A Modest Proposal

This 2007 thesis at the Naval Postgraduate School provides instructive review of the reasons the US Navy has historically taken second place to the US Air Force in providing and utilizing military access to space, then puts forward proposals for improving the situation, notably, the formation of an independent Space Corps. Nearly twenty years later, the context has shifted, with the Navy ever more dependent on satellite services, and space-based surveillance a key element in the new "kill chain" of anti-ship ballistic and hypersonic weapons. The Navy, whose mission uniquely involves slow-moving persistence of large, not especially stealthy, objects over the vast expanses of the world's oceans, is also uniquely sensitive to the adversary capabilities afforded by small, extremely-fast-moving objects passing far overhead. Future naval wars with peer competitors will be inextricably connected with US military space capabilities.

This document proposes an alternative construct for the organization and utilization of Navy space resources. It discusses the history and development of space systems in the United States, including the Navy's involvement. The document emphasizes the need for a stronger Navy presence in space and the potential establishment of a U.S. Space Force. It provides information on various organizations, programs, and concepts related to the Navy's space program. The document also discusses the roles and responsibilities of entities within the Navy and the Department of Defense related to space systems and communications. It highlights the importance of the Navy Space Cadre and the need for clear goals and objectives for their effective management and operation. The document addresses the challenges and issues surrounding the control and operation of satellite systems within the Department of Defense and suggests consolidating these functions under one organization for improved efficiency. Overall, it emphasizes the need for a more streamlined and centralized approach to satellite control and operations.

This annotated edition illustrates the capabilities of the AI Lab for Book-Lovers to add context and ease-of-use to manuscripts. It includes five types of abstracts, building from simplest to more complex: TLDR (one word), ELI5, TLDR (vanilla), Scientific Style, and Action Items; four essays to increase viewpoint diversity: Context in the Discourse, Formal Dissent; Red Team Critique; and MAGA Perspective; and Notable Passages and Nutshell Summaries for each page.

Original contains several color images (simple PowerPoint charts) which are reproduced here in grayscale as it was judged that the benefit did not justify the printing costs's significant impact on list price.