In the increasingly competitive realm of space, the United States’ position is slipping, warns a new bipartisan Council on Foreign Relations Task Force led by Co-chairs Nina M. Armagno and Jane Harman, and Project Director Esther D. Brimmer.

As outer space becomes increasingly congested and contested, especially in low Earth orbit, the United States risks losing its leadership role in a critical strategic domain.

The Task Force report, Securing Space: A Plan for U.S. Action, asserts that space is a strategic imperative for the United States and addresses issues such as space debris, the growing role of the commercial sector, and challenges from China and Russia.

While the United States and U.S. companies, such as SpaceX, have dominated the domain, China launched over five hundred objects into space, built its own orbiting space station, and placed two landers on the far side of the moon. China and Russia have also developed the means to divert, disable, or destroy U.S. space assets. 

The increase in space activity has led to massive increases in orbital debris, which poses significant risks to the existing network of satellites and to future expansion that concerns the entire international space community.

The Task Force report recommends that the United States:

• make space a top national priority;
• revitalize global space leadership;
• enhance deterrence to reduce the vulnerability of space assets;
• manage competition and seek strategic engagement with China;
• build on existing international regimes to improve space traffic management;
• channel the expertise of the commercial sector; and
• treat space as a global commons.

Actions taken—or not taken—now will shape human activity in space for decades.

The United States “needs to act now to address threats to space assets; champion space traffic management to support the growing space economy; and incorporate commercial perspectives into civilian and national security space policy.”

Council on Foreign Relations

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