We make a difference

1
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the
Air Force
A Day Without Space Strategic Implications
Presentation made to the Marshall Institute and
the Space Enterprise Council of the US Chamber of
Commerce Thursday October 16, 2008 Washington, DC.
We make a difference
Dr. John B. Sheldon School of Advanced Air
Space Studies
one student at a time
2
A Day Without Space

• Likelihood of total space blackout unlikely
• Possible threats include natural environmental
  phenomenon and man-made EMP
• Still, Day Without Space concept useful for
  analyzing US space dependencies and
  vulnerabilities

• Text

3
A Day Without Space

• In general, space not taken as seriously as it
  should be.
• Politicians, decision makers, and opinion formers
  are either complacent or dismissive.
• This includes many in the military!
• Too many are content to pay lip service to the
  importance of space.

4
A Day Without Space

• ENOUGH TALK!
• WE NEED ACTION!!!

5
A Day Without Space

• Satellites enable most, if not all, facets of US
  diplomatic, economic, and military activities, as
  well as those of its allies.
• Along with computers and cables, satellites are
  the physical backbone of the Globalized economy
  (for good and ill!).
• Bottom line, we have become dependent on
  satellites for many aspects of modern life.

6
A Day Without Space

• Without access to satellites
• Communications are more expensive and laborious.
• Modern American Way of War rendered
  impracticable.
• Diplomatic options restricted and less reactive.
• Economy reverts to less efficient methods to
  conduct transactions and conduct business this
  leads to suppressed economic growth.
• Supply and distribution reverts to less efficient
  and more expensive practices, again suppressing
  growth.
• Management of modern transportation (sea, air,
  etc.) rendered problematic, likely decrease in
  volume and rapidity of movement.

7
A Day Without Space

• World would not end but life as we know it
  would.
• Transportation, logistical, and communications
  infrastructures all built around space-enabled
  services incredible amounts in sunk capital
  investments.
• US preference for rapid, decisive military force
  involving low friendly casualties and minimal
  collateral damage much more difficult and costly
  to implement.

8
A Day Without Space

• Of course we could go back to the old ways of
  doing things
• but why would, and should, we want
  to?

9
A Day Without Space

• Total space blackout unlikely, yet US space
  superiority under threat from
• Adversarial threats exploiting existing US
  space vulnerabilities through variety of methods.
• Domestic negligence and complacency lack of
  funding for space defenses (passive and active),
  convoluted and counterproductive export laws,
  broken acquisition process, and growing
  deterioration of US space industrial base.

10
A Day Without Space

• Economic woes signal suppressed budgets for all.
• Funding, however, is always a political decision.
• Just how much do we truly value space and all
  that it enables?
• Or are we going to run this precious asset into
  the ground ?

11
A Day Without Space
12
A Day Without Space

• Our adversaries and competitors take space very
  seriously, even if we do not. They are catching
  up.
• Satellites are a valuable diplomatic, economic,
  and military asset that MUST be protected.
• This requires investment, which requires
  political leadership.
• ENOUGH TALK!

13
The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air
Force
We Make A Difference One Student at a
Time One Faculty Member at a Time One
Idea at a Time