
Makena Young is an associate 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.
In the News
China lands mysterious spaceplane after 276 days in orbit
Makena Young in Axios — May 8, 2023
The changing landscape of military space powers
Makena Young in Axios — May 2, 2023
Megaconstellations may prove a wildcard for Pentagon space planners [Video]
Makena Young in Breaking Defense — January 24, 2022
Industry and Pentagon have different views on space acquisition [Video]
Makena Young in Breaking Defense — January 21, 2022
Is Space Force playing nice with others?
Makena Young in Breaking Defense — January 18, 2022
Is China really the greatest threat to the US in space, or is Russia? [Video]
Makena Young in Breaking Defense — January 10, 2022
Miles above top secret: Does the US classify too much in space? [Video]
Makena Young in Breaking Defense — January 3, 2022
Russian Anti-Satellite Test Highlights Growing Danger of Space Debris
Makena Young in Texas Signal — November 17, 2021
All content by Makena Young
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A Contested Domain: From Space Theory to Practice
Event by Kari A. Bingen , Major General Shawn N. Bratton , Kaitlyn Johnson , Dr. Brian Weeden , Victoria Samson , and Makena Young — May 10, 2023
Space Threat Assessment 2023
Report by Kari A. Bingen , Kaitlyn Johnson , Makena Young , and John Raymond — April 14, 2023
Emerging Security Issues in Space Policy
Event by Kari A. Bingen , Makena Young , Akhil Thadani , Honorable John F. Plumb, PhD. , Commissioner Brendan Carr , April McClain-Delaney , and Sarah Mineiro — December 14, 2022
Low Orbit, High Stakes
Report by Makena Young and Akhil Thadani — December 14, 2022
Tracking Developments in Counterspace Weapons
Event by Todd Harrison , Kaitlyn Johnson , Makena Young , Dr. Brian Weeden , Victoria Samson , Michael Mineiro , Eric Desautels , and John Hill — April 20, 2022
Space Threat Assessment 2022
Report by Todd Harrison , Kaitlyn Johnson , Makena Young , Nicholas Wood , and Alyssa Goessler — April 4, 2022
Dancing Lights in Space: How to Manage The Risks of Satellite Close Approaches in Geostationary Orbit
Event by and Todd Harrison , Makena Young , Kaitlyn Johnson , Audrey Schaffer , Brien Flewelling , Dan Oltrogge , Marc Becker , Doug Loverro , Brian Weeden , Alessandro Cacioni , Almudena Azcárate Ortega — January 26, 2022
The 2022 Defense and Security Outlook
Podcast Episode by Christine Brazeau , Rose Butchart , Catrina Doxsee , Devi Nair , Suzanne Spaulding , and Makena Young — January 13, 2022

The Dark Arts in Space: Developments in Counterspace Weapons
Event by Kaitlyn Johnson , Makena Young , Joe Moye , Victoria Samson , and Dr. Brian Weeden — April 8, 2021
Space Threat Assessment 2021
Report by Todd Harrison , Kaitlyn Johnson , Makena Young , and Joe Moye — March 31, 2021