article_snippet.sent: United States position as a space-faring nation.
article_snippet.sent: Indeed, U.S. access to space has provided incredible benefit to U.S. national security, defense and the economic well-being of the nation.
article_snippet.sent: And in order to effectively confront current and future conflicts, combat terrorism and counter the proliferating threats worldwide, our military depends on space-based capabilities, including intelligence, GPS, and communications satellites.
article_snippet.sent: There are steps that the United States can take now to ensure our access to space and secure our comparative advantage in space -- and in the world.
article_snippet.sent: However, a combination of existing capabilities and dynamic development of new capabilities by the private sector can serve as a foundation for eliminating any capability gap in the U.S. space program.
article_snippet.sent: Having both options will put America on the path to fielding America indigenous space capabilities for the next generation, while strengthening a space industrial base weakened since the end of the Cold War.
highlights_snippet.sent: Access to space has benefited U.S. national security .
  