The United States Space Force (USSF) Space Doctrine Publications Volume 1-5 offers essential guidance for military space operations. These documents define strategic objectives and operational guidelines to maintain US superiority in space.
Space Doctrine Publication 1-0: Personnel details the roles, responsibilities, and organizational structure of the Space Force. It emphasizes recruiting, training, and retaining skilled personnel for effective space operations, highlighting continuous professional development and leadership cultivation.
Space Doctrine Publication 3-0: Operations, published in July 2023, provides best practices for joint force commanders to gain and exploit positional advantages in space. It addresses challenges posed by adversaries aiming to negate US capabilities and underscores the importance of achieving space superiority to enhance joint operational effectiveness.
Space Doctrine Publication 4-0: Sustainment, issued in December 2022, focuses on logistics and sustainment strategies to maintain space operations. It outlines best practices to ensure the availability and reliability of space assets, emphasizing sustainment’s role in preserving freedom of action and enabling joint operations.
Space Doctrine Publication 5-0: Planning, released in December 2021, aligns with the Joint Planning Process and Chief of Space Operations’ Planning Guidance. It provides a structured approach to planning space operations, detailing steps such as mission analysis, course of action development, and assessments.
The Space Doctrine Publications incorporate national and defense strategies to align space operations with US security objectives. Key references include the Interim National Security Strategic Guidance (March 2021), which highlights national security priorities emphasizing economic prosperity, democratic values, and modernizing alliances; the 2022 National Defense Strategy, outlining how the Department of Defense will advance US interests by protecting the American people and expanding prosperity; and the Defense Space Strategy Summary (June 2020), describing how the Department of Defense will advance spacepower to compete, deter, and win in a complex security environment.
The doctrines highlight essential competencies and considerations for successful space operations. These include Space Battle Management, involving skills for making decisions to preserve missions and ensure mission accomplishment amid threats; Space Access and Sustainment, which covers the logistics and support processes necessary to maintain space operations; Military Intelligence, leveraging intelligence to conduct threat-focused operations and defend the space domain; Engineering and Acquisition, ensuring the Space Force has the best capabilities to defend space through partnerships; and Cyber Operations, defending critical space networks, employing cybersecurity measures, and developing offensive capabilities.
The publications emphasize meticulous planning and continuous assessment. Planners must consider domain-specific challenges such as orbital mechanics and electromagnetic spectrum management. Continuous assessments help ensure plans remain feasible and effective, allowing for adjustments based on emerging threats and operational dynamics.
The USSF Space Doctrine Publications are vital for guiding the strategic planning, execution, and sustainment of US military space operations, ensuring the United States maintains its strategic advantage in the increasingly contested space domain.
