The space domain has transformed in scale, scope, and strategic consequence. What once was a benign operational backdrop is now a contested warfighting domain. China and Russia continue to develop and demonstrate counterspace weapons—from direct-ascent ASATs and co-orbital platforms to jammers and directed energy systems—explicitly designed to undermine U.S. freedom of action in space.

In 2008, the number of tracked objects in orbit was just over 9,500. Today, that number exceeds 47,000—and rising. Satellites, debris, and maneuverable platforms crowd every regime from LEO to GEO. “The space domain is now much more congested, populated by systems of various sizes, different orbital regimes, and operated by adversaries as well as ourselves,” explains Dave Meteyer, Group Lead

In defense acquisition, selecting the best technical solution is not enough. Success depends on how well that choice holds up under scrutiny—from oversight bodies, Congress, and operational users alike—while ensuring the program performs as intended. That’s where the traditional approach to Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) falls short.

As cyber threats escalate and evolve, the Department of Defense (DoD) faces the imperative of rethinking how cybersecurity is integrated into military operations. Cybersecurity must transition from being perceived as a peripheral concern—often relegated to technical support roles—to being treated as a fundamental component of strategic military operations.