Comments on: Is the Air Force neglecting space? http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-the-air-force-neglecting-space Because sometimes the most important orbit is the Beltway... Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:35:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.38 By: Sam Dinkin http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-116692 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:21:24 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-116692 Quite a coup to get this article into the Space Review, Jeff. Kudos.

]]> By: Bob Mahoney http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-115852 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:06:20 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-115852 While I haven’t researched or even contemplated the issue thoroughly, I suspect that a robust and effective “Space Force” would likely require its own unique model for operations that incorporated some elements & traditions from the air force, some from the navy, and others designed from scratch. Space is, after all, extremely different from both their traditional realms of operations.

As for getting off on the wrong foot in both military and civilian space way back when, let’s not forget that “it” derived (NASA, too) in large part from inter-service rivalry. Any chance that today’s net-centric integrated warfighters will approach the issue any more fairly today or tomorrow?

]]> By: Al Fansome http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-115781 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:07:50 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-115781 I know several current and former USAF officers who also agree that “sea power” is a closer parallel to “space power”, although they are not too vocal about it.

Several of them use Mahanian “sea power” theory in their talking points, and at least one has written a paper on the subject.

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/cc/france1.html

FWIW,

– Al

]]> By: Rand Simberg http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-115255 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:39:19 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-115255 We should set this up for the long term, and in the long term spaceflight will be dominated by long travel times, difficult conditions, lack of easy resupply, and an extraordinarily harsh environment — having far more in common with defending the sea lanes than establishing air superiority.

Donald, I agree completely.

We got off on the wrong foot in both military space, and civil space (though the former was excusable, as it seemed obvious in the fifties and sixties that space was an extension of air, no matter how wrong that was).

]]> By: Donald F. Robertson http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-115190 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:50:40 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-115190 SpaceMan has it right. We should set this up for the long term, and in the long term spaceflight will be dominated by long travel times, difficult conditions, lack of easy resupply, and an extraordinarily harsh environment — having far more in common with defending the sea lanes than establishing air superiority.

– Donald

]]> By: typo http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-115053 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:57:23 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-115053 I am guessing that SpaceMan was just saying that the oceans were a closer comparison as a medium to space, than air is to space — thus the Navy “traditions for operations” are closer to what a “Space Corps tradition for operations” will be.

Okay, but I still don’t see that comparison to be valid. No service better understands the essence of global reach, global power, global vigilance like the world’s air services.

BTW, I think a “space corps” is ultimately the best answer. This not only parallels the “Army Air Corps”, but also the “Marine Corps”.

I agree 100%.

]]> By: Al Fansome http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-115013 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:56:28 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-115013 Typo,

I am guessing that SpaceMan was just saying that the oceans were a closer comparison as a medium to space, than air is to space — thus the Navy “traditions for operations” are closer to what a “Space Corps tradition for operations” will be.

I too think Armor is spot on, but I expect it will have to get a lot worse over at Space Command & SMC before enough people will be ready for a real change.

BTW, I think a “space corps” is ultimately the best answer. This not only parallels the “Army Air Corps”, but also the “Marine Corps”.

– Al

]]> By: typo http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-115005 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:36:38 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-115005 The proper (appropriate) military tradition for space operations etc are the naval services, NOT the air services.

Taking a step back is not the answer. The Navy is definitely NOT the appropriate service for space warfare of tomorrow, to include military spaceplanes, remote sensing, on-orbit offensive and defensive operations, etc. Granted they have a long and storied history in comm/nav from space, but they progress of milspace in the next century requires a fresh look at space as its own medium for offensive/defensive ops and power projection rather than as a supporting medium for terrestrial operations. And the Navy is not the right service (none are really) to view space as a co-equal medium to land, sea, or air.

]]> By: SpaceMan http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-114994 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:18:41 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-114994 The proper (appropriate) military tradition for space operations etc are the naval services, NOT the air services.

No, I don`t expect this sort of shift to happen (anytime soon).

]]> By: typo http://www.spacepolitics.com/2008/09/15/is-the-air-force-neglecting-space/#comment-114960 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:23:04 +0000 http://www.spacepolitics.com/?p=1730#comment-114960 Support of a non-existent ‘aerospace’ regime not only prevents space from thriving, it equally undermines Air Force leadership of the vital air superiority mission.

Applause.

It’s ironic that a Service which grew out of the recognition that air and land warfare were different and required dedicated professionals schooled in each, with different training, culture, management, and operations concepts, has refused to acknowledge the same dichotomy exists between air and space. More so today than ever, and even more so tomorrow than today (which was also true of aviation).

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