What is "national security space?" Everyone is talking about it, but no one seems to know what it is. We know it is hot and the government is concerned about it, but what is it? Everyone we ask has a different opinion and there is no official definition. Let's summarize what we do know.

Over the past three decades space-based applications have become increasingly important to the country's economic health and national security.

By the early 1990s, the defense and intelligence communities were using space for many essential applications, but these were not yet considered critical to mission success.

By the end of the 1990s, the true value of space in national security was coming into focus, and by the year 2000, space's critical enabling capabilities were recognized by government leaders. In 2001, the Rumsfeld Commission released a milestone evaluation of the state of space applications for national security.

This commission made many important recommendations, some of which were fulfilled. Since that time however, the situation has deteriorated. Many of the essential security-related space programs have failed to perform as expected.

The most recent study on the management and organization of national security space, the Allard Commission Report, concluded that "no one is in charge" of national security programs that utilize space.

The issues are complex and failure to properly respond will surely allow continued erosion of the US position as a space leader. Thanks to the recent increase in visibility of the issues, there seems to be sufficient interest and concern among government leaders to reassure us that all is not lost. But, we must act soon!

Launchspace has created the first organized presentation on national security space, including the history of space utilization, management issues, technology challenges and expectations for the future.

This two-day course is designed to quickly develop insight into the critical issues and possible solutions. The course is a must for those who need to understand national security space and the challenges ahead.