Space rescue is a prerequisite for the continued growth of the space economy, particularly with a growing number of non-government missions and ambitions to fly crews outside of low Earth orbit (LEO). Future missions and habitations on the moon or Mars will inevitably encounter medical emergencies, equipment failures, resupply failures and a host of issues for which pre-planning is difficult. And the ability to reliably launch an on-demand space rescue effort is years, possibly decades away. The complexities of international, civil, military and commercial space flight create a web of stakeholders, decision makers, economic interests and international legal questions that make space rescue much more than an exercise in engineering. 

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The concept of further advancement in cislunar space has been a topic of discussion for some time—and it only continues to gain momentum. A year-old paper by Col. Charles S. Galbreath, USSF (Ret.) argued for United States military presence in the cislunar environment, citing international rivalry as the “new race to the Moon.”

The utility of space-based services and information is beyond reproach, as reflected in the increasing demand for space services on the part of Earthlings. So great is the demand that space systems are being (or already have been) integrated into all manner of Earthly functions, from driving directions to military operations. Few of those familiar with the space economy would doubt how increasingly critical it is to our life on terra firma.

Many in the United States are just beginning to fully understand the role services from space-based assets play in their everyday lives. These services do not simply impact individuals but businesses, militaries, critical infrastructure, and more. As more satellites are placed in orbit, and the cost per kilogram for space launches falls, experts and novices alike are increasingly engaging in calls to designate space as critical infrastructure.

Homeland security has not traditionally been thought of as a mission area supporting space activities. Homeland security organizations, however, have been long time consumers of space data and services. Today, the space domain has opened for commercial activity and geopolitical competition alike.