The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is a non-partisan think tank that focuses on informing national security debates, educating about aerospace power, and cultivating talent in the aerospace domain. As the only aerospace power-focused think tank in the nation's capital, the Institute produces publications, hosts events, and conducts research related to space policy, strategy, and technology. They engage with senior leaders from the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and Department of Defense, and also collaborate with commercial partners. Key areas of focus include spacepower advantage, space superiority, and the challenges presented by countries like China.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies argued that the U.S. Space Force should prepare to place human operators in cislunar space.
A report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies recommended a replacement for the GSSAP to incorporate satellite refueling.
Gen. Saltzman made his first public appearance at the Mitchell Institute on March 26, 2025, since the dispute regarding the workshop report.
The Mitchell Institute’s report argued that Competitive Endurance does not address key issues threatening the Space Force’s success.
Gen. Saltzman barred all Space Force personnel from events sponsored by the Mitchell Institute following the negative feedback in their report.
The Mitchell Institute report contends that the Department of Defense must establish a cislunar infrastructure extending services closer to Earth, including space domain awareness, high-bandwidth communications, and cislunar navigation technologies.
The 2024-01-17 Mitchell Institute report recommends that the Department of Defense develop means to secure cislunar activities from threats such as territorial claims and irresponsible or hostile behavior.
The 2024-01-17 Mitchell Institute report recommends that the Department of Defense increase collaboration with NASA to support development of infrastructure for scientific and economic activities in cislunar space.
Charles Galbreath is a senior fellow for space studies at the Mitchell Institute and authored the 2024-01-17 report on cislunar space.
Mitchell Institute chair Kevin Chilton, a retired U.S. Air Force general, remarked that the higher atmosphere was previously not receiving much attention.
The Mitchell Institute called for Congress to provide robust resourcing to enable the Space Force to deliver enhanced space domain awareness and to develop space-based weapons systems designed to defend the JADC2 space transport layer against kinetic and non-kinetic acts of aggression.
Administrator Jim Bridenstine and U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond discussed the memorandum of understanding on 2020-09-22 in a live virtual event hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
Lt. Gen. David Thompson participated in an online interview on 2020-05-12 with retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean of the Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.