ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses current trends and ongoing challenges with how states and non-state organizations think about and operate in space. This examination includes great power competition in space, whether war in space is inevitable, the growing concern with orbital debris and the need for space traffic management, and furthering the understanding of the Law of Armed Conflict and Standing Rules of Engagement in space. Then, a range of challenges for the United States will be addressed, albeit many of the topics will be germane to the greater spacefaring community. These challenges include a new Space Force, a healthy space industrial base, the proclivity for mirroring and presentism, and “turning on the lights” in space. This discussion provides a context for considering the challenges for implementing a practical space strategy during the next three to five years.
