The Competition Revolution in Military Space

Posted: May 19th, 2017

By Robert S. Walker

Robert S. Walker is the former Chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, U.S. House of Representatives. Walker was a Senior Space Policy Advisor to the presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump, served as an outside advisor to the Trump transition team, and currently provides outside advice to the administration's beachhead teams working on civil, commercial, and space policy.

There has been a revolution in the cost of space launch for civilian purposes and defense during the last decade. New and innovative companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin have rapidly reduced the cost of space launch through technological innovations such as the reusable rocket and by introducing new competition into a relatively staid market. As that innovation and revolutionary cost reduction begins to hit the national security and defense launch market, The Cipher Brief’s Fritz Lodge asked former House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Robert Walker about new opportunities and dangers for U.S. space defense policy.

The Cipher Brief: In your opinion, how are private companies disrupting the cost equation of space launches?

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