U.S. National Space Policy

Abstract

The President authorized a new national space policy on August 31, 2006 that establishes overarching national policy that governs the conduct of U.S. space activities. This policy supersedes Presidential Decision Directive/NSC-49/NSTC-8, National Space Policy, dated September 14, 1996. For five decades, the United States has led the world in space exploration and use and has developed a solid civil, commercial, and national security space foundation. Space activities have improved life in the United States and around the world, enhancing security, protecting lives and the environment, speeding information flow, serving as an engine for economic growth, and revolutionizing the way people view their place in the world and the cosmos. Space has become a place that is increasingly used by a host of nations, consortia, businesses, and entrepreneurs. In this new century, those who effectively utilize space will enjoy added prosperity and security and will hold a substantial advantage over those who do not. Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power. In order to increase knowledge, discovery, economic prosperity, and to enhance the national security, the United States must have robust, effective, and efficient space capabilities.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 31, 2006
Accession Number
ADA489005

Entities

Organizations

  • Executive Office of the President of the United States

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Foreign Policy
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Intelligence (Information Gathering)
  • Intelligence Collection
  • Intelligence Community (United States)
  • International Organizations
  • National Security
  • Radio Frequency
  • Situational Awareness
  • Space Debris
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Economics

Technology Areas

  • Space