The Defense Department's fiscal 2008 budget request includes just more than $1 billion in programs that could support the development of anti-satellite and space-based weapons capabilities, according to a new analysis from the Center for Defense Information (CDI). "Congress must become more aware of these efforts, and ensure that such programs do not go forward without in-depth scrutiny of their purposes and possible long-term impacts on U.S. space security," CDI Director and report co-author Theresa Hitchens said in a statement.

Members of the Launch Services Alliance defended the arrangement against criticisms that it is "pointless" during a panel discussion in Washington Feb. 21, with Boeing Sea Launch President Robert Peckham arguing that it really does provide schedule assurance even if manifests appear booked up. Formed in 2003, the Launch Services Alliance is an agreement between Sea Launch, Arianespace and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in which each company's fleet of rockets serves as a backup to the others to provide schedule assurance for their customers.

A staffer for House Strategic Forces subcommittee chair Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) sees little chance for major reform of U.S. export control law in the near term, despite the recent congressional leadership changeover. The two House committees with jurisdiction over export control -International Relations and House Armed Services - still have leadership that "is more pro-security than pro-business in many ways," said Simon Limage, Tauscher's deputy chief of staff. "I would see a fairly conservative outlook for major change in the short term."