Space Control Mission Area

The Space Control Mission Area ensures the freedom of operations within and throughout the space medium, while denying its use to adversaries. As space has become an area of vital national interest, the United States must be prepared to protect and defend its space systems, including spacecraft, communications links, and ground segments.

Space Control includes three sub-missions: Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Defensive Counterspace (DCS) and Offensive Counterspace (OCS). SSA near-term modernization and materiel solutions include developing a constellation of space-based tracking/surveillance sensors. DCS near-term material solutions include developing a system to detect attacks on US space systems and improved processing for attack characterization. OCS near-term materiel solutions include developing ground systems for the temporary denial of space asset information to adversaries.

The Space Control includes the following interest areas: precise space navigation at GEO, high resolution imaging hardware, microsat buses, spacecraft power, spacecraft propulsion, radiation hardened FPGA/CPU technology, lightweight optics, mobile high power communications systems, high speed (gigabit/second) data links, signal processing hardware advancements, visible and IR sensors, radar/lidar, radar jammers and Architecture and Systems Engineering Concepts (e.g., modeling and simulation tools and technology development). Also of interest is material and technologies that enable rapid reaction OCS and DCS capabilities such as commercially available or rapid prototype terrestrial wideband SATCOM systems and components (e.g., antennas, high-power amplifiers, modems, signal processors).

In January 2012, then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the U.S. decision to work with the European Union (EU) and other spacefaring nations in developing an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. Clinton stated: “The long-term sustainability of the space environment is at risk from space debris and irresponsible actors. Unless the international community addresses these challenges, the environment around our planet will become increasingly hazardous to human spaceflight and satellite systems, which would create damaging consequences for all of us.”

The United States believes that an International Code of Conduct, if adopted, would establish guidelines for responsible behavior to reduce the hazards of debris generating events and increase the transparency of operations in space to avoid the danger of collisions. On May 16-17 in Kiev, Ukraine, the European Union will hold the first Open-Ended Consultations to discuss the Code of Conduct. The United States looks forward to participating in this meeting and we encourage other nations to actively participate in the process.

In addition to the Code, the United States is involved in a study by the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Outer Space TCBMs, on which I am privileged to serve as the United States expert. Under the capable chairmanship of our distinguished colleague Victor Vasiliev of the Russian Federation, the GGE offers an opportunity to advance a range of voluntary TCBMs that might mitigate dangers and risks to space security.

The GGE intends to develop a consensus report for the UN Secretary General that outlines a list of voluntary and pragmatic space TCBMs that States could adopt on a unilateral, bilateral, or multilateral basis. Notably, the GGE welcomed written contributions from intergovernmental bodies, industry and private sector, civil society, and other UN Member States not already represented in the GGE. We believe the GGE serves as a real opportunity to move forward with pragmatic steps to strengthen stability in space.

The United States is also taking an active role in the Working Group on the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities under the auspices of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, aimed at developing voluntary “best practices guidelines” for enhancing safety and sustainability of space activities. We believe these guidelines complement other TCBM efforts aimed at enhancing stability and security in space. Moreover, insights gained from this “bottom up” approach may be helpful to emerging spacefaring nations as they develop their space and commercial policies and programs.