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United States Space Force

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Report
Ensuring Mission Assurance While Conducting Rapid Space Acquisition
As the U.S. Space Force pursues rapid acquisition of warfighting capabilities, a key question is whether the streamlining techniques being used to get new space systems to operators quickly create mission assurance vulnerabilities.
Dec 19, 2022
Report
How Do China and Russia Perceive U.S. Military Activities in Space?
Chinese and Russian primary sources reflect a perception that U.S. space activities are threatening and demonstrate hostile intent. At the same time, they characterize their own, similar actions as nonthreatening. Washington, Beijing, and Moscow appear to be caught in an action-reaction cycle that perpetuates justifications for continued military action in space.
Oct 11, 2022

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Report
Designing a New Framework for the U.S. Space Force Workforce
The authors of this Perspective outline a way for the U.S. Space Force to develop its officer workforce that is not tied to the traditional Air Force structure of stovepiped career fields.
Jun 1, 2023
Report
Supporting the U.S. Space Force Single-Component Structure: Impediments for Members Transitioning Between Full-Time and Part-Time Participation
U.S. Space Force leadership envisions a service in which Guardians transition easily between full- and part-time service. Five impediments discussed in this report make it unnecessarily difficult to make these transitions between types of service.
May 1, 2023
Brochure
Addressing Challenges in Defense Acquisition: Insights from RAND Research
This portfolio of Project AIR FORCE research conducted for the Department of the Air Force and more broadly across RAND offers insights for overcoming acquisition challenges and improving agility within the Defense Acquisition System.
May 1, 2023
Report
The Resilience Assessment Framework: Assessing Commercial Contributions to U.S. Space Force Mission Resilience
This report describes the resilience assessment framework that RAND Project AIR FORCE developed to assess the potential impact of integrating select commercial space services on U.S. Space Force mission performance.
Apr 27, 2023
Report
Understanding, Managing, and Reporting U.S. Space Force Readiness
As a branch of the U.S. military, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) must understand, manage, and report its readiness. The authors of this report have created a readiness framework for the USSF and instructions on how to implement it.
Mar 7, 2023
Report
Space Competition and the Dynamics of Conflict: Using Game Theory and Artificial Intelligence to Gain Strategic Insight
The authors summarize research about using a game-theoretic model of competition and cooperation in space to examine the dynamics of conflict there, short of wars of total destruction. They focus specifically on the dynamics of space competition .
Jul 5, 2022
Blog
Russian Mercenaries, Online Extremism, the Commercial Space Market: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on Russia's use of mercenaries, understanding how extremist movements operate online, trends in the commercial space market, and more.
Apr 15, 2022
Report
Commercial Space Market Development and Trends
The growing commercial space industry offers a range of capabilities and services, including emerging technologies. Opportunities for the U.S. Space Force and Department of Defense to leverage these capabilities for military purposes are expanding. What concerns should stakeholders address?
Apr 14, 2022
Q&A
Building Better Government Acquisition Programs: Q&A with William Shelton
In the U.S. Air Force, William Shelton managed hundreds of millions of dollars in acquisition programs. He retired as a colonel then joined RAND as an engineer. One of his recent projects provided the U.S. Space Force with a new approach to acquisition, designed around its unique mission.
Mar 4, 2022
Journal Article
Nasty, Brutish, and Short—The Future of Space Operations in the Absence of the Rule of Law: Addressing Congestion, Contestation, and Competitiveness in the New Space Era
Existing treaties and laws are not sufficient to govern space given the dramatic growth in space activity. Ensuring a safe, secure, and prosperous space for all nations may require the application of social contract theory to space governance.
Feb 15, 2022
Tool
Getting to Outcomes® Handbook for U.S. Air and Space Force Community Action Planning
Getting To Outcomes helps Air and Space Force Community Action Teams develop a Community Action Plan. The Handbook includes guidance and tools. The Resource Guide provides links and tips. The Workbook contains blank versions of the tools.
Dec 28, 2021
Report
Managing Intellectual Property Relevant to Operating and Sustaining Major U.S. Air Force Weapon Systems
Expanded reliance on original equipment manufacturers have led the U.S. Air Force to give less priority to acquiring appropriate intellectual property. What organizational change should the Air Force consider to better acquire and use intellectual property?
Sep 14, 2021
Report
A Clean Sheet Approach to Space Acquisition in Light of the New Space Force
The authors describe an unconstrained "clean sheet" approach to space acquisition for the U.S. Space Force designed around the unique mission and calling of the new service.
Aug 25, 2021
Report
Deterring China in Space
How could the United States, along with key allies and partners, prevent China from taking actions in space or interfering with space-based capabilities in ways that are harmful to U.S. national security interests?
Jul 27, 2021
Report
RAND Space Launch Virtual Panel
A virtual panel discussion hosted by the RAND Space Enterprise Initiative tackles issues related to the global space launch enterprise.
Dec 8, 2020
Report
Enhancing Assessments of Space Mission Assurance
The authors describe decisionmaker needs for assessments of space mission assurance (SMA), challenges for conducting SMA assessments, the shortfalls that may result from the challenges, and options for addressing the shortfalls.
May 20, 2020
News Release
New Space Force Will Need Resources, Clear Definition of Warfighting Mission
To meet the goals of the U.S. Space Force most space activities in the Department of Defense should be moved into the new service. Moreover, it will be critical that the Space Force clearly define and clarify its space warfighting mission.
Mar 13, 2020
Research Brief
How to Build an Effective, Efficient, and Independent Space Force
To increase its likelihood of developing into a successful organization, the new U.S. Space Force should define and clarify its space warfighting missions. And most space activities in the Department of Defense should be moved into the new service.
Mar 13, 2020

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RAND Topic:
United States Space Force

Topic Synonyms:
U.S. Space Force

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Michael Spirtas

Acting Associate Director, RAND National Security Research Division

Michael Spirtas is the acting associate director of the RAND National Security Research Division, and a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. He has worked in a number of policy areas, including U.S. defense strategy, force development, and command and control. He has also served…
Gwen Mazzotta

Policy Analyst

Gwen Mazzotta is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, where her work has focused on space escalation, defense acquisition (including rapid acquisition, environmental considerations, and commercial derivative aircraft), and commercial human space flight. Mazzotta completed her graduate…

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