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1 1 (March 20, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/goveatn0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Inforrning the legislative debate since 1914 Challenges to the United States in Space Preserving key U.S. national security and economic interests depends on the continued and widespread use of space-based systems. Satellites are as essential to military and intelligence operations as fighters, warships, and combat vehicles. Major portions of the global economy now rely on space systems; they facilitate modern banking, communications, agriculture, transportation, as well as a host of other commercial and civil activities. A June 2015 Department of Homeland Security report estimated $1.6 trillion of annual U.S. business revenues heavily depend on satellites. Space systems are now a permanent and seamless component in the nation's critical infrastructure, often seen as essential as the electrical grid or the highway system. In fact, the entire global financial system depends on GPS, for instance. Space, however, is no longer the exclusive domain of great powers, nor does it remain a sanctuary for science and exploration, free from conflict. In fact, U.S. officials and others are increasingly referring to space as a warfighting domain. Adversaries are aware of U.S. space superiority and understand the critical reliance on space systems to achieve U.S. national interests. Many analysts believe it prudent to plan for a future in which space is increasingly competitive, congested, and contested. Competitive Nations with comprehensive space programs possess distinct military, economic, and scientific advantages, but complexity, expense, and barriers to entry mean that still only a few nations have comprehensive space capabilities. The rise of a robust global commercial space sector is rapidly altering the picture. Direct spending annually exceeds $300 billion, with more than two-thirds in the commercial sector. Well over $100 billion in annual revenues arises from commercial space data services (mostly direct-to-home television). Over $100 billion derives from commercial space equipment manufacturing. Finally, governments spend about $80 billion per year on space programs, with the U.S. government spending roughly 60% of that $80 billion. Most space technologies have become dual-use, and commercial space revenues now dwarf investments by governments. This creates a dilemma. Governments regulate their space industries for strategic reasons, but more and more, nations also compete in the far-less regulated commercial space market. Eleven nations now have the space industrial capacity to develop, manufacture, launch, and operate their own space systems. More than 50 nations have purchased and operate satellites and have partial elements of a space industrial base. U.S., European, Russian, and Japanese firms still dominate, but India and China possess comprehensive and rapidly growing space Updated March 20, 2018 industries. China is especially aggressive in capturing market share in developing nations. Nations as diverse as South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are pursuing commercial space industries. Although the global space economy has grown steadily over the past decade, the market is finite. At the same time, analysts note that the competitiveness of a nation's commercial space industry has major implications on its ability to field affordable national security space systems. Most observers believe that maintaining a healthy U.S. space industry over the long term could require finding a better balance between viewing the space industry as a strategic military asset and allowing its firms to compete in the expanding global commercial space market. A key focus area is the U.S. national security launch market. Since the early 2000s, a joint Boeing Lockheed venture, United Launch Alliance (ULA), provided the Air Force with a number of certified launchers, the Atlas and Delta rockets. A new competitor, SpaceX, entered that market, gaining certification for its Falcon-9 launcher while lowering launch costs. Although the Falcon-9 cannot launch the heaviest national security payloads, SpaceX recently test launched the Falcon Heavy, which is designed to carry such payloads; its certification timeline is unknown. In response, ULA is building the new Vulcan launcher, hoping that a modern design achieves performance at a cost competitive with SpaceX. Many observers believe that market dynamics have the potential to reduce prices, but they also require monitoring to ensure uninterrupted strategic access to certified U.S. launchers. The existing Atlas and Delta inventory and the Falcon-9 are expected to provide sufficient certified launchers to meet national security requirements for the next few years as market dynamics settle. However, developing new rockets remains challenging, and timelines and certifications may not go as planned. This is especially true in light of broader global market pressures facing U.S. launch companies. Worldwide, the number of launch contracts available for competition averages just 20-25 per year. Arianespace in Europe has historically dominated this market, followed by Russia. China and India are taking market share as well. Launch supply may soon outstrip global demand. Estimates predict a dip in U.S. government launch demand coincident with SpaceX and ULA fielding their new launchers. The U.S. launch sector likely faces small margins for error in crafting future development and production plans. Congested There are over 1,000 active satellites in orbit. However, nearly all satellites operate in just three key orbital regimes. https://crsreports.cong

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