Secure World Foundation has released a budget analysis that examines an array of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) space security programs as outlined in its Fiscal Year 2011 budget request. The assessment — Space Security Programs of Interest in the Fiscal Year (FY) — is authored by Victoria Samson, Washington, D.C. Office Director for the Secure World Foundation (SWF) and Samuel Black, a Research Associate at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C.

The analysis of the budget contains several notable items and trends. For example, a new program element on Space Protection is present for the first time in the budget request. Highlighted in the analysis by Samson and Black are key space security areas:

• Space Technology
• Space Control Technology
• Counterspace Systems
• Space Protection
• Space Situation Awareness (SSA)
• Operationally Responsive Space (ORS)
• Missile Defense
• Miscellaneous & Classified Programs

“This year’s Department of Defense (DOD) budget contains a number of projects that are relevant to space security,” SWF’s Samson said. The Air Force budget requests for several programs dedicated to improving space situation awareness (SSA), she said, add up to almost $900 million, an increase of roughly 70 percent from the estimated Fiscal Year 2010 budget of $530 million. Samson points out that funding for SSA has been rapidly increasing and argues, “This continued uptick in funding demonstrates how necessary SSA is to ensure space sustainability.” Samson also noted that the Pentagon is continuing to fund programs that it deems necessary in order to bolster its space assets. The program element Space Protection shows up for the first time in the Fiscal Year 2011 budget request, which Samson believes “is an indication of the Air Force’s seriousness about defending its space assets.” Even so, other program elements such as Counterspace and Space Control may see their funding drop by about half between now and FY 2015.

According to analyst Sam Black, “Missile defense spending on space will also fall over the next several years if the Space Based Infrared System, a constellation of early warning satellites, winds down as planned.” To access the complete budget analysis, select the graphic above...