Strategy is the art of thinking about war before it occurs. Noting that space already plays a role in all of todays wars, Space Strategy studies how conflicts are extending into this new domain. The book defines extra-atmospheric space and focuses on its varying features and constraints. By exploring the opportunities for action provided by different strategic positions, the book analyzes the most plausible combat scenarios from, against and within space. It explains the concepts of militarization, weaponization and martialization of space and shows how space systems constitute an essential component of information literacy the key to power in the 21st Century.Space Strategy then demonstrates why our society, having become space-dependent, must take appropriate measures to develop its spatioresilience. Finally, the author summarizes his reflections in the form of a mnemonic listing twelve principles of space strategy.Completed by educational appendices and a glossary containing one thousand entries, Space Strategy meets the needs of students, researchers or any other reader curious about expanding their knowledge of strategy.
Foreword ixGeneral Jean-Loup CHRÉTIEN
Preface xiiiGeneral Jean-Paul PALOMÉROS
Notice to Readers xv
Acknowledgements xix
Introduction xxv
Chapter 1. Space Strategy: From Words to Actions 1
1.1. Geostrategy of space and space strategy 1
1.2. Principles and methods to the systemic analysis approach 6
1.3. Debris, laser and spaceplane 10
1.4. Conclusion 14
Chapter 2. Strategic Space: What Are the Limits? 17
2.1. Physical limits of outer space 17
2.2. Functional limits of space and outer space 26
2.3. Judicial limit of outer space 36
2.4. Conclusion 41
Chapter 3. How Can We Reach Space and Then Act Within It? 43
3.1. Piercing the gravitational opacity 43
3.1.1. How to reach space? 44
3.1.2. What are the trajectories followed by spatial vehicles? 47
3.1.3. How to navigate in space? 50
3.2. Utilizing physical and radioelectric radiation 52
3.3. Space positions worth occupying or controlling 57
3.4. Conclusion 72
Chapter 4. Space: What Are the Strategic Stakes? 73
4.1. Centripetal force of terrestrial strategic stakes 74
4.2. Centrifugal weakness of an autonomous strategic space factor 79
4.3. Space as strategic vector of information dominance 86
4.4. Conclusion 93
Chapter 5. Fighting Against Earth from Space? 97
5.1. Militarized space: global support 99
5.2. Weaponized space: celestial offensive 106
5.3. Martialized space: the alternative way 112
5.4. Conclusion 116
Chapter 6. Fighting Against Space from Earth? 121
6.1. Space situational awareness 123
6.2. Whoever controls the low ground controls the high ground 128
6.3. Space and nuclear: deterred deterrence? 134
6.4. Conclusion 139
Chapter 7. Combat within Space? 141
7.1. Small Earth space strategy 142
7.2. Strategic expansion of aerospace 155
7.3. The great lunar and Lagrangian strategy 161
7.4. Conclusion 172
Chapter 8. Twelve Principles of Space Strategy 175
8.1. The four preliminary principles of space strategy 176
8.1.1. Know what is happening in space 177
8.1.2. Elicit a sense of wonder turned toward the stars 180
8.1.3. Inform and train 182
8.1.4. Invest in the long term 185
8.2. The four cardinal principles of space strategy 188
8.2.1. Access space autonomously 189
8.2.2. Protect or attack the low ground to defend or defeat the high ground 193
8.2.3. Neutralize without destroying 198
8.2.4. Recreate the fog of war to ones advantage 199
8.3. The four complementary principles of space strategy 202
8.3.1. Take advantage of the specificities of space 203
8.3.2. Promote and protect non-physical lines of communications 205
8.3.3. Develop space resilience 207
8.3.4. Contribute to the global strategy 211
8.4. Conclusion 214
Chapter 9. Moving Beyond Space Strategy 215
9.1. The four is: indispensable, invisible, imaginary, inescapable 218
9.2. Space warrant to and part of mankinds global commons. 225
9.3. Space: platform for irenology 229
9.4. Conclusion 232
Conclusion 235
Postface 241General Patrick de ROUSIERS
Appendix 1. Physical Limits of Outer Space 243
Appendix 2. Kepler's Laws 269
Appendix 3. Space Laws 273
Appendix 4. Excerpt from the Report of the Legal Subcommittee of UN OOSA on Its Fifty-Fourth Session Held in Vienna from April 1327, 2015 277
Appendix 5. Detailed Description of Two-Line Element (TLE) Orbital Parameters 285
Appendix 6. We Choose to Go to the Moon 289
How to Use This Glossary 295
Glossary 301
Bibliography 453
Main Internet Sites 455
Index 459
