The U.S. Space Force should play a greater role in tracking factors related to human security, like food production, climate trends or energy distribution, for military decision-makers, according to a new report from RAND Corp., a federally funded research center.
The report highlights the military’s role in disaster prevention and crisis response, pointing to portions of the 2022 National Defense Strategy and National Security Strategy that link national security to humanitarian challenges like food insecurity, energy shortages, climate change, and terrorism.
Space Force capabilities to track missiles, monitor bad behavior in orbit, and support military operations on the ground are in high demand. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall mentioned the need to increase the service’s budget to meet demands.
RAND acknowledges the challenge of expanding Space Force capabilities due to budget constraints, suggesting partnerships with public and private organizations for needed capabilities and capacities.
The Space Force should develop training for its workforce to factor human security into data collection and analysis and should collaborate with international allies, commercial industry, and government agencies to define metrics related to human security.
Space capabilities could be used to prevent or manage humanitarian crises by tracking environmental indicators, food production changes, migration patterns, political violence, and other factors. The Space Force can help identify emerging human security challenges and intervene to prevent escalating problems.
