The Trump administration is seeking to make America an international leader in the space sector, recognizing that a beneficial partnership with private industry is crucial to achieving that goal. Amid widespread criticism about immigration policies and separating families in detention centers and action that the President says will push Congress to work towards a long-term solution, President Trump celebrated a win this month with advances made to further the United States’ interest in space.
The President signed Space Policy Directive-3, the National Space Traffic Management Policy, and announced the creation of the Space Force, a new branch of the military. The policy aims to focus on developing space as an international asset, while managing the infrastructure that will be required to do so responsibly.
Space Policy Directive-3 includes guidelines for both government and commercial interests in space. It will “focus on protecting U.S. space assets and interests” that “considers the private sector’s needs.”
Space Policy Directive – 3 provides guidelines and direction to ensure the United States is a leader in providing a safe and secure environment as commercial and civil space traffic increases.
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— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 18, 2018
This policy comes at a critical time in America’s technology boom. Existing technology uses space assets like never before. Commercial companies are developing space capabilities at a rapid pace. President Trump has made human spaceflight a priority for future technology and innovation.
“Our society now depends on space technologies and space-based capabilities for communications, navigation, weather forecasting, and much more,” states the policy. “Given the significance of space activities, the United States considers the continued unfettered access to and freedom to operate in space of vital interest to advance the security, economic prosperity, and scientific knowledge of the Nation.”
America’s Future in Space
Private companies are becoming leaders in the space industry, both in technology and vision. SpaceX and Virgin Galactic are among two of the industry’s front leaders. SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket earlier this year, with the now infamous payload of a Tesla Roadster. Both companies are owned by CEO Elon Musk. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft were “designed from the outset to deliver humans into space.” SpaceX is working with NASA to bring back a United States human spaceflight capability.
While not as sensational as the promise of human spaceflight, Space Policy Directive-3 also addresses the need to control orbital debris, or space junk. Items in space will now be tracked closer. New technology will further take the creation of space debris into account during design and production.
Over 20,000 objects are tracked by the Department of Defense. This poses a threat to both safety and sustainability of a space program going forward. This policy aims to mitigate the risks that space junk poses to future launches and human spaceflight.
Space Policy Directive-3 is focused on actions the United States can take with regards to space, but advancing the world’s understanding of this final frontier is truly an international effort. Increased coordination by sharing information and best practices internationally will further this effort.
The New Space Force
President Trump directed the Department of Defense to create a sixth branch of the Armed Forces, the Space Force. Currently the Air Force oversees most of the space-based assets that the military uses, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation and other communication resources.
Each branch of the military has their own service-specific capabilities. While Trump did not go into detail on what the Space Force would do, it is expected that it would assume some of the missions that other branches of the military are currently accomplishing and become a central authority for space-based resources.
ABC News reported that the creation of a Space Force has the support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the government agency responsible for space exploration and technology. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said that the new guidance for space “provides guidelines and initiatives to ensure that America is a leader in providing a safe and secure environment as space traffic increases.”
Other stakeholders are reported to have reservations about the creation of a new branch of the military focused on space, including Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Air Force leadership. They expressed concern that creating additional layers would inhibit the military’s ability to integrate and streamline. Others, such as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Doug Loverro, argued that creating a Space Force was unnecessary.
America’s History Among the Stars
The United States has a rich history of space exploration and innovation. President John F. Kennedy famously said “we choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard” in a 1962 speech at Rice University. Following that speech, the United States successfully sent manned missions to the moon in 1969.
The Trump administration is recommitting to that spirit of exploration. In more recent history, President Trump reinstated the National Space Council in June 2017 via an Executive Order. The council has been inactive for 24 years.
The President has demonstrated a commitment to space exploration during his time in office. Space Policy Directive-3 is the third in a series of directives with the ultimate goal of sending American astronauts back to the moon and eventually to Mars.
Space Policy Directive-1, signed in December 2017, directed NASA to work towards sending astronauts to the moon and Mars. Space Policy Directive-2, signed in May 2018, works to “reform United States commercial space regulatory framework.”
The White House has characterized the directives as “a renewed vigor for space.” The Trump administration is seeking to make America an international leader in the space sector, recognizing that a beneficial partnership with private industry is crucial to achieving that goal.