The groups signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday (22 September) at the Air Force Association Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies' Space Power Forum.

The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in areas including space policy, space transportation, standards, and best practices for safe operations in space, scientific research, and planetary defence.

The new MOU replaces an agreement signed in 2006 between NASA and the US Air Force Space Command, which sought to facilitate the exchange of research and development information and reduce duplication of system development in the organisations’ strategic roadmaps.

According to Bridenstine, the agreement comes as security of the space domain becomes increasingly challenging amid attempts from competitor nations to jam, spoof, hack and attack satellites and communications systems.

"We want to see behaviours improved in space, [and] the Space Force will be an important partner in ensuring space is secure and is used peacefully for the benefit of all of humanity,” he said.

Gen Raymond added that Space Force would defend assets in space including GPS satellites, weather satellites, communications satellites, missile warning satellites, space domain awareness satellites, rockets, and the International Space Station.

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He stressed that such assets would be vital to the joint force and are shared with global allies and partners.

Meanwhile, NASA would continue directing science, technology, and exploration missions.

Gen Raymond noted that in addition to collaborating in the space domain, Space Force and NASA would share research and development and science and technology.

The signing of the new MOU comes as NASA prepares to send astronauts to the lunar surface in 2024.

NASA’s mission, which will be supported by Space Force, aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon by the end of the decade, which will be used to facilitate humane exploration of Mars.

[Related: US Space Force releases first doctrine, defining ‘spacepower’]

Charbel Kadib

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News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.

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