Insight – Space Sustainability and Policy: A Strategic Briefing for U.S. Leadership

Thursday, March 20, 2025

By Secure World Foundation Staff

The United States has long been a leader in space exploration, a legacy that is the result of forward-thinking policies by successive U.S. administrations. These policies have not only propelled technological advancements but have also provided substantial benefits that connect with every aspect of American life. 

Since the early 2000s, the global space economy has been growing at a significant rate, driven by increasing private sector involvement in space activities. This growth is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. At the same time, the space domain is becoming more congested and contested as more countries and other space actors enter this domain. The United States plays a central role in shaping the development of norms and rules for safe and peaceful activities in outer space. If space is to remain a domain free for peaceful exploration and use, the United States must play its leading role, not only in the development and application of space capabilities but also in the development of policy and oversight practices to shape the development of the global space arena. This will preserve the stability and security of space for all.

While nearly every U.S. presidential administration since Eisenhower has issued national space policies, the first Trump administration brought renewed focus and public visibility to the issue. Prioritizing space policy reinvigorated both governmental and public engagement with national and international space affairs. Many of its policy decisions upheld enduring principles and objectives that have shaped U.S. space strategy across multiple administrations, both Republican and Democrat, reflecting core American values and national interests.

Space is a globally shared domain that is being accessed and used by a growing number of countries.  Space diplomacy and international cooperation are essential foreign policy tools to maintain U.S. leadership in space exploration and commercial space activities and to preserve the access to and use of outer space as a domain that the United States relies on for its prosperity and international security. As more nations become spacefaring, and as more foreign commercial entities become space actors, it is in the interest of the United States to sustain leadership in space diplomacy and international cooperation initiatives to promote wide international adoption of norms, standards, and best practices to enhance the safety, stability, and security of space activities.

The Secure World Foundation has identified the following areas for action to ensure the United States continues to benefit from and lead in the increasingly complex outer space environment.

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Taking Action on Orbital Debris

• Harmonize orbital debris mitigation requirements across licensing authorities under one regulatory agency.
• Initiate a national active debris removal mission to leverage commercial capabilities.
• Continue to support the development of commercial in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities. 

Focus Issue: Conducting a National Active Debris Removal Mission

• The United States government - through NASA - should establish a program to fund and conduct the removal of a US-government-owned space debris object, preferably a large rocket body. 

Strengthening Space and National Security

• Refer to space as an “operational” domain rather than a “warfighting” domain.
• Discourage the deliberate creation of debris.
• Establish international norms of behavior for military space activities. 
• Redouble efforts to improve resilience.

Focus Issue: Continuing the Destructive DA-ASAT Missile Test Moratorium

• Continue to support the destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile test moratorium as a matter of U.S. policy. 
• Maintain a policy of not deliberately creating debris during military space activities and missions.  
• Provide leadership in multilateral space security fora to shape norms of responsible behavior in space.

Fostering Commercial Space With Efficient Policy and Oversight Tools

• The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) within the Department of Commerce should act as the lead agency for the authorization and supervision of private sector space activities.
• Implement mission authorization through an interagency process, with OSC as the lead:
• Ensure licensing authorities are resourced at levels to ensure responsiveness.
• Establish an international dialogue on oversight of commercial space

Ensuring Operational Continuity and Safety through Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Coordination

• Maintain efforts to implement Space Policy Directive (SPD)-3 and the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS).
• Lead international efforts towards space traffic coordination. 
• Leverage commercial and international capabilities to the maximum extent while also supporting space situational awareness (SSA) as a public good. 

Focus Issue: Implementing Mission Authorization

• Implement mission authorization through an interagency process, with the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) as the lead.
• The OSC should act as the lead agency for the authorization and supervision of private sector space activities.

Leveraging a Whole-of-Government Approach to Drive Space Policy Leadership

• Keep an executive branch coordination mechanism for space policy, such as the National Space Council.

Supporting Multilateral Space Diplomacy

• Work with and through multilateral fora to help shape international consensus on norms of behavior, standards, and practices to enhance the safety, and sustainability of space activities.
• Harness its leadership in space exploration to preserve the stability, safety, and security of the space environment and to support multilateral efforts to improve cooperative space governance.
• Use the expertise of domestic commercial and other non-governmental stakeholders to achieve its international space diplomacy goals.

Engaging with China on Space Activities

• Reassess the Wolf Amendment to allow for limited space engagement with China. 
• Expand space safety dialogue with Chinese actors. 
• Increase understanding of the Chinese space sector. 

Ensuring U.S. Leadership in Space Exploration and Development

• Sustain stable commitment to the Artemis Program. 
• Continue to work with the international community to implement the Artemis Accords. 
• Continue multilateral engagement on space resources governance.
• Use the Space Force to support increased cislunar situational awareness.

 Improving U.S. Space Weather Capabilities

• Maintain whole-of-government focus across administrations and with support from Congress.
• Ensure continued data collection sources through the protection of space
• ground- and air-based sensors.
• Work with international partners to augment observations and research. 
• Support the development of commercial space weather services. 

Maximizing Value from Earth Observation Systems

• Support continuity of service for all Earth-observing satellite capabilities and continue to champion free and open data-sharing principles.
• Enable commercial sector value-added services and promote a thriving American commercial remote sensing industry.

Leading on Global Planetary Defense Efforts

•  NASA and its national partners should be given the assets and resources to complete the task assigned by Congress of cataloging and orbital characterization of near-Earth objects (NEOs) 140 meters and larger.
• Clarify the existing rules – including rights and responsibilities – for any mission to divert or destroy an impending NEO strike, as well as establish the legality of using a nuclear explosive device for preventing imminent NEO threats where no other options exist.
• Achieve the goals of interagency, federal, state, and local preparedness outlined in the 2018 Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan. 

U.S. leadership must make space policy a top national priority, reinforcing the U. S. leadership in a rapidly evolving and increasingly contested domain. The administration has a unique opportunity to build on long-standing American principles while confronting new and complex challenges that will define the future of space security, commerce, and governance. Decisive action is required to ensure that U.S. space policy remains forward-thinking, adaptable, and rooted in national interests.

Strategic leadership in space is not optional—it is imperative. The United States must drive international cooperation, set enforceable norms, and implement policies that secure American interests while promoting stability and sustainability in space. Licensing modernization, space diplomacy, and investment in innovation will determine whether the U.S. retains its leadership or cedes influence to emerging global competitors.

Authors include Krystal Azelton, Damaris Thomas, Victoria Samson, Christopher Johnson, Ian Christensen, and Peter Martinez