Speaking at the Air and Space Forces annual conference at National Harbor, Maryland on September 15, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman underlined the new era of collaboration between civilian entity NASA and the U.S. national security apparatus. “We should absolutely be collaborating, especially as we think about the cislunar environment,” Isaacman said, referring to the vast region between Earth and the Moon. He said cooperation should focus on capabilities that advance NASA’s civil and scientific goals while also enhancing the U.S. “national security footprint farther out into space.”

He pointed in particular to the “rivalry” with China in space exploration. He argued that the result of rivalries could “shape alliances, technology standards and perceptions of U.S. power.” Failure, he said, could “invite encroachment.” He described as useful to both the relationship with the Space Force whereby NASA establishes a sustained American presence beyond Earth while the Space Force and Pentagon protect U.S. interests and work with the civilian agency on technologies and infrastructure.