We are for sure living in odd times as the U.S space force has printed a 64-page military doctrine called ‘Spacepower,’ showing it is continuing to be a torchbearer of foreign policy and colonialism to space.
It marks America’s self-interest over future space exploration, which might accelerate space war, contrary to the decades-old global efforts to maintain space as an un-militarized domain.
Attaining spacepower can generate and apply diplomatic, informational, military and economic power,” making it evident and straight as to why the U.S has such high interests in the said subject. In just under eight months after its creation, America’s newly built military service announced its first doctrine, featured in the U.S. Space Force’s Capstone Publication, entitled as spacepower.
The SCP, which is the first brief of spacepower as a separate and distinguished form of military, serves as grounds upon which to build further doctrine as expanding challenges are continually addressed in the changing space domain. “One of the principles of an independent service is the creation of doctrine,” said Gen. Jay Raymond, chief of space operations, USSF.”
The Space Capstone Publication illustrates the reasons for spacepower being a vital element of U.S. prosperity and security. It guides its employment in multidomain operations. As the USSF advances to grow, it will continue to develop the latest doctrine to stay on the cutting edge of defending its interests in space.”
The Space Capstone Publication embodies the Department of the Air Force’s continued commitment to establishing the Space Force in a manner that minimizes cost and focuses on space doctrine, training, and capability for optimum effectiveness.
This first doctrine serves as a critical guidepost for the ethics and values of the nation’s newest armed service. SCP covers a range of topics to incorporate unique aspects of the space, the connection between national and military space power, and the employment and development of space forces.
While previous joint and Service documents present space-related doctrine, they were authored when space was regarded as a war-free area. The all-new SCP is as per the current reality that various state rivals have converted space into a warfighting domain.
“Agility, innovation, and boldness have always been the cornerstone traits of military space forces,” hence, “America continues refining these traits as they build a new service and a new professional body of knowledge.”
The work to write this doctrine began as a grassroots effort among a small team of people. “It was a coalition of the willing,” said Col. Casey Beard, commander, Space Delta 9. “We started work in August 2019 and met every two weeks, kept on brainstorming, debating, building an outline, and assigning sections to draft.” The team ranged in rank from Technical Sergeant to Colonel and also included a space professional from the U.S. Army.
In February, the USSF hosted a summit to develop the initial framework for Space Force doctrine. During the summit, representatives from all military services and exchange officers from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia offered additional recommendations on the scope and critical ideas in the proposed publication.
Given the emerging state of spacepower, this doctrine will inevitably evolve as it is applied, assessed, and refined. As the USSF defends the nation’s interests in the space area, it will leverage the strategic foundation of the Space Capstone Publication to support the development of operational and tactical USSF doctrine, designed to guide the development and employment of military space forces.
However, not to be ignored, horrific facts are that China is equipped enough to shoot down missiles in space, and Russia is working on a method for shooting down satellites using a laser beam. This doctrine and the U.S extending its military program to space can initiate Spacewar, and the world’s superpower countries should not violate the Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967.
