spacetoday.net: Pentagon releases new space strategy

Posted: Sun, Jun 21, 2020, 8:29 AM ET (1229 GMT)
The Defense Department released a new space strategy Wednesday that describes China and Russia as the "most immediate and serious threats" to US space assets. The Defense Space Strategy, which updates a similar document from 2011, builds on the Trump administration's 2018 national defense strategy that calls for the US military to prepare to compete with rising military powers such as China and Russia. The new strategy says those countries have developed "more advanced weapons designed to target US military satellites." The Defense Department will work to maintain space superiority, provide space capabilities to US and allied forces, and ensure stability in space, the strategy says. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Steve Kitay said at a briefing about the report that the growth of commercial space capabilities have drastically changed the space domain. While they have created new opportunities for economic growth, he said, they "also create challenges in protecting critical technology, ensuring operational security, and maintaining strategic advantages."