Article Posted on : - Jan 13, 2009

Artist's concept of NASA's future moon landing shows a lunar rover with the crew. NASA image

NEW YORK (BNS): While the United States still enjoys a leadership position in spaceflight, satellite services and national security space operations, that lead is perishable, according to a recent aerospace report.

�Our nation has many areas of international cooperation in space ventures, but we also have credible competitors with the vision and resources to equal or even supplant our dominance � a situation that would adversely affect both our economy and national security,� the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) report warned.

�In a very real sense the �space race� is far from over: We might not be racing, but our global competitors certainly are,� AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey said on Monday when the report went public.

The report titled �The Role of Space in Addressing America�s National Priorities,� concludes that the US can no longer afford to treat its national security, civil and commercial space capabilities separately.

It recommends that the new Barack Obama administration develop a mechanism to look at our space capabilities as a single enterprise consistent with national goals and objectives.

Over the last several decades, innovations from space have increasingly become a part of our daily lives, CEO Marion Blakey said.

�Space assets are critical to our environmental stewardship, human exploration and national security,� said Blakey. �Given our dependence on space assets and increasing international competition, it is critical that space issues be seamlessly integrated into national policy.�

The report was prepared by AIA�s Space Council to inform the new administration about the challenges facing the US. space sector. In addition to recommending the establishment of a national coordinating body to develop and execute a national space strategy, the report suggests the administration provide the necessary budgets to continue critical, multi-year space programs.

Additional recommendations include creating a more favorable business environment, reducing gaps in climate measurement and establishing a comprehensive space protection strategy, among others.

The report is being provided to the new administration and members of Congress and is a blueprint for policy, Blakey said.