The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is drafting a space control strategy. This sweeping review looks outward over the next 20 years. Concurrently, DoD is developing a national security space plan, spelling out broad objectives and priorities for a spectrum of space-based programs.

Once put in place, a space control plan would assure freedom of action in space for America, as well as its allies.

Central to the space control doctrine is denying an adversary's action in Earth orbit. Counter-strike skills could come through surveillance, protection of satellites, prevention of any enemy attack, as well as knocking out a hostile spacecraft.

An ever-growing dependence by the U.S. military on satellites makes space assets attractive targets on an enemy's hit list, the GAO study points out.

DoD spacecraft are assigned a number of tasks, such as: Collecting info on potential adversaries; provide warning of missile attack; and yield data that enable forces to precisely clobber targets.

Global communications, television broadcasts, weather forecasting, navigation of ships, planes, trucks, and cars, as well as synchronization of computers, communications, and electric power grids - these services are enabled by a constellation of DOD satellites.

What has also occurred over the last several years is interest by enemy states to explore directed energy weapons, space object tracking systems, ways to physically attack satellite ground stations and jam spacecraft signals. Furthermore, more nations are acquiring new space-based capabilities.

DoD is now working on efforts to protect and defend space-based equipment, also known as space control.

In a September 23 report, the GAO study notes that the U.S. Air Force is the primary procurer and operator of space systems. That military branch is expected to spend about 86 percent of some $165 billion dedicated for space in fiscal years 2002 through 2007 - a total far larger than the Navy, Army, and other Defense agencies.

Some space control systems are classified. Other spacecraft networks or systems are under development. As noted by the GAO, these include:

• Space-Based Surveillance System: Improves the timeliness and fidelity of space situational awareness information and relays this data to the warfighter on Earth;
• Rapid Attack Identification and Reporting System: Provides Notification to space commanders of threats -- be they radio frequency, laser, or other intrusions -- that impinge upon the right of friendly forces to use space; and
• Space-Based Infrared System: A program now being reshaped consisting of a low and high-orbiting spacecraft to supply a missile defense capability for protecting the United States.

The GAO study explains that the U.S. Air Force is the future "executive agent for space". As such, the Air Force is working towards cutting bureaucratic red tape. This streamlining shortens the time to review, approve, and develop a program. This action and others taken by the Air Force, and within DoD itself, are expected to improve space control initiatives. DOD, for instance, anticipates that the new time-squeezing steps can cut key decision making milestones from about 8 to 12 months to about 8 to 12 weeks.

DoD still faces "substantial challenges", the GAO report states, in strengthening and coordinating the country's space control action plan.

As example, officials not only in the Air Force, but within Army and Navy services too, contend that DoD's priorities in this area remain hazy. Also, space control responsibilities for each service is cloudy. Lacking is an overall investment plan in the DoD for space control, the GAO report observes.

One trend, for the time being, is that the military services are setting their own priorities for space control, albeit different from service to service.

The Air Force, for instance, is improving space surveillance capability to achieve real-time space situational awareness. On the other hand, the Army's space control plans calls for space-based laser, airborne laser and anti-satellite capabilities.

The GAO report concludes that there are "substantial planning and acquisition challenges involved in making DoD's current space control efforts successful."