Having worked space planning (requirements and modeling), acquisition (system test and procurement), policy, strategy, doctrine, and operations, I think I've seen a lot in terms of Air Force and joint space endeavors. I've been lucky to have gotten a wide range of experience early in my career-I've seen operators that don't understand how their system fits into the big picture, acquisition folks who build to spec but don't remember that the system needs to be flown and used, and users that don't understand the benefits (and limitations) of space-based systems. Overlaid on top of this is senior management's focus on making space operations fit into the air-centric structure of the Air Force and their real desire to have a weapon (like other warfighters).
The Air Force overcomes these problems in the air arena with a study of history and doctrine - focusing on lessons learned in the past. They also use the strategies developed by the deep thinkers in air operations (Douhet, Mitchell, LeMay, etc.) to show why air power is used the way it is. This "liberal" education (as opposed to a science/engineering focus) rounds out the air student and gives him or her a framework for where they fit in the grand scheme of things. In addition, all cadets take these courses, so everyone has grounding in what air power is all about.
Unfortunately, space power is so new ("only" 20 years) that no one thinks to include this kind of information for future "orbitors" or spacecraft acquisition folks, let alone for the general Air Force. It doesn't help that we don't have a lot of history to teach, and that there has never been a space weapon - imagine how much we'd study the use of air power in World War I if it had been limited to observation. We're also still waiting for a Douhet or Mitchell for space.
[A note: When we talk about "space power," we really need to include both traditional space operations and ballistic missile operations. Why? Because the operations career field for "space" (13Sxx) is for both space and missiles, and AFPC now insists that 13's serve time in both areas. In addition, the acquisition community that builds spacelift systems also maintains the Air Force's ballistic missile inventory. Unfortunately, being an "old-timer," I only have real experience with the space part of the equation.]
So how can we orient cadets so they'll understand space power and how they play in it? I maintain that, since we don't have history and strategy, we need to substitute current thinking that is embodied in the nation's space policy, law, and doctrine. These documents reflect our best guess as to why and how space plays a part in national security (and the general well being of our country) and are (for the most part) readily available for study. Coupled with our short space history and basics on how space systems work, a study of the available documents could provide the basis for "space education" at the Academy as follows and provide the "liberal education" on space needed to ensure better development, operation, and use of space power:
Track 1: Space Career Field
If a cadet is going to enter the space career field (as either an operator or an acquisition person), they need to understand in detail the why and how of space power. I propose four courses - three mandatory for the Astro major and encouraged for anyone going to Undergraduate space and Missile Training upon graduation, and one elective for the adventurous student:
Space 301: Space History, Law, and Doctrine. This course lays out the "real" constraints on space operations. First, it describes where space power has been - the evolution that brought us to where we are today. This would provide a basis for the topics to come.
Secondly, those who operate or build space forces need to understand the legal constraints on what they do. Cadets need to know what the "space treaties" allow (e.g., space-based ballistic missile defenses are forbidden, but anti-satellite weapons are not), and understand how international enables space forces (e.g., overflight from space is legal).
Doctrine, while not set in stone, provides our "best ideas" on what works in employing space forces. It isn't constrained by current politics (e.g., anti-satellite weapons are bad), and provides a basic view of how space power contributes to Air Force operations. It also gives the cadet the common language used to describe space operations. Both the current Air Force space doctrine and the soon-to-be-released (hopefully) Doctrine for Joint Space Operations (Joint Publication 3.14) should be included.
Space 302: Space Policy. This course lays out the "imposed" constraints on space forces - what the nation currently allows and directs. New "orbitors" need to understand why current space forces are fielded and operated the way they are, and what the nation expects from space systems. The National Space Policy also describes how space systems contribute to the nation's well being as a whole, and directs the interaction between civil, commercial, and defense space activities. To delve into the whole policy, the course would have to be taught at the SECRET level. Both the National and DoD space policies should be examined.
Space 303: Space-Based Force Enhancement and Spacelift Systems. Future "orbitors" need to know what current space systems do - why reinvent the wheel when developing a new system, and why not use current space systems to support future space activities? This course would be a detailed look at communications, weather, remote sensing, navigation, and early warning system, and the important factors (orbit, constellation, power, ground stations, etc) involved with each. Spacelift forces are also included for lack of a better place, and to prove the space folks with current capabilities and constraints. DoD, civil, and commercial (including foreign) systems need to be addressed to provide the full scope of what space can do for the user. (Interested non-space folks would also benefit from this course, which should lay out in detail what space can do for them.)
Space 401: Advanced Concepts - Space Control and Force Application. This is the elective on "speculative" space forces - anti-satellite, defense of the planet earth, and other weapons-in-space issues - as well as how we can protect our current space forces and capabilities. To me, this would be the fun course that ties a lot of orbital dynamics and engineering (plus a look at law, doctrine, and policy) to such questions as "How do you stop an incoming asteroid?" and "How is the best way to deny an enemy support from space?"
Track 2: The Space User
In my experience, most "users" (those who depend on support from space forces but don't actually employ them) don't really understand how space forces work and why they operate the way they do. I would propose a single course, mandatory for all cadets, to address the basics of space power so these folks are exposed to the concepts and terminology.
Space 101: Space for the Warfighter. This course would provide the basics of orbital dynamics (Why can't a satellite hover over any point?), spacecraft design (redundancy versus repair), policy, and doctrine. It would spend more time on space forces that support terrestrial warfighters, providing knowledge of what capabilities are available. Field trips to USSPACECOM and AFSPACECOM operating units would be appropriate.
Final Thoughts
"Space Education" at the Academy is important to all cadets, both those going into the space-related career fields and those who will be using support from space. I feel the basis for this education needs to be an understanding of the constraints behind the employment of space operations - space history, law, and doctrine as well as current space policy. Cadets must also understand how space supports the terrestrial warfighter. This education could follow on of two tracks - depending on the level of future involvement in space forces - but it needs to be mandatory to ensure graduates have a firm foundation in space power.
Springfield, VA