ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO -- The United States Air Force and NASA are beefing up their cooperative efforts to develop reusable launch vehicle technologies in an effort to assure the American military's dominance and control of space for national security purposes.

A just completed review of NASA and Air Force cooperation in space urges for a closer affiliation with the civilian space agency on reusable space launch technologies, and other technology work now underway.

Lester Lyles, Commander, Air Force Material Command, said that a realignment is now underway between the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles, California with the U.S. Space Command. This new organizational structure may also include the realignment of some Air Force laboratories to enhance work on space technologies, he said.

"We cannot afford to loose this battle of technological dominance, and we will not loose that battle," Lyles said.

Science and technology to protect U.S. space assets, and to deny any adversary use of similar hardware, demands preeminence in research, Lyles said. "And we are dedicated to keeping it that way," he said.

"Theres a lot more we can gain by a closer link with NASA and their various centers in the area of space and aeronautical technology," Lyles said.

A Space Partnership Council video meeting was held earlier this month, bringing together NASAs Daniel Goldin, General Ralph Eberhart, Commander of the U.S. Space Command, and Keith Hall, Director of the National Reconnaissance Office. That meeting kick-started a 60-day review by the Air Force to look at the basis for NASAs decisions in awarding contracts for the SLI, and also to gain a military perspective regarding the space agencys X-series of programs, including the now-canceled X-33 program.

The X-33 was an experimental reusable, suborbital space plane that was scuttled by NASA after the space agency and industry teams spent over $1.2 billion. There is on-going discussion regarding revival of the project, but under the wing of the U.S. Air Force.

DeKok and other Air Force officials offered snapshot views of a reshaping of military space prowess here at Space 2001, a conference organized by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and being held here August 28-30.

The shift toward greater emphasis on space for national security needs is being led by Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. Prior to being appointed to his post by President Bush, Rumsfeld led a national commission on use of space for national security needs.