Arlington, Va. — The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) today released its 2026 Space Priorities, a comprehensive policy roadmap that calls on the U.S. government to strengthen America’s leadership in civil, commercial, and national security space.
As the United States prepares to launch Artemis II, transitions from the International Space Station, and prepares for a growing cadence of commercial launch and on‑orbit activity, AIA’s priorities outline the policies needed to sustain U.S. competitiveness, reinforce supply chains and workforce, and ensure long‑term sustainability in space.
“Space is no longer a niche domain — it is foundational to our national security, economic growth, and preserving U.S. leadership in space exploration,” said Steven Jordan Tomaszewski, AIA Vice President of Space Systems. “These priorities reflect what industry needs from government right now: stable funding, modernized regulations, and policies that fully leverage commercial innovation.”
Key topics in AIA’s 2026 Space Priorities include:
Growing the Space Economy Through Stable Investment
AIA urges policymakers to provide consistent, bipartisan, and timely funding for civil, commercial, and national security space programs to give industry the certainty needed for long‑term investment and global competitiveness.
Advancing Human Spaceflight and Sustained Lunar Exploration
Maintaining an aggressive timeline for Artemis missions and sustained lunar operations lays the foundation for future human missions to Mars, while continuing development of critical technologies such as surface power, entry‑descent‑landing systems, communications, mobility, and life‑support capabilities.
Ensuring a Smooth Transition to Commercial LEO Destinations
With the International Space Station planned to operate through 2030, an uninterrupted U.S. human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) can be accomplished through policies that enable commercial LEO destinations, a diverse fleet of U.S. launch vehicles, and continued microgravity research facilities.
Modernizing Regulation and Strengthening Commercial Integration
Predictable and efficient regulatory frameworks across launch, reentry, spectrum, and mission authorization are needed, including resourcing and elevating the Office of Space Commerce to support space traffic coordination, safety, and emerging commercial activities such as in‑space servicing and manufacturing.
Investing in Infrastructure, Supply Chains, and Workforce
Resilient space infrastructure, domestic manufacturing capacity, small business innovation programs, and workforce development will help address supply chain vulnerabilities and meet growing national space demands.
Strengthening National Security Space and Missile Defense
Accelerated development of next‑generation missile warning and defense architectures, resilient space systems, and training capabilities will prepare the joint force for operations in contested space environments.
About the Report
AIA’s 2026 Space Priorities reflect input from its broad membership across the U.S. space industrial base, including manufacturers, suppliers, launch providers, satellite operators, and emerging commercial space companies. As the premier advocate for America’s space industry, supply chain, and workforce, hundreds of AIA member companies encompass the full range of suppliers, manufacturers, and operators supporting commercial, civil, and national security space missions. Since the beginning of the space age, AIA member companies have supported U.S. exploration and national security missions and continue to deliver space capabilities and technologies that protect the nation, support our return to the Moon, strengthen our economy, and sustain U.S dominance in space.
The full document is available here.
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