Makena Young

Fellow, Aerospace Security Project
Makena Young

Makena Young is a fellow with the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Her research interests include international collaboration, space security, and orbital debris. Prior to joining CSIS, Ms. Young worked for the Federal Aviation Administration as an aerospace engineer, focusing on automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast certification and integration in small aircraft. She holds a B.S. in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University with minors in international relations and environmental engineering.

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Is There a Path to Counter Russia’s Space Weapons?

What more can the United States do to stop Russia from pursuing space weapons that could indiscriminately affect hundreds, if not thousands, of satellites? It should find ways to incentivize China and India to apply economic pressure that will get Putin's attention.

Commentary by Clayton Swope and Makena Young — June 28, 2024

Audio Briefs

Is There a Path to Counter Russia’s Space Weapons?

An audio version of “Is There a Path to Counter Russia’s Space Weapons?,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Clayton Swope and Makena Young. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Clayton Swope and Makena Young — June 28, 2024

Audio Briefs

Space Threat Assessment 2024

The 2024 Space Threat Assessment covers the growing counterspace capabilities of China, Russia, India, Iran, North Korea, and others. It also features analysis on the normalization of deviance on orbit and a look into coalitions of convenience that are being formed. 

Report by Clayton Swope, Kari A. Bingen, Makena Young, Madeleine Chang, Stephanie Songer, and Jeremy Tammelleo — April 17, 2024

The Evolution of French Space Security

Space is now a critical domain for many nations around the globe, and both individual countries and multinational coalitions have recently released space policies and strategies. Among them, France stands out.

Report by Makena Young — March 13, 2024

A Contested Domain: From Space Theory to Practice

The Aerospace Security Project hosts a two part virtual event, first featuring STARCOM Commander Major General Shawn N. Bratton to discuss the command's mission, followed by a panel of CSIS and Secure World Foundation experts to discuss counterpsace developments from the past year. 

 

Event — May 10, 2023

Space Threat Assessment 2023

The 2023 Space Threat Assessment covers the growing counterspace capabilities of China, Russia, India, Iran, North Korea, and others. It also features an in-depth analysis of Russia's battlefield employment of counterspace weapons in Ukraine.

Report by Kari A. Bingen, Kaitlyn Johnson, Makena Young, and John Raymond — April 14, 2023