USSF Doctrine: Chapter 1

If you haven’t read any in this series yet, you can start at the beginning of my analysis of the USSF Doctrine in my Introduction post.

Chapter 1: The Space Domain

If there’s one job that this chapter had, it was to define the space domain. Unfortunately, as noted in the chapter, this is a near impossible task. After giving a brief description of a few major atmospheric layers and orbital elevations, a disclaimer analogy is given:

”Just as the ocean’s rising and falling tides insufficiently express the depth and complexity of the maritime domain, defining space based on a lower physical boundary neglects the domain’s vast expanse and dynamic character.”

A couple things are made clear about this domain:

• this domain is the ultimate position, and the ultimate position > the ultimate weapon

• this domain is home to inherently remote, wireless, global, and near-instantaneous activities

• this domain is home to “immeasurable economic resources”

Operations in this domain can be segmented into three operational systems:

• Orbital segment

• Ground, or terrestrial, segment

• Link segment: this is defined as any connection between the ground and orbital segments. This handles all transport, from data to fuel to humans.

To be effective at operating in this segmented domain, this doctrine suggests that we formulate plans based around these three dimensions: physical, network, and cognitive.

The Physical Dimension

Key to a grasp on the physical dimension is understanding that no object EVER (and when I say ever I mean ever) occupies a fixed space. We’re spinning and orbiting and hurtling through space at an extraordinary rate, and the further you venture from the surface of the earth, the more these effects are felt.

• We can do some segmentation into orbital regimes, regions associated with a specific gravitational field. These regimes all have their own unique Topology. Though a full list is too large to put here, here’s some common examples:

  • Geocentric: a regime in which earth’s gravity dominates.

  • Cislunar: a regime where effective forces are split between the earth and the moon.

  • Solar: a regime in which the sun’s gravity dominates.

• There are several aspects of orbital mechanics (in any orbit) whose understanding will promote enhanced decision making:

  • access window

  • revisit rate

  • mission lifespan

  • survivability relative to threats

  • time, position, energy

The Network Dimension

The network dimension is critical to information spread. It would not be an exaggeration to say that even the slightest chink in our network’s armor could cause a complete loss of space functionality. The logical architecture behind the network dimension is what enables ideas from around the world (or even around an office) to gather, interact, and produce. This infrastructure makes cybersecurity a crucial and inescapable part of operations. There’s a couple terms which are important:

• Nodes: this is the infrastructure of data centers

• Link: this infrastructure moves data between nodes using EMS

• EMS: the electromagnetic spectrum is the primary conduit for the exchange of data between nodes along links.

The Cognitive Dimension

The cognitive dimension is made of “the perceptions and mental processes of those who transmit, receive, synthesize, analyze, report, decide, and act on information coming from and to the space domain”. This is extremely relevant to space operations, as nearly all decisions or actions are executed remotely. Actors and operators are forced to comprehend a scenario hundreds if not thousands of miles away. They must hold a model in their mind of what to work with, so spatial awareness is a strength.

Another way to look at the cognitive dimension is by understanding that everything man-made in space will have a specific purpose other than your own (unless, of course, you own the spacecraft).

“Space systems are not static systems; they are designed, employed, and exploited by thinking agents.”

Everything man-made in space has or had a purpose. It is truly not there by accident. This mindset urges USSF actors to know the value of due diligence.

Challenges to Orbital Flight

There are many. We know. Challenges are talked about in depth later, but here’s a few challenges that were worth mentioning in relation to national spacepower:

• orbital flight as a barrier to access and recovery

• orbital flight as an extremely hazardous activity

• potential accumulation of space junk

Next up is Chapter 2: National Spacepower