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Hypersonic Missile Defense: Issues for Congress [Updated January 13, 2021]
From the Document: "The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) are currently developing elements of a hypersonic missile defense system to defend against hypersonic weapons and other emerging missile threats. These elements include the tracking and transport layers of the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) and various interceptor programs. As MDA and SDA continue to develop these systems, Congress may consider implications for oversight and defense authorizations and appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; McCall, Stephen M.; Reed, Quintin A.
2021-01-13
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Defense Primer: The United States Space Force [Updated January 8, 2021]
From the Document: "On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force (USSF) became the sixth branch of the Armed Forces. The Space Force was established within the Department of the Air Force (DAF) with the enactment of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Secretary of the Air Force is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the Space Force and the United States Air Force (USAF), two separate and distinct military uniformed services. The current Chief of Space Operations (CSO) is General John W. 'Jay' Raymond, who serves as the principal uniformed advisor for all space activities to the Secretary of the Air Force."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2021-01-08
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Defense Primer: National Security Space Launch [Updated December 30, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) is a U.S. government program that enables acquisition of launch services, aimed at ensuring continued access to space for critical national security missions. The U.S. Air Force oversaw NSSL's predecessor program, the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV), and awarded four companies contracts to design a cost-effective launch vehicle system. The Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition strategy was to select one company to ensure national security space (NSS) launches were affordable and reliable. The EELV effort was prompted by significant increases in launch costs, procurement concerns, and the lack of competition among U.S. companies. Today, the NSSL program's main priority is mission success. A RAND study released April 2020 identified a magnitude of risk associated with assured access to space. As Congress continues its oversight of NSSL, it may consider examining DOD's plan on the prioritization of the launch-related risks to ensure continued access to space and 100% mission success. A major concern in Congress and elsewhere over U.S. reliance on a Russian rocket engine (RD-180), used on one of the primary national security rockets for critical national security space launches, was exacerbated by the Russian backlash over the 2014 U.S. sanctions against its actions in Ukraine. Moreover, significant overall NSSL program cost increases and unresolved questions over individual launch costs, along with legal challenges to the Air Force contract awards by space launch companies, prompted legislative action."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2020-12-30
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Defense Primer: Ballistic Missile Defense [Updated December 29, 2020]
From the Document: "The United States has been developing and deploying ballistic missile defenses (BMD) to defend against enemy missiles continuously since the late 1940s. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the United States deployed a limited nuclear-tipped BMD system to protect a portion of its U.S. land-based nuclear ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) force in order to preserve a strategic deterrent against a Soviet nuclear attack on the Homeland. That system became active in 1975 but shut down in 1976 because of concerns over cost and effectiveness. In the FY1975 budget, the Army began funding research into hit-to-kill or kinetic energy interceptors as an alternative--the type of interceptor technology dominates U.S. BMD systems today."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2020-12-29
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Hypersonic Missile Defense: Issues for Congress [August 17, 2020]
From the Document: "The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) are currently developing elements of a hypersonic missile defense system to defend against hypersonic weapons and other emerging missile threats. These elements include the tracking and transport layers of the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) and various interceptor programs. As MDA and SDA continue to develop these systems, Congress may consider implications for oversight and defense authorizations and appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sayler, Kelley M.; McCall, Stephen M.; Reed, Quintin A.
2020-08-17
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FCC-Approved Ligado Network and Potential Technical Issues for DOD Use of GPS [June 1, 2020]
From the Document: "On April 20, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously authorized an application by Ligado Networks LLC (Ligado) to 'deploy a low-power [9.8 decibel watts (dBW)] terrestrial nationwide network in the 1526-1536 MHz, 1627.5-1637.5 MHz, and 1646.5-1656.5 MHz bands [of the electromagnetic spectrum] that will primarily support Internet of Things (IoT) services.' These frequency bands are traditionally used for satellite operations. The Department of Defense (DOD) opposed this decision--along with the Departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, the Interior, and Justice; the Federal Aviation Administration; and others--due to concerns that Ligado's proposed network could interfere with signals from satellites to Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Congress may consider the FCC's decision, as well as DOD and other federal agency concerns about the decision, as it conducts oversight of the FCC. Congress may also consider broader issues related to fifth generation (5G) mobile technologies, such as the allocation of spectrum among competing users and the impact of spectrum decisions on national security and GPS modernization."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hoehn, John R.; McCall, Stephen M.; Sayler, Kelley M.
2020-06-01
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Defense Primer: National Security Space Launch [May 1, 2020]
From the Introduction: "The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) is a U.S. government program that enables acquisition of launch services, aimed at ensuring continued access to space for critical national security missions. The U.S. Air Force oversaw NSSL's predecessor program, the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV), and awarded four companies contracts to design a cost-effective launch vehicle system. The Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition strategy was to select one company to ensure national security space (NSS) launches were affordable and reliable. The EELV effort was prompted by significant increases in launch costs, procurement concerns, and the lack of competition among U.S. companies. Today, the NSSL program's main priority is mission success. A RAND study released April 2020 identified a magnitude of risk associated with assured access to space. As Congress continues its oversight of NSSL, it may consider examining DOD's plan on the prioritization of the launch-related risks to ensure continued access to space and 100% mission success."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2020-05-01
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Defense Primer: The United States Space Force [April 6, 2020]
From the Document: "On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force (USSF) became the sixth branch of the Armed Forces. The Space Force was established within the Department of the Air Force (DAF) with the enactment of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Secretary of the Air Force is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the Space Force and the United States Air Force (USAF), two separate and distinct military uniformed services (see Figure 1). The Chief of Space Operations (CSO), a four-star general, serves as the principal uniformed advisor for all space activities to the Secretary of the Air Force."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2020-04-06
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National Security Space Launch [February 3, 2020]
From the Document: "The United States is making significant efforts to pursue a strategy that ensures continued access to space for national security missions. The current strategy is embodied in the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. The NSSL supersedes the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, which started in 1995 to ensure that National Security Space (NSS) launches were affordable and reliable. For the same reasons, policymakers provide oversight for the current NSSL program and encourage competition, as there was only one provider for launch services from 2006 to 2013. Moreover, Congress now requires DOD to consider both reusable and expendable launch vehicles for solicitations after March 1, 2019. To date, only expendable, or single-use, launch vehicles have been used for NSSL missions. The NSSL program is the primary provider for NSS launches. Factors that prompted the initial EELV effort in 1995 are still manifest--significant increases in launch costs and concerns over procurement and competition."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2020-02-03
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Challenges to the United States in Space [Updated January 27, 2020]
From the Document: "Preserving key U.S. national security and economic interests is widely seen to depend on assured access and widespread use of space-based systems. Satellites are as essential to military and intelligence operations as fighters, warships, and combat vehicles. Major portions of the global economy rely on space systems; they facilitate the entire global financial system, stock markets, communications, agriculture, and transportation, as well as other commercial and civil activities. A June 2015 Department of Homeland Security report estimated $1.6 trillion of annual U.S. business revenues depend on satellites. Space systems are also a permanent and seamless component in the nation's critical infrastructure, as vital as the electrical grid or the highway system."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2020-01-27
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Iran's Ballistic Missile and Space Launch Programs [Updated January 9, 2020]
From the Overview: "On January 7, 2020, Iran launched 16 short-range ballistic missiles that were fired from three different locations inside the country and hit various targets on two Iraqi military installations housing U.S. troops--Al Asad Air Base and an air base near Erbil in Northern Iraq. [...] Iran has been acquiring, developing, and testing its ballistic missile capabilities for decades and continues to invest in developing ballistic missiles and in building an extensive network of related facilities. The recent attack may have demonstrated advances in the accuracy of Iran's missiles. Short- and medium-range ballistic missile tests indicate that Iran is focused on increasing the accuracy of its missiles. Once forecasted to acquire an intercontinental-range ballistic missile by 2020, Iran has not yet demonstrated this capacity. Furthermore, Iran's space launch program continues to experience significant delays, and may be slowing."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2020-01-09
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Defense Primer: Ballistic Missile Defense [Updated October 9, 2019]
From the Document: "The United States has been developing and deploying ballistic missile defenses (BMD) to defend against enemy missiles continuously since the late 1940s. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the United States deployed a limited nuclear-tipped BMD system to protect a portion of its U.S. land-based nuclear ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) force in order to preserve a strategic deterrent against a Soviet nuclear attack on the Homeland. That system became active in 1975 but shut down in 1976 because of concerns over cost and effectiveness. In the FY1975 budget, the Army began funding research into hit-to-kill or kinetic energy interceptors as an alternative--the type of interceptor technology dominates U.S. BMD systems today."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2019-10-09
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Military Space Reform: FY2020 NDAA Legislative Proposals [October 2, 2019]
From the Introduction: "At a National Space Council meeting on June 18, 2018, President Donald Trump said, 'I am hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.' One of the purposes for creating a separate military service for space is to protect American interest in outer space. On February 19, 2019, the President signed Space Policy Directive-4 (SPD-4) directing the Secretary of Defense to submit a legislative proposal that would establish a U.S. Space Force, if enacted by Congress. In alignment with the President's National Security Strategy and the National Strategy for Space, the Space Force is intended to secure the vital interest of unfettered access to and freedom to operate in space while expanding American dominance in the space domain. Subsequently, on February 28, 2019, the Department of Defense (DOD) submitted a legislative proposal to Congress to create the U.S. Space Force."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.
2019-10-02
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FY2020 National Security Space Budget Request: An Overview [June 7, 2019]
From the Background: "NSS [National Security Space] is a Major Force Program (MFP) of the Department of Defense (DOD). An MFP is an aggregation of resources necessary to achieve DOD objectives or plans. Of the dozen MFPs, six are combat force programs and six are support programs. The MFP for National Security Space, MFP-12, is the newest. Congress directed its establishment in the FY2016 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 114-92). MFP-12, a support program, includes funding for some classified programs. It generally excludes funding for National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCall, Stephen M.; McGarry, Brendan W.
2019-06-07
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'Space Force' and Related DOD Proposals: Issues for Congress [April 8, 2019]
From the Document: "Over the past year, Congress saw a variety of overlapping proposals advanced for the reorganization of U.S. military activities in space. Major proposals include [1] the creation of a Space Force (SF), a new branch of the Armed Forces under the Secretary of the Air Force; [2] the reestablishment of a U.S. Space Command as an additional unified combatant command; and [3] the establishment of a Department of Defense Space Development Agency. While few observers dispute the notion that the Department of Defense (DOD) should better organize and manage its space capabilities, agreement ends there. Some believe all three proposals should be adopted; others believe only some, if any, should become permanent institutions within DOD. Taken together, these overlapping proposals could present considerable challenges to DOD's functioning in one of the most critically important operational domains. Regardless, the concepts and details of these military spacerelated proposals remain unclear--if not contradictory--at this time, prompting fundamental questions about plans to reorganize DOD's space programs, capabilities, and agencies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McInnis, Kathleen J.; McCall, Stephen M.
2019-04-08
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