This book examines the rise of great power competition in space, including the relevant and practical space strategies for China, Russia, the United States, and other countries. The work discusses the concepts and writings of past strategists, such as Thucydides, Sun Tzu, and Clausewitz, in relation to warfare initiated in or extending into space. This analysis underscores why polities initiate war based upon an assessment of fear, honor, and interest, and explains why this will also be true of war in space. Based upon the timeless strategic writings of the past, the book uncovers the strategy of space warfare, along with the concepts of deterrence, dissuasion, and the inherent right of self-defense, and outlines strategies for great, medium, and emerging space powers. Additionally, it highlights changes needed to space strategy based upon the Law of Armed Conflict, norms of behavior, and Rules of Engagement. The work also examines advancements and emerging trends in the commercial space sector, as well as what these changes mean for the implementation of a practical space strategy. Given the rise of great power competition in space, this work presents a space strategy based upon historical experience. This book will be of much interest to students of space policy, strategic studies, and International Relations.

This book examines the rise of great power competition in space, including the relevant and practical space strategies for China, Russia, the United States, and other countries. The work discusses the concepts and writings of past strategists, such as Thucydides, Sun Tzu, and Clausewitz, in relation to warfare initiated in or extending into space. This analysis underscores why polities initiate war based upon an assessment of fear, honor, and interest, and explains why this will also be true of war in space. Based upon the timeless strategic writings of the past, the book uncovers the strategy of space warfare, along with the concepts of deterrence, dissuasion, and the inherent right of self-defense, and outlines strategies for great, medium, and emerging space powers. Additionally, it highlights changes needed to space strategy based upon the Law of Armed Conflict, norms of behavior, and Rules of Engagement. The work also examines advancements and emerging trends in the commercial space sector, as well as what these changes mean for the implementation of a practical space strategy. Given the rise of great power competition in space, this work presents a space strategy based upon historical experience. This book will be of much interest to students of space policy, strategic studies, and International Relations.

Since the 1940s, there have been discussions concerning the need to develop a space power theory. In their attempts to formulate such a strategic theory, strategists have noted the similarities of space operations to those of air and naval operations. Consequently, many have attempted to derive a clearly articulated, all-encompassing space strategy through analogy and comparison to either airpower or sea control models. These efforts, however, have not produced a strategic theory addressing space operations and associated national interests. Without such a strategic framework for space, some analysts fear that the application of national resources and military force will be misapplied or even counterproductive.
This book, accordingly, addresses the need to codify a space theory and strategy, while addressing the following questions. Do space operations and national interests in space have useful parallels to either air or naval strategy? If air and naval strategic models do not fully match the broad scope of space operations, is there one that does? Given a suitable historical model, what are the principles for a space strategy? Will the resulting space strategic model be borne out by contemporary observations? What are the policy implications coming from any all-encompassing space strategy?
The author argues that neither air nor naval strategic models embrace the breadth of issues pertaining to space operations and strategy. However, by expanding naval strategy to include maritime concerns-which incorporate the interaction of the land and sea-the scope of space strategy can be adequately modeled. Maritime strategy in fact already exists, especially within the work of Sir JulianCorbett. By using maritime strategy as inspiration-while observing the salient lessons of Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, Jomini, and Mao Tse-tung-it is possible to develop the strategic principles of space warfare. Albeit the resulting maritime inspired space strategy is in agreement with much of current joint doctrine, critical deficiencies in contemporary space literature and policy are brought to light.

This new study considers military space strategy within the context of the land and naval strategies of the past. Explaining why and how strategists note the similarities of space operations to those of the air and naval forces, this book shows why many such strategies unintentionally lead to overemphasizing the importance of space-based offensive weaponry and technology. Counter to most U.S. Air Force doctrines, the book argues that space-based weapons don't imbue superiority. It examines why both air and naval strategic frameworks actually fail to adequately capture the scope of real-world issues regarding current space operations. Yet by expanding a naval strategic framework to include maritime activities-which includes the interaction of land and sea-the breadth of issues and concerns regarding space activities and operations can be fully encompassed. Commander John Klein, United States Navy, uses Sir Julian Corbett's maritime strategy as a strategic springboard, while observing the salient lessons of other strategists-including Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, Jomini, and Mao Tse-tung-to show how a space strategy and associated principles of space warfare can be derived to predict concerns, develop ideas, and suggest policy not currently recognized. This book will be of great interest to all students and scholars of military and strategic studies and to those with an interest in space strategy in particular.