NOTE: This article was written by Dr. Daniel Singleton, D.B.A., Professor of Space Systems and Operations at Columbia Southern University.    

Right now, more than 10,000 active satellites are circling Earth. Some are beaming GPS signals to your phone. Others are monitoring hurricanes over the Atlantic, relaying secure military communications or delivering broadband internet to rural communities that had none five years ago. Behind each of those satellites is a team on the ground planning missions, sending commands, monitoring system health and making real-time decisions. That work is space operations. 

If you have ever checked a weather app, used a credit card at a gas station or watched a live broadcast from the other side of the world, you have benefited from space operations without realizing it. The Global Positioning System alone underpins an estimated $1.4 trillion in U.S. economic activity each year, according to a 2019 study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Space is not a distant frontier; it is infrastructure, and space operations is the discipline that keeps it running. 

In this article, we explore space operations as an industry, including: 

• Why space operations is important 
• The growing demand for skilled professionals 
• The U.S. Space Force connection 
• Space operations education options 

What Is Space Operations? 

At its core, space operations involves the planning, coordination, execution and sustainment of activities in the space domain. This includes launching satellites, commanding them in orbit, tracking objects to prevent collisions, and processing the data spacecraft send back to Earth. 

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Joint Publication 3-14, Space Operations, outlines several key mission areas that support users on the ground, at sea and in the air: 

• Launch operations 
• Satellite command and control 
• Space force enhancement 
• Space situational awareness 

Space operations extends beyond the military. The field spans the three primary sectors detailed below, each contributing to its scope and career potential. 

The required skill sets for each sector are similar. Professionals rely on knowledge of orbital mechanics, satellite telemetry, systems engineering, data analysis, cybersecurity and mission planning. This interdisciplinary nature is part of what makes space operations a compelling field. 

Military Space Operations 

Military space operations support national defense through: 

• Intelligence collection 
• Missile warning systems 
• Position, navigation and timing (PNT) services 
• Secure satellite communications 

The U.S. Space Force, established in 2019, organizes, trains and equips personnel for these missions, while U.S. Space Command executes operations. The Space Force includes about 9,700 uniformed Guardians and a total workforce of more than 15,000, including civilian personnel, and continues to grow. 

Civil Space Operations 

Civil space operations focus on scientific research and exploration led by agencies such as NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston has overseen human spaceflight since the Gemini program and continues to support the International Space Station and Artemis missions. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Deep Space Network, a global system of antennas, maintains communication with robotic spacecraft across the solar system. NOAA operates satellites that power daily weather forecasts. 

Commercial Space Operations 

Commercial space operations have expanded rapidly over the past decade. Companies such as SpaceX and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are building satellite constellations for broadband, Earth observation and communications. Others are developing in-orbit servicing, logistics platforms and manufacturing capabilities. According to the Space Foundation, commercial activities account for 78% of the $613 billion global space economy. 

Why the Field of Space Operations Is Important 

The space domain is evolving quickly, with growing economic, operational and security implications. 

The global space economy reached $613 billion in 2024, a 7.8% increase from the previous year. In the United States, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that space-related activities contributed $142.5 billion to gross domestic product in 2023, supporting 347,000 private-sector jobs and $54.5 billion in wages. The Space Foundation projects that the global space economy could exceed $1 trillion by 2032. 

At the same time, space is becoming more congested and contested. With more than 10,000 active satellites and significant orbital debris, collision avoidance is an ongoing challenge. Several nations are also developing counterspace capabilities designed to disrupt or disable space systems. U.S. defense policy now recognizes space as a warfighting domain, increasing the importance of trained professionals. 

Activity is also accelerating. In the first half of 2025, an orbital launch occurred somewhere in the world about every 28 hours on average, according to the Space Foundation. This pace continues to drive demand for skilled operators. 

Is Space Operations a Growing Field? 

Employment in the U.S. space sector has grown steadily. Over the past decade, jobs increased 27%, compared with 14.3% growth across the broader private sector, based on Space Foundation analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. From 2019 to 2024 alone, employment rose 18%. 

Compensation reflects that demand. The average salary in the U.S. private space industry was about $135,000 in 2023, nearly double the national private-sector average. A 2025 Bureau of Economic Analysis working paper found that 56% of space-related jobs are in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. 

The industry is also attracting new talent. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that nearly half of recent hires in the space economy are under age 35. Many enter from related fields such as information technology, data science and systems engineering. 

For those interested in entering the field of space operations, educational pathways like space operations degree programs can help build the required skills. 

The U.S. Space Force Connection 

For those with military experience or interest in service, space operations aligns with several U.S. Space Force career fields. The service organizes personnel into five areas: 

• Acquisition management 
• Cyberspace operations 
• Developmental engineering 
• Intelligence 
• Space operations 

Roles in space operations include orbital warfare officers, space battle managers and satellite operators. These professionals plan and execute missions in a domain that supports all branches of the military. 

This knowledge also applies to civilian and commercial roles. Graduates may pursue opportunities with NASA, NOAA, the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, defense contractors and private space companies. 

But the Space Force pathway is only one of many. The same knowledge base prepares graduates for careers at NASA, NOAA, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), intelligence community agencies, defense contractors, and a rapidly growing commercial sector. A certificate or degree in space operations opens doors across all three sectors — military, civil, and commercial.   

Why Study Space Operations? 

Space operations sits at the intersection of national security, commercial innovation, and scientific discovery. It is a field where the work you do on a Tuesday afternoon — sending a command to a satellite, analyzing conjunction data to avoid a collision, or processing imagery of a changing coastline — has real consequences for real people. That combination of technical rigor and tangible impact is what draws many professionals to the field.  

It is also a field that rewards diverse skill sets. Space operations professionals come from backgrounds in engineering, computer science, physics, cybersecurity, project management, and intelligence analysis. The discipline needs systems thinkers who can integrate across these domains, not just specialists in one narrow area. That makes it an excellent fit for working professionals who bring real-world experience to the classroom and are looking to pivot into a high-demand, high-impact career field. 

Space Operations at Columbia Southern University 

Columbia Southern University recognized this demand when it launched its Bachelor of Science in Space Operations program, creating an accessible, fully online pathway for adult learners to build expertise in this growing field. As humanity pushes deeper into cislunar space, develops the infrastructure for a sustained lunar presence, and begins to grapple with the governance challenges of an increasingly crowded orbital environment, the need for trained space operations professionals will only grow. The question is not whether the opportunities will be there. It is whether you will be ready for them.   

Columbia Southern University proudly serves active-duty military members, veterans and their families. CSU’s dedicated military support staff is comprised of current and former military members who understand the unique needs of these students and their families. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Mil to learn more. 

 Dr. Daniel Singleton is a professor of space systems and operations within the College of Space, Intelligence, and Military Operations at Columbia Southern University. He currently serves as a Senior Science, Space, and Technology Analyst with the U.S. government, where he leads oversight and evaluation of major science and technology investments.

Previously, he led oversight of NASA's highest-profile missions and programs, including the James Webb Space Telescope, the Mars Perseverance Rover, Mars Sample Return, and the Space Launch System. He also serves as Analyst-in-Charge for AI accountability work and leads his agency's assessment of orbital debris mitigation technologies.

Outside of government service, Dr. Singleton is the founder and CEO of SpaceTech AI, a venture focused on drone and artificial intelligence technology for aerospace applications, and the founder of SpaceTechChronicles.com, a space technology media platform where he oversees the platform's business operations and content strategy.

Dr. Singleton holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Columbia Southern University with specializations in organizational psychology and public administration and is completing a Master of Advanced Study in Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.