Could Air Force Space Command benefit from commercial space companies like SpaceX, XCOR, Virgin Galactic, and Bigelow Aerospace?

Abstract

If Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) could benefit from new commercial space companies then the development of this new commercial space industry would be increased and the United States national security in space would be strengthened. This paper will cover some of the ways that Air Force Space Command could potentially benefit from new commercial space companies and how these companies could contribute to the United States security in space. Many issues on creating collaboration between the Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial space will be addressed for policy makers to consider. Also how this relationship could be beneficial to both the Department of Defense and the U.S. economy will be defined. SpaceX, XCOR, Virgin Galactic, and Bigelow Aerospace may be able to help solve some of Air Force Space Command’s biggest issues like assured access to space, operationally responsive space, and streamlining space acquisitions. These companies bring a fresh way of thinking in efficiency, innovation, and cost saving that Air Force Space Command can learn from by taking a few of these ideas and implementing them throughout the MAJCOM. With the continued success of SpaceX they will bring another option for Air Force Space Command in terms of assured access to space, the question for policy makers is what launch success rate must SpaceX demonstrate before they are trusted with a Department of Defense payload? XCOR is currently working on a small satellite pod launcher for their Lynx vehicle which could potentially be used by USAFA cadets and AFIT students in the Astronautical Engineering department to launch student payloads. Virgin Galactic is also developing a small satellite capability and new satellite components could be tested in SpaceShipTwo to see how they react in a weightless environment before they are added to a full scale satellite. Bigelow Aerospace must be examined for national security reasons since this will be the first private space station in history, and the company is currently marketing to any country willing to pay the lease cost. There are still many policy and economic questions that must be answered before a partnership can be established between Air Force Space Command and new commercial space. However, it is clear that these companies could definitely benefit Air Force Space Command.