Space Force Official: Lack of Components Standards Challenge Cooperation Between US, Allies

The lack of existing standards for components and interfaces hampers collaboration between the United States and its allies in advancing space technologies.

In a Defense Innovation Board meeting on Wednesday, Chief Master Sergeant Ron Lerch, senior enlisted leader for Space Systems Command’s Intelligence Directorate, said that based on conversations with international partners, the lack of U.S. standards is a challenge when allied nations are working on innovative space solutions and developing their national systems.

Lerch called on the Department of Defense to guide the international community by establishing standards free of intellectual property constraints, C4ISRNET reported.

While the Pentagon has yet to come up with its standards on space components and interfaces, the U.S. has been entering into multiple partnerships with other nations. In 2023, it expanded its civil space cooperation with India, training Indian astronauts at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and working with the Indian Space Research Organization on the Commercial Lunar Payload Services.

In January, NASA sought the expertise of the United Arab Emirates’ space sector, with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre developing the Crew and Science Airlock module of the Gateway space station.