Monograph Reports
>MR-1469
U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Industry
An Analysis of Risks
by Kevin M. O'Connell, John C. Baker, Beth E. Lachman, Steven Berner, David R. Frelinger, Kim E. Gavin
Commercial Satellites,
Homeland Security and Public Safety,
Download eBook for Free
PDF file 6.2 MB
Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience.
Purchase Print Copy
Add to Cart Paperback138 pages $24.00 $19.20 20% Web Discount
American firms have begun to operate their own imaging satellite systems, aiming to become an important part of the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry. To succeed over the long run, these new U.S. commercial remote sensing satellite firms need a combination of reliable technologies, government policies that encourage U.S. industry competitiveness, a strong international presence, and sound business plans to ensure their competitiveness in both the domestic and international marketplaces. The greatest risks for the these firms come from the challenge of transforming themselves from imagery data providers to strong competitors as information age companies; the need to master the technical risks of building and operating sophisticated imaging satellite systems; and the requirement to operate effectively in a complex international business environment. In addition, the government's policymaking process has yet to achieve the degree of predictability, timeliness, and transparency that the firms need if they are expected to operate effectively in a highly competitive and rapidly changing global marketplace. The authors conclude with six recommendations that the U.S. Department of Commerce should adopt to best fulfill its responsibilities for promoting the U.S. commercial remote sensing industry and for encouraging the competitiveness of new private imaging satellite firms.
Technical Factors
International Context: Competition and Cooperation
Policy and Regulatory Issues
Conclusions and Recommendations
Emerging U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Firms: An Overview
Title II of the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992
U.S. Statement on Foreign Access to Remote Sensing Space Capabilities
GIS and Geospatial Technologies Merging into Broader IT Marketplace
The research described in this report was performed under the auspices of RAND's National Security Research Division.
This report is part of the RAND Corporation monograph report series. The monograph/report was a product of the RAND Corporation from 1993 to 2003. RAND monograph/reports presented major research findings that addressed the challenges facing the public and private sectors. They included executive summaries, technical documentation, and synthesis pieces.
Copyright: RAND Corporation
Print Format: Paperback
Paperback Pages: 138
Paperback Price: $19.20
Paperback ISBN/EAN: 0-8330-3118-X
Document Number: MR-1469-DOC
Series: Monograph Reports
Commercial Satellites
RAND Corporation Style Manual
O'Connell, Kevin M., John C. Baker, Beth E. Lachman, Steven Berner, David R. Frelinger, and Kim E. Gavin, U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Industry: An Analysis of Risks. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2001. https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1469.html. Also available in print form.
O'Connell, Kevin M., John C. Baker, Beth E. Lachman, Steven Berner, David R. Frelinger, and Kim E. Gavin, U.S. Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Industry: An Analysis of Risks, Santa Monica, Calif.: RAND Corporation, MR-1469-DOC, 2001. As of January 12, 2021: https://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1469.html
Download Citation (BibTeX) Download Citation (RIS)