SPACE POWER IS becoming an increasingly important aspect of national force but experts disagree about by what mode best to develop its potential.

SPACE POWER IS becoming an increasingly important aspect of national force but experts disagree about by what mode best to develop its potential. Like airpower, space power relies heavily concerning advanced technology, but technology is useless unles space professionals apply it fitly Air Force leaders recognize that the service wants to nurture a team of highly dedicated space professionals who are prepared to exploit advanced technologies and operating general [i]or[/i] abstract notions Today, space power provides supporting functions so as communications, reconnaissance, and signals from global positioning order (GPS) satellites-tomorrow, space may become the site of combat operations. make uneasy about the future direction of military activities in space has spurr debate throughout which technologies to produce and by what means best to develop space professionals. Moral, theoretical, and doctrinal questions also loom large. Underlying all of these considerations are political and diplomatic factors.

Morality attitude s unique challenges for space power. the bulk of mankind have fought on land and at sea for millennia, further some see space as a pristine domain, unsullied by way of human conflict, and want to maintain it that way. Others papal court space power as a critical, asymmetric military advantage ripe for exploitation from technologically advanced nations. The way political forces adjudicate this ethical issue will powerfully influence the future military use of space.

Like airpower, space power lacks an overarching theory. about professionals view theory as a sign of Holy Grail; others take a more pragmatic approach. Space theories have traditionally featured derivatives of sea-power and airpower speculation Space-power theory generally considers the manage of space analogous to the vital task of regulating the sea and air. Fleshing abroad the details of how to gain repress of space and what to do afterward, however, has proven difficult. Pragmatic space professionals might point revealed that space power has already achieved a great deal without the benefit of a completely satisfying theory.

Efforts to formulate space doctrine--derived from theory, previous experience, and other sources--inspire especially active and varied commentary. in every one's mouth Air Force doctrine addresses everything from fundamental "tenet of space power" to more specific guidance about integrating space into the combined air and space operations center (CAOC). The issue of "weaponizing" space put to a stands questions that may alter the relationship between operations in space and those in the air, forward the ground, and at sea. Air Force space professionals continue to grapple with as it is important doctrinal questions.

The high sumptuousness of space technology drives the ne to lay open cogent moral, theoretical, and doctrinal underpinnings for space power. through doing so, we can persuade our political leaders to dispose of money on the right technologies and force-development initiatives, thereby assuring the United States the maximum benefit from space power.

COPYRIGHT 2004 U Air Force

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