Space What? ... Space Control

Abstract : Space control has been an escalating concern for some years now and has recently come the forefront of Department of Defense concerns and issues. As defined in Joint Publication 3-14, Space control is the ability to ensure freedom of action in Space for the United States and its allies and, when directed, deny an adversary freedom of action in Space. The U.S. Army is the largest user among the U.S. military services of Space-based capabilities and information - its dependency on these Space resources will only continue grow with the advent of the Objective Force. The good guys (Blueforce), the enemy (Redforce), and the rest of the world (Greyforce - civil and commercial) are today's Space customers. The product line includes but is not limited to: position and navigation; environmental monitoring; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; communications; and missile detection and warning. This article illustrates why Space control has emerged as a primary focus in today's three-dimensional tactical arena of modern warfare.