Aerospace Security Project
Leading source of analysis and expertise on the policy and technology issues shaping the future of aerospace security
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.
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Paige Montfort
- Media Relations Manager, External Relations
- 202.775.3173
- pmontfort@csis.org
Featured Analysis

Photo: iLab/CSIS
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

Low Orbit, High Stakes
Report by Makena Young and Akhil Thadani — December 14, 2022

U.S. Space Force Primer
Report by Kari A. Bingen , Kaitlyn Johnson , John Dylan Bustillo , and Marie Villerreal Dean — January 3, 2023

Launching Into the State of the Satellite Marketplace
Congressional Testimony by Kari A. Bingen — February 2, 2023
Battle Networks and the Future Force
Brief by Todd Harrison and Christopher Reid — March 4, 2022
Featured Event
Theory of Success: A Conversation with General Saltzman
Featured On-Demand Events

A Contested Domain: From Space Theory to Practice

Theory of Success: A Conversation with General Saltzman

Emerging Security Issues in Space Policy

Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting on Posturing U.S. Space Operations for a Warfighting Advantage
All content by Aerospace Security Project
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Assessing Threats Against Space Systems
Event by Todd Harrison , Brian Weeden , Victoria Samson , Kaitlyn Johnson , and Thomas G. Roberts — June 5, 2018
Assessing Threats to Space Systems
Event by Todd Harrison , Thomas G. Roberts , Victoria Samson , Brian Weeden , Kaitlyn Johnson , and Thomas G. Roberts — June 5, 2018
How Might Space Policy Directive 2 Affect Commercial Space?
Critical Questions by Todd Harrison and Kaitlyn Johnson — May 30, 2018
Space Threat Assessment 2018
Report by Todd Harrison , Kaitlyn Johnson , and Thomas G. Roberts — April 12, 2018
The Quest to Colonize the Cosmos: How Billionaires are Changing the Space Industry
Event by Todd Harrison and Chris Davenport — April 4, 2018
Space Warfighting Readiness: Policies, Authorities, and Capabilities
Congressional Testimony by Todd Harrison — March 14, 2018
Strategic National Security Space: FY19 Budget Forum
Event by Todd Harrison , Tom Karako , and Sean O’Keefe — February 28, 2018
Strategic National Security Space: Panel I: Viewpoints from the Congressional Leadership on Military Space
Transcript — February 28, 2018
En Route to the Moon: Creating a More Resilient Civil Space Architecture
Event by Todd Harrison , Sean O’Keefe , and Kathleen H. Hicks — January 18, 2018
Back to the Moon? Understanding Trump’s Space Policy Directive 1
Critical Questions by Todd Harrison and Kaitlyn Johnson — December 14, 2017