Aerospace Security Project

The Aerospace Security Project (ASP) is a trusted resource for policymakers, offering insightful thoughts and in-depth analyses on policy issues, operational concepts, technology trends, and economic drivers in the space and air domains. Our mission is to educate and inform policymakers and the public, conduct independent research and analysis, and convene experts with broad perspectives to advance creative and practical solutions that address the security challenges facing the United States and our allies and partners. ASP also fosters the next generation of scholars in national security space and air power policy through fellowship and internship opportunities. 

Part of the International Security Program at CSIS, ASP is led by Senior Fellow Kari A. Bingen and includes a distinguished group of expert affiliates spanning national security, civilian, commercial, and international aerospace issues. The team focuses on the following research areas:    

Space Security explores the national security uses of space and ways to enhance the security, stability, and sustainability of the space domain. This includes examining threats to the space domain and ways to increase mission assurance, resilience and protection of space assets, as well as alternative architectures, new operational concepts, norms of behavior, organizational constructs, and the role of government, commercial, and international entities.

Commercial and Civil Space analyzes how U.S. civil space programs and commercial space capabilities advance national interests, including evolving norms of behavior in space and enhancing U.S. national security. It explores international partnerships and competition in space, technology and economic trends, and policy issues that affect civil and commercial space capabilities and the health of the space innovation base.

Air Power and Cross-Domain Integration looks at the future of air forces in a contested operating environment and the integration of air and other domains to create greater battlefield advantage. It analyzes the role of long-range strike, stealth, and unmanned and autonomous systems, as well as options to address anti-access, area denial challenges, the missile salvo competition, and an expanding nuclear threat landscape. It also explores future battle network constructs, including the contribution of sensors, communications, and command and control systems.