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Space Threats
- Space Security
  Addresses domestic and international security concerns in space.
- Civil and Commercial Space
  Assesses NASA, other civil agencies, and private space companies.
- Air Power and Cross-Domain Integration
  Focuses on issues relating to air power and power projection.
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Popular Orbits 101
- Aerospace 101
  Explore fundamental concepts in the air and space domains.
- Data Repository
  Discover Aerospace Security’s interactive data and resources.
- Document Library
  Search for primary source documents from the history of aerospace policy.
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Understanding Space Security
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  Register for upcoming Aerospace Security events.
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  New course offering: Understanding Space Security.
About

Author: Thomas G. Roberts

Thomas G. Roberts is an adjunct fellow with the CSIS Aerospace Security Project and a graduate research fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Astrodynamics, Space Robotics, and Controls Laboratory. He is also a Ph.D. student in the Institute’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. His research interests include civil and commercial space policy, space security, and orbital mechanics. @ThomasGzRoberts

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Spaceports of the World

Last UpdatedJanuary 31, 2023

Where are the world’s most active spaceports? Use this data repository to learn more about the history of ground-based space launch across the globe.

Graphic showing the costs for a launch to low earth orbit by craft over time

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Space Launch to Low Earth Orbit: How Much Does It Cost?

Last UpdatedSeptember 1, 2022

This data repository compares costs between space launch vehicles by incorporating many vehicle characteristics into a single figure: the cost to launch one kilogram of payload mass to low Earth orbit (LEO) as part of a dedicated launch.

Visual showing unusual behavior in GEO from the Luch (Olymp-K) satellite

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Unusual Behavior in GEO: Luch (Olymp-K)

Last UpdatedSeptember 1, 2022

Unlike most objects in the geostationary belt, Russian satellite Olymp-K has made a series of orbital maneuvers, widely varying its position in GEO. Use this interactive data repository to discover Olymp-K’s movements over time.

Visual showing unusual behavior in GEO from the SJ-17 satellite

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Unusual Behavior in GEO: SJ-17

Last UpdatedSeptember 1, 2022

Unlike most objects in the geostationary belt, Chinese satellite SJ-17 has made a series of orbital maneuvers, widely varying its position in GEO. Use this interactive data repository to discover SJ-17’s movements over time.

Bar chart illustrating the NASA annual budget

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History of the NASA Budget

Last UpdatedSeptember 1, 2022

This interactive displays historical NASA budgets.

Interactive graphic displaying missile defense interceptor coverage. Users can change the size of the constellation and the inclination of satellites.

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Space-Based Missile Defense: How Much is Enough?

Last UpdatedAugust 4, 2022

A space-based missile interceptor system oriented in a traditional constellation design wouldn’t serve all regions equally. Some latitudes would be covered better than others.

Graphic detailing gender of astronauts from 1957 to 2021.

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International Astronaut Database

Last UpdatedJuly 5, 2022

Search the CSIS Aerospace Security International Astronaut Database for an individual astronaut’s name, country of origin, gender, and flight records.

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Podcast: A Behind the Scenes Look at Space Threats

By Todd Harrison, Kaitlyn Johnson, Thomas G. Roberts, Victoria Samson, Brian Weeden

PublishedJune 1, 2018

Go behind the scenes with the authors of “Space Threat Assessment 2018.” They’re joined by the Secure World Foundation’s Victoria Samson and Brian Weeden to discuss what it’s like to study counterspace weapons—an inherently classified topic—in an unclassified environment.

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Video: Securing Civil Space for America’s Return to the Moon

By Todd Harrison, Thomas G. Roberts

PublishedFebruary 22, 2018

On January 18, 2018, the CSIS Aerospace Security Project hosted “En Route to the Moon: Creating a Civil Space Architecture” a public forum on securing civil space systems in the new era of NASA.

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Moonstruck: A Podcast About Humans in Space

By Thomas G. Roberts

PublishedMarch 21, 2018

Moonstruck is a new podcast mini-series about humans in space. Listen to the show on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.