Abstract
Over the last few years, space power has received significant attention from the military. According to the military experts, space power can be a great asset to the military if it is fully utilized. Space power theory is regularly evaluated through sea, land, and air theories (Robertshaw & Bergin, 2004).
Through this, the theory’s development can be illustrated. It is commonly argued that space theory resulted from the advancements in air power theories. Some military experts argue that the difference between air power and space power is negligible.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that space power is a unique field in the military sciences. During the Gulf War, the use of space power gave the US and the allied forces an added advantage over the Iraqi forces. During this war, the space power was utilized for the first time enabling its users to gain victory over their foes.
Currently, it is acknowledged that the future of the military success lies in the ability of the forces to exploit the space power. In this regard, the US military should realize that an extensive knowledge and understanding on space power is very crucial to the future of the country and the world at large.
This paper focuses on the developments in space power and its impacts on air power, sea power, and land power.
Body
As compared to sea power and air power, space power is a new concept in the military. According to the military history, land power has been exploited for thousands of years. However, in the 16th century many improvements in the military power were experienced.
During this century, renowned advocates of land power and strategic theories emerged. Among these individuals are Jomini and Clausewitz. On the other hand, the sea power has been in existence for thousands of years. However, new theories were introduced in the 19th century enhancing the efficiencies of sea power.
Among these theories were Mahan, Callwell, Rauol, and Julian theories. According to most scholars, land, sea, and air theories have played key roles in the developments of space theories. According to Mahan theory, advancements in land theories led to sea and air theories. Similarly, advancements in air theories led to space theories (Kearsley, 1992).
In the 20th century, the air power emerged. Because of its utilization, much advancement was realized in the military. It is believed that improvements in air power inspired the development of space power (Mueller, 2010).
As such, the developments in space power were realized after the World War II. According to the US military, advancements in radar and jet technologies led to the creation of satellite and rocket technologies. During the Cold War, military enmity between the Soviet and the US led to the improvements in space power.
With these advancements, the US military became more concerned with human orbital activities owing to the risks and opportunities presented by the activities.
Following the Sputnik launch in the year 1957 by the Soviet, the US felt threatened by Soviet’s military advancements (Sheehan, 2007). To counteract this initiative, the US military launched Explorer I in the year 1958. From then on, the space power advanced simultaneously with the Cold War.
In the 1960s and the 1970s, space power realized tremendous developments in its skills, infrastructures, and plans. During the 1980s, the US and the Soviet’s military spending and dependence on space power increased significantly. During the same decade, the US military mandated its air force to oversee its space power operations (Mixon, 1988).
It was not until the Gulf War that space power was used for the first time in the warfare to enhance land power, air power, and sea power (Swofford, 2003). Using the space power, the US military together with the allied forces gained a considerable lead in the war over their foes (Nardo, 1991).
During the war, the use of satellite enhanced accuracy in bombing, navigation, and communication. With GPS, the US soldiers and the allied soldiers were able to navigate through the Kuwait and Iraq’s deserts with ease.
Other advantages gained with the use of space power in the Gulf War were operational timing, tactical underground operations, and precise underground targeting. After the Gulf War, great militaries in the world realized the effectiveness and the potentials of space power (King, 1991).
In general, the use of space power in the Operational Desert Storm is considered as a breakthrough in the history of the space power advancements. In the 21st century, space power has been employed by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan wars (Darity, 2008).
With the developments in space power, decrease in the land power, air power, and sea power applications in the current warfare has been realized (Ritzer, 2011). Despite the decrease, land, sea, and air operations have been enhanced by the developments in space power.
As illustrated during the Gulf War, the use of space war boosted land operations (Bellamy, 2009). Air power theories assert that warfare can be won through the ability to control air operations. In this regard, advancements in space theories have enhanced air operations through satellite communications and dominant maneuver.
On the other hand, advancements in the space power theories have boosted sea power theories. Space power theories attributed to Jomini and Mahan, believe that superiority over the sea can allow the interested countries to have control over water bodies for peace and war initiatives.
Therefore, advancements in space power have enhanced sea power theories by easing naval operations through better maneuvers and communications (Bailey, 2012).
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