The United States has long been a leader in space exploration and utilization. In recent years, a series of Space Policy Directives (SPDs) issued by the executive branch have sought to update and refine U.S. space policy to address new challenges and opportunities in the space domain. These directives cover a wide range of topics, from human space exploration to commercial space regulations to space traffic management. Together, they represent a comprehensive effort to position the United States for continued leadership in space in the 21st century.
Overview of Space Policy Directives
Between 2017 and 2021, the U.S. government issued seven Space Policy Directives addressing various aspects of national space policy and activities:
SPD-1: Reinvigorating America’s Human Space Exploration Program
SPD-2: Streamlining Regulations on Commercial Use of Space
SPD-3: National Space Traffic Management Policy
SPD-4: Establishment of the United States Space Force
SPD-5: Cybersecurity Principles for Space Systems
SPD-6: National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion
SPD-7: The United States Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Policy
These directives provide guidance to federal agencies on implementing space policies and programs. They address issues such as human exploration beyond low Earth orbit, reducing regulatory burdens on commercial space activities, improving space situational awareness and traffic management, establishing a new military service focused on space, enhancing cybersecurity for space systems, advancing space nuclear power capabilities, and maintaining U.S. leadership in global navigation satellite systems.
Key Themes and Objectives
Several common themes and objectives emerge across the Space Policy Directives:
Promoting U.S. Leadership in Space
A central goal of the directives is to maintain and advance U.S. leadership in space activities. This includes leadership in human and robotic exploration, commercial space services, space technology development, and international cooperation in space. The directives emphasize the importance of space to U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and scientific advancement.
Encouraging Commercial Space Activities
Multiple directives focus on creating a more favorable regulatory environment for U.S. commercial space companies. This includes efforts to streamline licensing processes, reduce regulatory burdens, and open up new opportunities for private sector space activities. The goal is to foster innovation and growth in the U.S. commercial space industry.
Enhancing Space Safety and Sustainability
As space becomes more congested and contested, the directives place increased emphasis on improving space situational awareness, space traffic management, and efforts to mitigate orbital debris. This is seen as critical for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the space environment for all users.
Advancing Space Technology and Capabilities
The directives call for continued advancement of U.S. space technology and capabilities across civil, commercial, and national security space sectors. This includes areas like space nuclear power, improved positioning/navigation/timing services, and enhanced cybersecurity for space systems.
Strengthening National Security Space Activities
Several directives address national security space issues, including the establishment of the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command. There is an emphasis on ensuring U.S. freedom of action in space and protecting U.S. space assets from potential threats.
Key Provisions of Individual Directives
SPD-1: Reinvigorating Human Space Exploration
SPD-1 directs NASA to lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities. The directive specifically calls for returning humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations.
Key elements include:
- Changing national space policy to refocus America’s space program on human exploration and discovery
- Returning humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization
- Using the Moon as a stepping-stone for proving technologies and systems needed for human missions to Mars and other destinations
- Engaging commercial and international partners to expand human presence in space
SPD-2: Streamlining Commercial Space Regulations
SPD-2 calls on the Secretary of Transportation and other agency heads to review existing commercial space regulations and propose reforms to streamline the regulatory process and promote economic growth. Key provisions include:
- Requiring the Department of Transportation to review commercial space flight launch and re-entry licensing regulations
- Directing the Department of Commerce to review commercial remote sensing regulations
- Calling for a review of export licensing regulations affecting commercial space flight activities
- Instructing agencies to report on improving U.S. global competitiveness in the space sector through spectrum policies and regulations
The overall goal is to reduce regulatory burdens on commercial space activities while maintaining public safety and national security.
SPD-3: National Space Traffic Management Policy
SPD-3 addresses the challenges of increased congestion in space and lays out a new approach to space traffic management. Key elements include:
- Transitioning civil space situational awareness responsibilities from the Department of Defense to the Department of Commerce
- Establishing an open architecture data repository for space situational awareness data
- Developing space traffic standards and best practices
- Improving space object registry processes
- Enhancing space situational awareness science and technology research
- Addressing orbital debris mitigation
The policy aims to reduce the growing threat of orbital debris and promote safe and responsible behavior in space.
SPD-4: Establishment of the U.S. Space Force
SPD-4 calls for the establishment of the United States Space Force as a new branch of the Armed Forces within the Department of the Air Force. Key provisions include:
- Developing legislative proposal to establish the Space Force
- Consolidating existing space forces and authorities
- Creating civilian leadership positions including an Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space
- Establishing a Chief of Staff of the Space Force as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Calling for the creation of a United States Space Command as a unified combatant command
The directive outlines steps to create a dedicated military service focused on space operations and national security space activities.
SPD-5: Cybersecurity Principles for Space Systems
SPD-5 establishes key cybersecurity principles to guide and serve as the foundation for U.S. government approaches to the cyber protection of space systems. These principles include:
- Using risk-based cybersecurity-informed engineering
- Developing cybersecurity plans for space systems
- Protecting against unauthorized access to critical space vehicle functions
- Protecting ground systems and information processing systems
- Managing supply chain risks
- Adopting cybersecurity best practices and norms of behavior
- Implementing these principles through appropriate rules, regulations, and guidance
The goal is to strengthen the cybersecurity of U.S. space systems across government and commercial sectors.
SPD-6: Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Strategy
SPD-6 establishes a national strategy for the development and use of space nuclear power and propulsion (SNPP) systems. Key elements include:
- Developing fuel production capabilities for surface and in-space power, nuclear electric propulsion, and nuclear thermal propulsion
- Demonstrating a fission power system on the Moon
- Establishing technical foundations for nuclear thermal propulsion options
- Developing advanced radioisotope power systems
- Developing a cadre of experts in nuclear and aerospace engineering
- Establishing safety guidelines for SNPP systems
The strategy aims to enable new capabilities for space exploration and scientific missions through the use of SNPP technologies.
SPD-7: Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Policy
SPD-7 updates U.S. policy on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other space-based positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems. Key provisions include:
- Maintaining U.S. leadership in the provision of space-based PNT services
- Improving the cybersecurity of GPS and related systems
- Enhancing the resilience of national critical infrastructure that relies on PNT services
- Engaging with international GNSS providers to ensure compatibility and interoperability
- Promoting the responsible use of U.S. space-based PNT services and capabilities
- Improving the performance and security of PNT services for military users
The policy aims to ensure that space-based PNT services continue to effectively support U.S. national and homeland security, civil, commercial, and scientific purposes.
Implementation and Impact
The Space Policy Directives have set in motion a number of changes in U.S. space policy and activities:
- NASA has reoriented its human exploration plans toward returning to the Moon through the Artemis program, with the long-term goal of sending humans to Mars.
- The Department of Commerce has begun taking on new responsibilities for space traffic management and is working to streamline commercial space regulations.
- The U.S. Space Force was established in December 2019 as the sixth branch of the U.S. military.
- Federal agencies are working to implement new cybersecurity guidelines for space systems.
- NASA and the Department of Energy are pursuing new space nuclear power initiatives.
- Efforts are underway to modernize and enhance GPS capabilities and security.
However, full implementation of the directives will take time and in some cases may require additional funding or legislative action by Congress. The long-term impact remains to be seen, but the directives represent a significant update to U.S. space policy across multiple domains.
International Implications
While focused primarily on U.S. domestic space activities and policies, the Space Policy Directives have implications for international space cooperation and competition:
- The emphasis on returning humans to the Moon has sparked renewed global interest in lunar exploration, with several countries announcing their own lunar plans.
- Changes to U.S. commercial space regulations could affect the competitiveness of U.S. companies in the global market.
- New approaches to space traffic management will require international coordination and cooperation.
- The establishment of the U.S. Space Force has raised questions about the militarization of space.
- Efforts to set cybersecurity norms for space systems could influence global practices.
- Continued U.S. leadership in GPS/GNSS affects users worldwide and influences other global navigation satellite systems.
The directives generally emphasize continued U.S. leadership in space while also calling for cooperation with international partners in areas like human exploration and space traffic management.
Challenges and Controversies
While generally well-received by the U.S. space community, the Space Policy Directives have faced some challenges and controversies:
- Questions about long-term funding to support ambitious human exploration goals
- Debates over the appropriate balance between government and commercial roles in space activities
- Concerns about potential weaponization of space and preservation of space as a peaceful domain
- Technical and policy challenges in implementing new space traffic management approaches
- Debates over the necessity and cost of establishing a separate Space Force
- Questions about the feasibility and safety of nuclear propulsion for space applications
- Ongoing challenges in protecting critical infrastructure that relies on space-based PNT services
Addressing these issues will likely require ongoing dialogue between policymakers, industry, the scientific community, and international partners.
Conclusion
The Space Policy Directives issued between 2017 and 2021 represent a comprehensive effort to update U.S. space policy for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. They touch on nearly every aspect of U.S. space activities, from human exploration to commercial regulations to national security space operations. While full implementation will take time, the directives have already begun to shape the direction of U.S. space efforts. As the space domain continues to evolve, these policies will likely need further refinement, but they provide a foundation for continued U.S. leadership in space.
Documents Included in Attachment
- Space Policy Directive-1: Reinvigorating America’s Human Space Exploration Program
- Space Policy Directive-2: Streamlining Regulations on Commercial Use of Space
- Space Policy Directive-3: National Space Traffic Management Policy
- Space Policy Directive-4: Establishment of the United States Space Force
- Space Policy Directive-5: Cybersecurity Principles for Space Systems
- Space Policy Directive-6: National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion
- Space Policy Directive-7: The United States Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Policy
