Whence the Army's Role in Space

The performance of our military in the Gulf War and more recently in the military effort in Yugoslavia has demonstrated overwhelming US superiority in Space. Future conflicts may be different, as our adversaries come to recognize the importance of Space as a combat multiplier. There will likely be a battle for control of Space during future conflicts. With this in mind, it is useful to ask what the Army role should be in Space. Today, the Army is the largest military user of Space-derived products. Yet it plays only a minimal role in the decision making process that determines our direction in Space. In this study, I will review the history of the US military in Space and the roles played by each Service, with a particular focus on the Army role. I will make predictions about the future role of Space in military operations, and recommendations for what role the Army should play in Space.