Spacepower Theory

<p>Spacepower analogous to airpower and sea power is the ability to use the space medium to project military power. Since the end of the Cold War the contributions of spacepower to national security and military operations have become increasingly visible in the open press leading to an increased stated need for a comprehensive spacepower theory. This research is focused toward that need. It explores the central themes and specific points of the theoretical masters of land sea and air in order to draw analogies to the emerging presence of military spacepower. Space will continue to aid combat in other mediums as it offers persistence range and near instantaneous speed--enabling a global presence that is unmatched by capabilities in any other medium. However for spacepower to emerge as a fully competent component of the future joint force or simply to mature as a combat arm within the US Air Force a body of serious thought must be given to why we need spacepower and what we intend it to do. Through this analysis five lessons emerge for spacepower theory: 1) Spacepower must control space lines of communication; 2) Decisive points are key to space control; 3) Spacepower requires superior observation capabilities and the ability to take offensive action; 4) Robust spacepower could lead to enemy paralysis; and 5) Spacepower requires masters of the space medium.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>