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Space, Security, and Conflicts

The National Academies study national defense, space exploration, and international cooperation to guide peaceful and strategic progress. Explore research that guides priorities for space exploration, safeguards national and global security, and helps prevent future conflicts. 

What's happening

Celebrating the Launch of the Roman Space Telescope

Announcement

Over the weekend, NASA successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope — the top-ranked large space mission recommended by the National Academies’ 2010 decadal survey on astronomy and astrophysics. With a field of view more than 100 times larger than that of the Hubble Space Telescope, the Roman mission will perform a comprehensive survey of the cosmos with the goal of discovering exoplanets and advancing our understanding of dark matter and energy. For decades, the National Academies have helped identify science goals and mission priorities for NASA, including our most recent Astro 2020 decadal survey.

Aug 31, 2026
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. Roman will investigate dark energy and dark matter, conduct a statistical census of planetary systems, and enable a broad range of additional astrophysics research. Liftoff occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.

Statement by National Academies Presidents on Importance of NSF’s Ocean Observatories Initiative

Statement

The National Science Foundation’s recent decision to begin removing the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s deep-sea infrastructure could put the U.S. at risk of not having the data needed to address crucial issues such as the impacts of El Niño, effects of ocean ecosystem change on important fisheries, and challenges to U.S. national security from greater access to the Arctic.

Jun 9, 2026
Photo to accompany NASEM presidents' statement regarding importance of the U.S. National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative. Image depicts work supported by the initiative.

What could we learn by landing humans on Mars?

Based on Science

Landing humans on Mars could teach us whether life ever existed beyond Earth, how planets change over time, and how humans can live on other worlds. By studying Mars up close, astronauts could answer some of the biggest questions in science, including whether we are alone in the universe.

May 29, 2026
cover art for A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars
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