toward space supremacy is becoming a major concern for the US.
A recently published New York Times report highlighted the incredible advancements of China’s space program.
While other nations’ spaceflight plans have faced years of delays, it noted, China completed the assembly in orbit of its Tiangong space station “only 22 months later than planned.”
US Space Force staff director Lt. General Nina Armagno described this progress as “stunning – stunningly fast.”
More alarmingly, the 2022 State of the Space Industrial Base report warned that China could become the dominant nation in space as early as 2045.
NASA vs. Commercial Companies
The lack of a clear and cohesive long-term vision for US space strategy that sustains economic, technological, and defense leadership has allowed China to close the gap.
This issue stems largely from the division between NASA’s traditional national asset approach and the rise of commercial companies offering spaceflight as a service.
While commercial programs create great opportunities, they also present challenges that cannot be ignored.
NASA focuses on scientific advancement, exploration, and discovery, whereas commercial companies are typically driven by profitability and shareholder interests.
These competing priorities fracture America’s space strategy, creating vulnerabilities and potential service gaps for both the nation and its allies.
A more collaborative approach would be the best path forward, leveraging the strengths of both sectors to ensure America’s continued leadership in space.
Learning From the Past
In the 1960s, America won the space race and established itself as the dominant space power due to a clear vision, strong leadership, and private sector innovation aligned with national objectives.
However, in recent years, the country has fallen short. While the creation of the Space Force was a significant step, it is only one piece of the puzzle. Reinvigorating NASA and fostering a robust public-private partnership will also be critical.
Relying solely on private companies to drive space leadership is problematic. Businesses operate with profit as their primary goal, making it difficult for them to invest billions into strategically critical initiatives that may not yield immediate returns.
A notable example is SpaceX’s decision to halt funding for Starlink, the satellite internet service aiding Ukraine in its war against Russia. SpaceX requested that the Defense Department assume more of the financial burden, citing the immense costs.
While the company ultimately chose to continue funding the service and later secured a Defense Department contract, the situation underscored the risks of depending on private entities for national security-critical services.
Role of NASA in New Space Strategy
This same risk applies to scientific and space programs. NASA must embrace its authority and responsibility to lead US space strategy while also helping create markets and architectures for commercial space models.
A purely commercial approach is too risky, as it exposes American interests to unforeseen pressures.
As part of a new space strategy, NASA and the US government must outline a clear vision for how civilian space assets can align with national goals for space exploration.
A cohesive, long-term plan is necessary to maintain scientific and exploratory objectives while cementing America’s dominance in space.
By leveraging the strengths of both its established space program and the innovation of domestic commercial enterprises, the United States can secure its future in space exploration, national defense, and homeland security.
George Landrith is President of Frontiers of Freedom, a think tank founded by former US Senator Malcolm Wallop to promote the principles of peace through strength.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Defense Post.
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