Mastering the ultimate high ground : next steps in the military uses of space = MR-1649-AF

Assess the military space challenges facing the Air Force and the nation in light of the findings and recommendations of the congressionally mandated Space Commission. The Author Assesses The Military Space Challenges That Face The Air Force And The Nation In Light Of The Findings And Recommendations Of The Congressionally Mandated Space Commission, Released In January 2001. After Reviewing The Main Milestones In The Air Force's Involvement In Space Since Its Creation As An Independent Service In 1947, He Examines The Circumstances That Occasioned The Space Commission's Creation, As Well As The Conceptual And Organizational Roadblocks That Have Impeded A More Rapid Growth Of U.s. Military Space Capability. He Concludes That The Air Force Faces Five Basic Challenges With Respect To Space: Continuing The Operational Integration Of Space With The Three Terrestrial Warfighting Mediums While Ensuring The Organizational Differentiation Of Space From Air Force Air; Effectively Wielding Its Newly Granted Military Space Executive-agent Status; Realizing A Transparent Dod-wide Budget Category For Space; Showing Progress Toward Fielding A Meaningful Space Control Capability While Decoupling That Progress From Any Perceived Taint Of Force-application Involvement; And Making Further Progress Toward Developing And Nurturing A Cadre Of Skilled Space Professionals Within The Air Force. Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. The Air Force's Struggle For Space -- Ch. 3. Air And Space Versus Aerospace -- Ch. 4. The Space Commission And Its Impact -- Ch. 5. On Space Control And Space Force Application -- Ch. 6. The Road Ahead -- App. Dod Draft Directive On Space Executive Agent. Benjamin S. Lambeth. Prepared For The United States Air Force. Mr-1649. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 181-193). Annotation Ever since the U.S. Air Force was established as an independent service at the end of World War II, it has been the de facto custodian of the nation's military space capabilities. Yet its involvement in space has been one of relentless struggle with the other services and with the ruling civilian leadership for control of the U.S. military space effort. Internally, the Air Force has faced semantic and theoretical struggles (whether "air and space" or "aerospace"--Air and space as two separate spheres or as a single continuum), as well as budgetary and operational challenges associated with providing robust space capabilities. Mounting concern that faltering stewardship and insufficient funding of the nation's military space effort might eventually lead to a space "Pearl Harbor" prompted Congress in 1999 to establish a Space Commission to inquire into the nation's near-term military space needs. Mastering the Ultimate High Ground reviews the main milestones in the Air Force's involvement in space since its creation as an independent service in 1947, the circumstances that occasioned the Space Commission's creation, and the conceptual and organizational road-blocks that have impeded a more rapid growth of U.S. military space capability. The author concludes by examining operational and institutional imperatives, unsettled funding issues, and next steps in space mission development Assesses the military space challenges facing the Air Force and the nation in light of the findings and recommendations of the Space Commission. The author reviews the Air Force's involvement in space since its creation as an independent service in 1947; examines the circumstances that occasioned the commission's creation and the conceptual and organizational roadblocks that have impeded a more rapid growth of U.S. military space capability; and enumerates the challenges facing the Air Force with respect to space. Efter adskille års debat i USA har USAF tilkæmpet sig retten til at operere i rummet, selv om der internt i USAF fortsat diskuteres, om rummet er en naturlig forlængelse af det traditionelle luftrum eller om rummet skal betragtes som et separat operationsområde. Dette RAND studie analyserer problemet og fremkommer med 5 specifikke udfordringer til USAF med henblik på i fremtiden at udfylde sin rolle i luftrums "arenaen." On January 11, 2001, the long-awaited report of the Commission to Assess United States National Security Space Management and Organization (more commonly known as the Space Commission) was released.