Space

National Space Goals

Enhance knowledge of the Earth, the solar system and the universe through human and robotic exploration;

Strengthen and maintain the national security of the United States;

Enhance the economic competitiveness, and scientific and technical capabilities of the United States;

Encourage State, local and private sector investment in, and use of, space technologies; and

Promote international cooperation to further U.S. domestic, national security and foreign policies.

Providing support for the U.S.'s inherent right of self-defense and for our defense commitments to allies and friends;

Deterring, warning, and if necessary defending against enemy attack;

Assuring that hostile forces cannot prevent our own use of space;

Countering, if necessary, space systems and services used for hostile purposes;

Enhancing operations of U.S. and allied forces;

Ensuring our ability to conduct military and intelligence space-related activities;

Satisfying military and intelligence requirements during peace and crisis as well as through all levels of conflict; and

Supporting the activities of national policy makers, the intelligence community, the National Command Authorities (NCA), combatant commanders and the military Services, other federal officials, and continuity of government operations.

   National security space sector guidelines from the National Space Policy are summarized in the first table on the next page. In addition, the National Space Policy's designated intersector guidelines are identified in the second table to illustrate the breadth and scope of national security space interactions with a full range of other activities.

Reaffirmed the critical role of space in preserving peace and supporting U.S. national security objectives;

Established as key priorities the needs to:

— Improve our ability to support military operations worldwide,

— Monitor and respond to strategic military threats, and

— Monitor arms control and nonproliferation agreements and activities;

Stated that the U.S. will maintain capabilities for ensuring our use of, and access to, space;

Directed the DCI to:

— Develop and apply advanced technologies to respond to changes in the threat, and

— Support national intelligence priorities.

    Those guidelines reflect the increased interaction among sectors. More and more providers and users, both domestic and foreign, present increasing supplies and demands for space-related goods and services, many of them under the purview of the DoD. Some of the challenges they present — and initiatives we are undertaking — are addressed under specific functional topics in the pages that follow.