Bush Reveals New Space Policy

Josh Fink writes "Space.com is reporting that President Bush has unveiled his new space policy. From the article: 'U.S. assets must be unhindered in carrying out their space duties,' the Bush space policy says, stressing that 'freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power.'... As a civil space guideline, the policy calls upon NASA to 'execute a sustained and affordable human and robotic program of space exploration and develop, acquire, and use civil space systems to advance fundamental scientific knowledge of our Earth system, solar system, and universe.' While this policy does seem to push for more civil involvement in space for exploration and research, the article does go on to say, 'The policy calls upon the Secretary of Defense to "develop capabilities, plans, and options to ensure freedom of action in space, and, if directed, deny such freedom of action to adversaries."' So it will push into the intelligence community, and will supercede a similar policy from 1996. You can read the entire policy."

Comments

Space Race 2.0

[Lave]

So they need to "ensure freedom of action in space, and, if directed, deny such freedom of action to adversaries" days after the US admits that china "beamed a ground-based laser at U.S. spy satellites over its territory." (from: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-10-05-satel lite-laser_x.htm?POE=TECISVA.)

So it seems the Space Arms Race is begining afresh. We just have to hope that the technology it produces outweighs the destruction.

Re:A fundamental rule of warfare.....

[rblum]

Actually, the "high ground" in space isn't defined by distance from Earth. Moon is a better base than Mars (simply because Mars is too far away from the action, plus it has higher gravity), but if you really want to control the solar system, you aim for the Lagrange Points.