The United 
States will engage “in expanded international cooperation in space” and pursue cooperative activities “to the greatest extent practicable” in areas like space exploration, according to the new National Space Policy issued by the White House Monday. In a statement, President Obama said cooperation is one of the “central goals” of the new policy. This will not only “ward off conflict, but will help to expand our capacity to operate in orbit and beyond,” he said. As part of this goal, the document states that the US “will pursue bilateral and multilateral transparency and confidence-building measures to encourage responsible actions in space.” And it “will consider proposals and concepts for arms control measures if they are equitable, effectively verifiable, and enhance the national security.” The new document supersedes the previous space policy that the Bush Administration released in October 2006. (Obama statement) (Defense Secretary Robert Gates statement) (White House fact sheet) (National Space Policy full document)
The design of the launch facilities for the Air Force’s new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile are likely to undergo major revision, posing yet another challenge for the much-delayed and over-budget program to modernize the land-based component of America’s nuclear triad, officials said.