February 06, 2018
Succeed or Fail, the Falcon Heavy Launch is Good for America
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy is set to launch today for the first time. According to SpaceX, the heavy lift vehicle “will be the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two, with the ability to lift more than twice the payload of the next vehicle, at one-third the cost.” The significance of today’s Falcon Heavy launch, however, is not related to the success or failure of the rocket’s planned flight. Instead, what’s important is that today’s launch signifies continued commercial sector innovation and the ability to influence market stimuli. The U.S. must continue to rapidly innovate in the space sector to mature economic interests and stay ahead of peer competitors who also seek strategic opportunities from space.
SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin, among other U.S. companies, continue to innovate and press the boundary of space capabilities and market development. The value of additional launch services reflects increasing demand for ultra low-cost access to space. The U.S., Russia, China, India, and others have all expressed a desire to capitalize on the commercial and military opportunities provided by outer space. The U.S. currently has a significant advantage in space compared to peer competitors, however this advantage is eroding as competition over the developing domain intensifies.
The U.S. should continue to leverage commercial innovation to define economic terms while advancing strategic influence over the space arena. Free market opportunities and American visionaries offer the U.S. significant advantages that should not be wasted. The U.S. government should continue to invest wisely to develop America’s ability to go farther and do more in space.
More from CNAS
-
Former top defense official Robert Work on "Intelligence Matters"
Podcast
In this episode of Intelligence Matters, guest host Admiral James "Sandy" Winnefeld (ret.) speaks with Robert Work, the 32nd United States Deputy Secretary of Defense for both...
By Robert O. Work
-
The Case for a Pacific Deterrence Initiative
Commentary
When war broke out in Ukraine in 2014 the Department of Defense moved swiftly to invest billions in near-term enhancements in Europe to address growing military-operational sh...
By Randy Schriver & Eric Sayers
-
Army trade-offs within FY21 budget
Video
Susanna Blume, senior fellow and director of the Defense Program at CNAS, discusses the Army leadership’s approach to the FY21 budget. Watch the full conversation in Governme...
By Susanna V. Blume
-
The Overseas Basing Debate, Part 2
Podcast
Host Kathleen Hicks continues a discussion with Susanna Blume, Zack Cooper, and Dave Ochmanek on the major debates surrounding U.S. overseas military forces. Listen to the fu...
By Susanna V. Blume
