of 1998.
[Emphasis added. Remember Linda Moulton Howe's
concern about the
potential for a war in space? Seems
there was some justification for
her concern. Ed.]
Photo İDebbie Stock
The U.S. Space Command, the agency that oversees
all U.S. military space
operations, by year's end is expected to unveil
at least two major
documents that are expected to have a major
impact on the U.S. space
operations in the decades ahead, according
to the head of the command.
The documents will focus on space-power theory
that could lead to a
joint operating doctrine for all space forces
and on a long-range plan
that will stress the importance of preparing
for a future in space that
might include attacks on satellites and even
space conflicts.
"These are important times [for space forces],
and these will be crucial
documents," Gen. Howell Estes said in a recent
interview. As the
military's top space official, Estes oversees
NORAD [North American Air
Defense Command], the U.S. Space Command,
and the Air Force Space
Command.
He provided these details:
* Space
Power Theory: This document would pave the way for a joint
doctrine that would address warfighting and
peacetime strategies for all
space forces, and,
* Long-Range
Plan: This document will look at all the short-and
long-term aspects of space, including the
expanding importance of the
U.S. commercial space industry and future
space scenarios that include
potential attacks on satellites and the possibility
of a space war.
In addition to the two documents, Estes is
also looking at a plan that
would broaden the authority of future space
command chiefs, giving them
the scope and power of regional commanders
in chief. This would mean
that future space operations would be integrated
into all aspects of
air, land and sea operations-not just space.
Since becoming the military's top space official
in 1996, Estes
repeatedly has said that his main goal is
to make space an integral part
of military operations and not a "stovepipe
that is ignored by large
segments of the military."
"Space is not a stovepipe and needs to be an
integrated part of U.S.
military operations so that we [space forces]
can do what we need to do
in terms of supporting the things that our
national leaders ask us to
do," Estes said.
Defense Daily reports that both documents should
be completed by the end
of 1998.
[Emphasis added. Remember Linda Moulton Howe's
concern about the
potential for a war in space? Seems
there was some justification for
her concern. Ed.]
Photo İDebbie Stock
