Guardians of Space: Organizing America's Space Assets for the Twenty-First Century

摘要

When it comes to exploiting space for national security and economic prosperity, the United States is without peer. For over four decades, this nation has led the opening of the space frontier and has achieved unprecedented successes. We have developed new technologies; launched spacecraft into Earth orbit and beyond; and learned how to use spacecraft to better understand our planet, quickly communicate, disseminate information, warn of attack, and locate people and infrastructure on Earth. We have walked on the Moon and peered in awe at the surface of Mars and newly discovered solar systems. But these past successes do not guarantee future successes. Maintaining our historical level of achievement demands that we consolidate current and future space service functions in one organization. This article unveils the recommended organizational structure for our nation's space assets by examining the changed frontier and the imperatives that demand change, and by using the already successful historical model of the U.S. Coast Guard as a springboard for future success. The recommended organizational structure promises to free the Air Force to pursue its aerospace power vision and allow this nation to use space assets most effectively and exploit space successfully in the coming decades. The recommended organizational structure for space services is the United States Space Guard (USSG), a fusion of civil, commercial, and military space personnel and missions. Although an armed service and a ready instrument of national policy the USSG would remain an operating administration of the DOT for day-to-day operations. In times of crisis, it may be designated as an arm of the United States Air Force. The Space Guard's funding should come not only from DoD coffers, but also from all military, civil, and commercial enterprises that benefit from its services.