Viewpoint: The Next Great White Fleet: Extending the Benefits of the International System into Space

Abstract

This article argues that what naval power was to the 17th century—knitting together separate trading systems and bridging new resources, wealth, mobility, and establishing an international system of trade that pulled various powers into the dominant power's orbit—space power can be for the 21st century. To this end, airmen must take a wider view of what strategic value the United States Air Force (USAF) can provide for the United States (U.S.) beyond support for warfighting.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not those of the United States Air Force or the United States Department of Defense.

Notes

H.D.S. Greenway, The Power of the Navy, Boston Globe, 26 June 2007.

Ibid.

Thomas P.M. Barnett, “U.S. Naval War College: The Pentagon's New Map,” Esquire, March 2003.

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Sir Nicholas Stern, Head of the Government Economic Service and Adviser to the Government on the economics of climate change and development, Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Fourth Assessment Report (AR4).

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, Speech at Boston University, 2007 20 April.

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Worden and Shaw, Whither Space Power, 2002.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, Speech at Boston University, 20 April 2007.

Patricia Dehmer, briefing to HQ USAF in May 2005, citing numbers according to Nate Lewis at CalTech. See also, Gretchen C. Daily, and Paul R. Ehrlich, “Socioeconomic Equity: A Critical Element in Sustainability,” February 1995, http://dieoff.org/page101.htm (accessed 15 Jan 2008).

Ibid, p. 9.

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Ibid.

Ibid.

Illustration by Kris Holland, personal correspondence, modified by author, October 2007.

Nick Hodge, “Seeking Alpha, Clean Energy Investments Top $1Trillion,” 15 Jan 2008, http://seekingalpha.com/article/59834-clean-energy-investments-surpass-1-trillion (retrieved 15 Jan 2008).

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See article in this issue of Astropolitics: James Michael Snead, “Spacefaring Logistics Infrastructure: The Foundation of a Spacefaring America,” Astropolitics: The International Journal of Space Politics and Policy 6:1 (2008).

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The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was a U.S. federal agency founded on 3 March 1915, to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research. On 1 October 1958, the agency was dissolved, and its assets and personnel transferred to the then newly created National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Presentation by Dr. Ivan Bekey, “The Long Term Future Outlook for Commercial Space,” Space Power Theory Event, 11 Jan 2007.

Jean-Luc Cambier, On NEO Mitigation, AFRL Technical Memorandum AFRL-RZ-ED-TP-2007-440.

Lt Col “Coyote” Smith, 21 July 2007, speaking at New Space Conference in Washington, DC.