Virtual Space Control: A Broader Perspective

摘要

Space control ensures friendly access to space-based capabilities while denying this same access to the enemy. Like air and sea control, it need not be executed during peacetime, but must be retained and implemented during conflict. Increasingly, U.S., allied, and adversary military forces depend on the capabilities space assets provide. This paper proposes that the U.S. has little ability to actually protect friendly space assets nor has it the ability to deny space support to its enemies. While there are both practical and political impediments to achieving space control over which the military may have little influence, there are significant doctrinal impediments to achieving space control that could and should be immediately addressed. Traditional space control doctrine has focused on protecting and denying space assets. This paper proposes a doctrine which instead focuses on protecting and denying space capabilities. The difficulties in achieving traditional space control along with the growing commercial space sector make a capabilities focused space control doctrine an imperative.