Message to Presidential
Candidates:Space Matters

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MESSAGE TO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES: SPACE MATTERS
BY JOSEPH FULLER, JR.
PRESIDENT, CEO OF FUTRON CORPORATION
FOR SPACE NEWS, 25 FEBRUARY 2008

The next U.S. presidential administration faces many challenges as it enters office next year. These challenges include effectively managing national defense, rebuilding the U.S. economy, solving energy, environment and health care problems, all while providing U.S. citizens with a positive and empowering vision of the future. Overcoming these challenges will require the United States to build upon its strengths. One of its greatest strengths lies in its ability to deploy space technology to address these challenges.

Space is strategic and valuable; it touches life in the United States in increasingly profound ways. Space systems support around the clock global communication of voice and data, including business and financial transactions. Imaging from space is used for rural and urban planning, emergency response, and the monitoring and protection of the environment. GPS will soon guide every modern transportation mode returning enormous savings in time and energy. Space reconnaissance systems prevent wars by lifting the veil of secrecy around the globe.

When the United States is forced into conflict, space defense systems save the lives of soldiers and civilians by enabling accurate use of military force. Space exploration and science inspire children and young adults to pursue careers in math, science and engineering, while expanding the limits of human knowledge and capability. Finally, space enterprise designs, builds and operates space systems, in the process creating the work force that will support the 21st century U.S. economy.

Indeed, the technical work force supporting space is one of the great national assets. U.S. leadership in space offers the country critical advantages. However, this leadership is threatened by both competitive and systemic forces.

Competition exists from more than a dozen other countries in various stages of developing a spacefaring capability. The United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Germany and France have developed sophisticated and competitive space companies and work forces. Collectively, the European Space Agency nations combine resources to plan and execute long-term space science and exploration initiatives. Japan continues to cultivate an advanced space sector with launch and satellite capability.

In 2007, Japan placed a 3-ton probe with two smaller support satellites in orbit around the Moon to collect some of the highest quality scientific data ever obtained. India has a robust space capability with its own launch vehicle and satellite systems. Russia maintains a leadership role as the oldest space power and operator of some of the most reliable space launch vehicles capable of placing crews and cargo in orbit. China is an emerging space leader that intends to compete in every space sphere including human space exploration. China also recently successfully tested a missile system capable of destroying satellites in orbit. Other countries, the most recent of which is Iran, have begun to develop space launch capability.

In addition to foreign competitors, the United States must also overcome systemic challenges affecting its work force and industrial base. A large portion of the aerospace work force is approaching retirement. A pipeline of technically skilled replacements is needed in order for the U.S. space industry to maintain its competitiveness. As a technological society, the U.S. must overcome this challenge or find that its lead will begin to diminish. The world has become a global marketplace where international suppliers have become increasingly competitive compared to the U.S. industrial base. Well-crafted trade regulations and legal structures that promote industry well-being, advance U.S. position abroad and protect national security are essential.

Finally, to protect and enable a healthy space industry that will contribute to a strong nation, the next president and administration need to understand the following strategic priorities within space:

First, similar to land, sea, air and now cyberspace, space is a global common requiring improved understanding, governance and global leadership. Strong U.S. leadership in creating the basis for managing this global common will guarantee the optimal use of space for the United States, its friends and allies, and the world in general. The U.S. Defense Department's attempt to emulate Mahan's Sea Power Theory as a model for understanding and managing the space common deserves attention and continuing long-term support.

Second, the transition to the next space age from the first space age of approximately 50 years currently is under way. The next Space Age is characterized by increasing national reliance on space infrastructure and an innovative, dynamic and profitable commercial space sector. Since government is the largest user of space, well-honed government policies and targeted investments in space can support and accelerate the transition into the next space age.

Third, the United States must improve its ability to implement national space policy in a cross-cutting strategy among defense, intelligence, civil, commercial and international space enterprises. A cross-cutting strategy can integrate and leverage the strengths of each of the space enterprises and, as a result, optimize the allocation of scarce national resources.

The United States faces challenges and opportunities as the new president enters office, for many of which space is a part of the answer. Indeed, space does matter. The U.S. space sector is not broken and does not need sweeping fixes. On the other hand, systemic and competitive forces threaten U.S. space leadership.

The timing for maintaining a leadership role cannot be known so it must be addressed forthrightly. Given the nation's enormous investments in space infrastructure and society's critical dependencies on space now and into the future, the ability to strategically execute the nation's space policy deserves special attention and enhanced support. The best role of government in space is as an enabler of the future, including protecting against threats and risks, eliminating barriers to progress, and creating opportunity for discovery. With strategic understanding and targeted space investments, the next president can provide the leadership that will help illuminate the bright future every U.S. citizen desires.

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