Space Research: Content and Coordination of Space Science and Technology Strategy Need to be More Robust

Book excerpt: Each year, the U.S. spends billions of dollars on space-based systems to support national security activities. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2010 requires the DoD and the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to develop and issue a space science and technology (S&T) strategy every two years addressing S&T goals and a process for achieving these goals, among other requirements. This report addresses: (1) the extent to which the strategy meets the statutory requirements; (2) if other approaches could be used to enhance the usefulness of the strategy; and (3) the extent of coordination efforts used in developoing the strategy. Illustrations. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find publication.