- Space is a medium like the land, sea, and air within which military activities shall be conducted to achieve U.S. national security objectives. The ability to access and utilize space is a vital national interest because many of the activities conducted in the medium are critical to U.S. national security and economic well-being.

- Ensuring the freedom of space and protecting U.S. national security interests in the medium are priorities for space and space-related activities. U.S. space systems are national property afforded the right of passage through and operations in space without interference.

- Purposeful interference with U.S. space systems will be viewed as an infringement on our sovereign rights. The U.S. may take all appropriate self-defense measures, including if directed by the National Command Authorities, the use of force, to respond to such an infringement on U.S. rights.

- The primary DoD space goal is to provide operational space force capabilities to ensure the United States has the space power to achieve its national security objectives. Contributing goals include sustaining a robust U.S. space industry.

- Provide support for the U.S. inherent right of self-defense and ensure hostile forces cannot prevent the United States use of space.

- Countering, if necessary, space systems and services used for hostile purposes.

- Ensure long-range U.S. space leadership through revolutionary technological approaches in critical areas.

- Ensure civil and commercial capabilities are used to the maximum extent feasible and practical, including the use of allied and friendly capabilities as appropriate, consistent with national security requirements.

- Establish a national space architecture that takes full advantage of defense, intelligence, civil, commercial, and friendly space capabilities.

- Prepare requirements, augmentations, and procedures, including cost sharing, for augmentation of the space force structure by civil, commercial, allied and friendly space systems, identified as appropriate.

- Acquisition of national security-unique space systems shall not be authorized unless suitable and adaptable commercial alternatives are not available.

- Evaluate the outsourcing or privatization of space and space-related functions and tasks which could be performed more efficiently and effectively by the private sector.