This article proposes that the United States’ space efforts should once again be backed by the government and the military, much as the original space program of the 1960s was and as the current-day space program of China is. The government should take an active interest in refining the language in the treaties to make them clearer in their restraints, as well as work to meet any rising military threats. As a matter for national determination and the preservation of power projection capabilities, it is important that the United States’ space efforts meet the efforts of adversarial nations.
A Strategic Pivot to Outer Space
Increasing access to space means that low Earth orbit will soon be America’s front door. Proliferating adversary satellites—many capable of kinetic and non-kinetic actions—will prowl less than 100 miles away from U.S. cities, much as Russian submarines patrol the U.S. coast today. The U.S. should be there first, and in force, ensuring that China and Russia will struggle to keep pace in light of overwhelming U.S. economic, military, and strategic advantages in orbit.