Leveraging Commercial Space Services: Opportunities and Risks for the Department of the Air Force

Abstract

The expanding global commercial space industry offers new opportunities for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Technological advances in small satellites, lower launch costs, and innovative satellite applications may help DoD meet its mission requirements more efficiently and give it access to a broader innovation pool. The Department of the Air Force (DAF), particularly the U.S. Space Force (USSF), is increasing its partnership activities with the commercial space industry to take advantage of these opportunities. As the DAF makes investment decisions to leverage commercial space capabilities, it needs a better understanding of opportunities, risks, and challenges it might encounter.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 07, 2023
Accession Number
AD1209918

Entities

People

  • Barbara Bicksler
  • George Nacouzi
  • Jonathan Balk
  • Jonathan P. Wong
  • Karishma V. Patel
  • Krista Langeland
  • Krista R. Grocholski
  • Yool Kim

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Astronautics
  • Bandwidth
  • Business Administration
  • Frequency Bands
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Information Systems
  • Military Applications
  • Multiple Access
  • Navigation
  • Payload
  • Satellite Buses
  • Space Force
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Unmanned Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Economics
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space