The RAND Corporation is an American nonprofit global policy think tank that conducts research and development across various fields. Within the space industry, RAND provides objective analysis and research to inform policy decisions related to space exploration, national security, and the space economy. They offer expertise in risk assessment, technological advancements, and global governance, advising organizations like NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the UK Space Agency. RAND also explores space sustainability, security, and governance concepts.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
James Black is Deputy Director of Defence and Security and European Lead for Space at RAND Europe.
RAND’s Khrystyna Holynska said Russia has articulated the position that commercial satellites supporting military operations may be treated as legitimate targets by function.
Karen Schwindt is a RAND research analyst specializing in cyber, space, and emerging technologies.
RAND estimates that nearly 25,000 satellites will be on orbit by 2031, and roughly 70 percent of them will be commercial.
The UK economy lost out on over £1.1 billion in direct benefits according to the evaluation from Rand Europe.
The Rand Europe study commissioned by the UK Space Agency was published in July 2025.
The 1954 RAND report, Project Feed Back, was a comprehensive study of reconnaissance satellites' feasibility and the means to place them in orbit.
The RAND Corporation concluded in 1951 that technology for a satellite using TV-like pictures from space was not yet available.
The FAA established a group to generate formal commercial spaceflight standards after the RAND report.
The FAA and RAND Corporation reported they had gathered enough information to begin making regulations for the safety of commercial spaceflight participants by 2023.
Ingersoll Rand will acquire ILC Dover for $2,325,000,000 in cash.
The RAND Corporation reported that modernizing existing satcom terminals and associated host-platform integration could require significant investment and be lengthy because DoD has more than 17,000 terminals representing about 135 different designs.
Dr. Lara Schmidt has worked at The Aerospace Corporation since 2019 and previously held several senior positions at RAND Corporation.
The RAND Corporation recommended that the learning period should not be extended, advocating for gradual regulation development instead.
The RAND Corporation and the Wright Air Development Center conducted studies of satellite reconnaissance from 1952 to 1956.
The RAND Corporation prepared a report for Congress that was released on 2023-04-03 recommending that current restrictions on the FAA’s ability to regulate safety for commercial spacecraft be allowed to expire later in 2023.
RAND Corp. reported that brief denials and spoofing of PNT during an active military conflict could significantly impact military operations.
The RAND Corporation delivered a study to Congress in April 2020 assessing alternatives to global navigation satellite systems like GPS.
A RAND Corporation study commissioned by the Air Force recommended that the Space and Missile Systems Center consider supporting more than two launch providers in Phase 2 due to a risk of insufficient certified rockets when Phase 2 starts in 2022.
The RAND study recommended the Air Force provide tailored support to a third launch provider until at least 2023 to ensure sufficient launch suppliers with certified vehicles.