Space Operations

Question 1

What is the DoD Space Policy focused on?

Answer 1

-deterring adversaries

-defending against threats

-pursuing resilient space architecture

Question 2

What are the characteristics of the space domain?

Answer 2

-congested
(natural and artificial objects)

-contested
(nations compete for superiority)

-competitive
(lower tech costs allow it)

Question 3

What are some examples of natural threats to satellites?

Answer 3

-solar activity
-radiation
-natural orbital debris

Question 4

What are some examples of unintentional man-made threats to satellites?

Answer 4

-satellite debris
-electromagnetic interference

Question 5

What are some examples of intentional man-made threats to satellites?

Answer 5

-jamming
-cyberspace attacks
-antisatellite weapons

Question 6

What are the Space Power Disciplines?

Answer 6

-Orbital Warfare
-Space Electronic Warfare
-Space Battle Management
-Space Access & Sustainment
-Engineering/Acquisition
-Military Intelligence
-Cyber Operations

Question 7

What is orbital warfare?

Answer 7

-provides continuous capability to the Joint Force while denying the adversary the same

Question 8

What is space electronic warfare?

Answer 8

-utilizes knowledge of spectrum awareness, maneuver within the spectrum, and non-kinetic fires within the spectrum to deny adversary use of vital links and protect allied capability

Question 9

What is space battle management?

Answer 9

-identifying hostile actions/entities, conducting combat identification, targeting, and directs action in response to evolving threat environment

Question 10

What is space access and sustainment?

Answer 10

-processes, support, and logistics required to maintain and prolong operations in the space domain

Question 11

What is engineering/acquisition?

Answer 11

-ensures military space power has the best capabilities in the world to defend the space domain

Question 12

What is military intelligence as it applies to space operations?

Answer 12

-leveraging the broader intelligence community to ensure military space power has the capabilities to defend the space domain

Question 13

What are cyber operations as it applies to space operations?

Answer 13

-employing cyber security and cyber defense of critical space networks and systems

Question 14

What are the Space Capabilities?

Answer 14

-Position, Navigation, & Timing
-Satellite Communication
-Missile Warning
-ISR
-Environmental Monitoring
-Offensive Space Control
-Defensive Space Control
-Space Situational Awareness

Question 15

What is Position Navigation and Timing (PNT)?

Answer 15

-an extremely accurate (1m or better), all weather, 24-hr, 3-dimensional position, and velocity tracking system

-represented with GPS

-also has a nuclear detonation detection system used for nuclear treaty monitoring

Question 16

What is satellite communication (SATCOM)?

Answer 16

-a robust network of secure and survivable military communication networks on multiple bands, supporting almost all military operations

Question 17

What is missile warning as it pertains to space capabilities?

Answer 17

-ground and space-based assets designed to detect and characterize launches of rockets and missiles

Question 18

What is ISR as it pertains to space capabilities?

Answer 18

-a mission set designed to identify enemy centers of gravity, as well as troop movements, and infrastructure development

Question 19

What is environmental monitoring as it applies to space capabilities?

Answer 19

-commonly associated with weather satellites, this mission area focuses on collecting high resolution visual and infrared cloud imagery and other air, land, sea, and space data

Question 20

What is offensive space control as it applies to space capabilities?

Answer 20

-operations designed to prevent an adversary’s hostile use of space capabilities or to negate an adversary’s space capabilities

Question 21

What is defensive space control as it applies to space capabilities?

Answer 21

-passive and active measures to protect friendly space-related capabilities from enemy attack or interference

Question 22

What is Space Situational Awareness as it pertains to space capabilities?

Answer 22

-knowledge of all aspects of space including space objects, asset status, activities, threats, and environment

Question 23

Give examples of what space systems should be protected against.

Answer 23

-unauthorized access to critical space vehicle functions

-physical measures designed to reduce the capabilities of a space vehicle’s C2 and telemetry receiver systems

-jamming and spoofing

-cyber security vulnerabilities of ground system, operations technology, and information processing systems

-poor cyber hygiene and poor physical security measure

-supply chain risks that affect cybersecurity of space systems through tracking manufactured products

Question 24

What are the objectives of the National Security Space Strategy?

Answer 24

-strengthen safety, stability, and security in space

-maintain and enhance the strategic national security advantages afforded to the US by space

-energize the space industrial base supporting US national security