October 11, 2016
Lessons from the Cold War: Why Man’s First Trip to Mars is a Matter of National Security
A manned trip to Mars has the ability to captivate the American imagination and produce an emotional connection to and a broader appreciation of space. Harvesting the American public’s appreciation for space—and the technology’s based within it—will be vital if the U.S. is to improve its national security. Without broad public support for increases in space-based national security investments, the U.S. is likely to fall behind strategic competitors putting Washington’s military preeminence in jeopardy. Creating a personal link with the importance of space should therefore be a major priority for policy makers as the U.S. considers a trip to Mars. The Cold War’s space race is proof of this.
To read the full op-ed, visit The National Interest website.
More from CNAS
-
CNAS Insights
Defense / Indo-Pacific Security / Transatlantic Security / Middle East Security / Energy, Economics & Security
CNAS Insights | National Security Agenda in the New Congress: A 10-Item To-Do ListWhen Democratic majorities sweep into Congress in January, Washington will return to divided government. The prospect of stalemate will be real, with Democrats prone to opposi...
By Richard Fontaine
-
What's a Revolution in Military Affairs Good For?
Podcast
For decades, militaries have chased the next revolution in warfare. But what actually makes a revolution in military affairs revolutionary? Is there one happening now? Does it...
By Stacie Pettyjohn
-
U.S., Israel Elections Loom Over Iran War
Video
On Bloomberg This Weekend, Bloomberg Economics Defense Lead Becca Wasser and Bloomberg News Middle East correspondent Dan Williams examine how elections in the U.S. and Israel...
By Becca Wasser
-
Charting the New Nuclear Age
Reports
Executive Summary With the continued growth of China’s nuclear arsenal, the United States will likely face two nuclear peer threats in the coming years. The United States cann...
By Stacie Pettyjohn, Carlton Haelig & Natasha Lander Finch
