The Foundations of Space Superiority

The CSIS Aerospace Security Project commentary series brings together differing perspectives on what the United States should seek to achieve in space and how government and industry should share responsibility for advancing those goals.

Securing a lasting U.S. advantage in space requires decisions about military capabilities and the commercial activity that supports them. What should space superiority mean, what will it take to achieve it, and how can it best be maintained?

The United States has made space superiority a national priority, but its meaning differs across military doctrine and broader debates about American space power. Protecting satellites and deterring attacks present immediate challenges. Sustaining the investment, infrastructure, and workforce needed for a lasting advantage requires a longer view.

This CSIS Aerospace Security Project series brings together experts from government, industry, and the policy community, including next-generation voices, to examine these questions. Contributors assess how intelligence and military capabilities support operations in space, while exploring how commercial markets and private capital can sustain U.S. leadership. They also consider what expanding activity beyond Earth will require, including the demand and operating rules needed to support a lunar economy.

The series offers differing perspectives on what the United States should seek to achieve in space and how government and industry should share responsibility for that effort.

The commentaries in this project are made possible through general support to CSIS.

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Space Intelligence: The Foundation of Space Superiority

Space superiority depends on knowing what adversaries can do and recognizing when their behavior changes. Persistent collection and analysis across government, industry, and allies can help anticipate threats before they materialize.

Commentary by John F. Huth — October 5, 2026

The Economic Engine of Enduring Space Power

For enduring space superiority, the United States will need to ensure its space companies are best positioned to capitalize on broader global space markets and dominate spaceborne commerce.

Commentary by Clayton Swope — October 5, 2026

What Is Space Superiority?

What did CENTCOM mean when it declared space superiority over Iran? Joint and Space Force doctrine give different answers, while leaving unresolved who can make that declaration and what evidence is needed to support it.

Critical Questions by Alexei Hoffman — October 5, 2026

How Commercial Industry Can Form the Bedrock of Space Superiority

Commercial space companies provide infrastructure and information essential to U.S. space superiority. Sustaining that advantage requires investment in technical talent and authority for companies to defend their assets in orbit.

Commentary by David Gauthier — October 5, 2026

Space Weapons: Disclosure Isn’t Enough for Deterrence

Can disclosing space weapons deter an adversary? Credible deterrence also requires communicating what those weapons can do and what actions could prompt their use, while protecting sensitive technical details.

Commentary by Chantal Li — October 5, 2026