What did RAND's 1946 report identify as a benefit of satellite technology?

• A. It recommended delaying satellite development in favor of missiles.
• B. It said satellites would not be technically feasible for at least ten years.
• C. Satellites would be good platforms for relaying communications and provide "an observation aircraft that cannot be shot down except by similar means."
• D. It recommended contracting the Douglas Aircraft Corporation.

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is recognizing how early thinking viewed satellites as multipurpose military assets, especially for global communications and persistent reconnaissance. The benefit highlighted is that satellites can relay communications over vast distances, bypassing the limits of ground-based or line-of-sight links, while also serving as an observation platform that operates from orbit and is difficult to shoot down with conventional means. This combination—providing long-range, robust communications and a surveillance capability that isn’t easily countered by traditional air defenses—was the core reason the RAND report saw value in satellite technology. The other options miss this strategic edge: delaying development, claiming feasibility only much later, or focusing on a contractor do not reflect the identified benefits of satellites as global communication relays and nearly unstoppable observation platforms.