WINNING THE GROUND-BASED SPACE RACE AGAINST AUTHORITARIAN SPACE POWERS
SPACE SECURITY
AND COMMERCE
SUMMIT 2026
Presented by the Coalition for a Prosperous America Education Fund in collaboration with the Prague Security Studies Institute
Join CPAEF for this inaugural CPA conference on space security concerns and commercial opportunities in the global ground-based space sector, focused on how to stop China’s accelerating effort to take over this large market of aspiring space nations and, instead, secure it for American and allied companies.
WHY *THIS CONFERENCE* NOW?
This conference will be one-of-a kind and provide a unique, in-depth, exposition of these topics, including outlining the priorities and potential solutions for the benefit of the U.S. and allied space industries.
THE GROUND-BASED SPACE RACE
There is a rapidly emerging recognition that the United States is locked in a new, 21st century space race, this time with China. An almost completely overlooked dimension of this new space race is not taking place in space, but rather on the ground. Unlike the Cold War version of the 1960s, this “New Space Race” is also for a global network of ground-based assets that can, among other crucial services, provide military advantage both in space and here on Earth.
China intends to dominate this global ground segment and is well advanced in achieving this strategic goal. Tragically, to date, the U.S. and its allies have not even taken the playing field to contest this insidious campaign. CPA is determined to change that situation with this first of our annual gatherings. This conference will convene policymakers, industry leaders, and security experts to chart a proactive strategy for U.S. and allied companies to lead this critical sector.
CHINA'S STRATEGY OF "SPACE SECTOR CAPTURE"
The centerpiece of China’s current strategy for defeating the United States in the race for this and other space sectors is its corporations. As documented in a recent groundbreaking report by CPA and PSSI, entitled Ground Game of Authoritarian Space Powers, roughly 250 supposedly “private” space companies now form the backbone of China’s space program controlled by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). As there is no genuine “private sector” in China, all space companies are utterly controlled by the PLA.
The rapid growth in Chinese space enterprises partnered with the PLA has propelled Beijing’s strategy of “space sector capture,” penetrating foreign nation’s space sectors by making “too good to be true” commercial offers backed by the Chinese government. Not surprisingly, attempting to penetrate and capture the space sectors of some 123 aspiring space nations is an integral part of Beijing’s goal of becoming the dominant global space power. PSSI data show that, to date, China’s malevolent strategy of space sector capture has been a resounding success. The space sectors of some 22 countries have already been recruited into China’s “full-service” orbit, with scores of others having at least partial dependency on Bejing.
The shift in China’s space sector from traditional state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to supposedly commercial entities has opened an essential funding stream previously unavailable: Wall Street. PSSI has documented how Chinese space companies attract American capital investment from selling and trading their securities in the U.S. capital markets, including those of an intricate web of subsidiaries and affiliates and through large conglomerates with no obvious space industry ties. Another important source of funding, particularly for Chinese military space start-ups, has been U.S. private equity firms.
A COMMERCIAL AND STRATEGIC THREAT
China’s program of “space sector capture” in the global ground-based space sector threatens to effectively exclude U.S. and allied companies from entering and capitalizing on this multi-hundred billion dollar market.
Moreover, the threat to U.S. and allied national security is real, witness satellite imagery from one of these Chinese companies having supported Iran-backed Houthi terrorists targeting American naval vessels in the Red Sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. (The urgent nature of the threat was vividly portrayed in the recent Fox Nation documentary that CPA helped originate, “The Enemy Above” (available for viewing here.)
Thus, we are at a critical juncture.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19th, 2026
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AGENDA AT A GLANCE
Expert Panel 1: Preventing Domination of the Global Ground-Based Space Sector by China
Gain exclusive insights into how China’s strategy is reshaping the global ground segment—and what U.S. leaders must do to stop it.
- China’s “Space Sector Capture” strategy and its national security implications:
- Status and future prospects of China’s global offensive to recruit scores of aspiring space nations to its single-source contracts;
- How some sixty million or more U.S. retail investors have become a major source of funding for the Chinese PLA’s space predations referenced above.
Expert Panel 2: Capturing the Global Ground-Based Space Sector for U.S. Companies and Allies
Explore how U.S. companies and allies can capture this market, with federal support, new partnerships, and insights from CPA’s China Space Security Initiative.
- The scale and types of corporate opportunities in the civil, national security, and commercial sectors of the ground segment;
- Potential federal government support for U.S. companies in the global ground-based space sector;
- Research and market capabilities of CPA’s China Space Security Initiative (in partnership with PSSI).
Expert Panel 3: How the U.S. Wins the Space Races on the Ground, in Orbit, and to the Moon
Hear from experts on how the Trump Administration, Congress, and U.S. industry can mobilize to win these races.
- Activating the Trump Administration;
- Mobilizing the Congress on a bipartisan or other basis;
- Leveraging CPA ‘s China Space Security Initiative.
REGISTER TODAY!
Don’t miss this opportunity for a unique, in-depth exploration of how to roll back the Chinese commercial and strategic threat and secure the global ground-based space market for U.S. and allied companies!
Registration fee is $1,200 per person ($1,000 for early bird registration through November 30, 2025) and includes attendance and kickoff luncheon, networking break and reception, and gala dinner.
For additional information on the Conference, please contact: ewainwright@prosperousamerica.org
NOTICE OF RECORDING:
Recording of Event. Space Security and Commerce Summit 2026 and its related activities may be recorded and photographed, and reproduced in any form (including but not limited to digital formats). By attending the Space Security and Commerce Summit 2026 and related activities, you acknowledge that you have been informed that you may be recorded or photographed and consent to the use of your branding, intellectual property, likeness and name, image, and sound. You hereby authorize the Coalition for a Prosperous America and the Prague Security Studies Institute and their designees to record, transcribe, modify, reproduce, publicly perform, display, distribute, redistribute, and transmit in any form and for any purpose any such recordings or photographs of the Space Security and Commerce Summit 2026 and related activities. You hereby release the Coalition for a Prosperous America and the Prague Security Studies Institute and their designees from, and waive all claims you may have, including intellectual property claims, now or in the future, in connection with such activities, and specifically waive any statutory restriction on waivers of future claims or moral rights.
