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On the Edge of Earth: The Future of American Space Power

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"On the Edge of Earth: the Future of American Space Power" by Steven Lambakis, is the definitive history of the evolution of America's space power mated with recommendations on how to improve national space policy and program investment to retain that position in the future.

Lambakis provides descriptions of the space capabilities for each of the major publicly-declared satellite systems. What started as purely governmental programs from the 60s through the 80s, Operation DESERT STORM marked a new beginning for space products for the commercial sector. From tomorrow's weather forecast, live telecasts from the Superbowl, or the GPS devices commonly found in automobiles, Lambakis details the developments of these systems commonly found today.
After America's victories in DESERT STORM, NOBLE ANVIL (Balkans in the 90s), and ENDURING FREEDOM, adversaries are well aware of the capabilities of America's space program. It would be inconceivable to believe future combatants to allow their opponent to have unrestricted access to space capabilities. Lambakis reviews the satellite capabilities and anti-satellite capabilities for other countries that have space ambitions.

With the current capabilities and threats defined, Lambakis adds summaries of each President's American space policies issued during their administrations. Ranging from the visionary (Eisenhower/Reagan) to maintaining status quo (Bush 41 / Bush 43) to too much openness (Clinton), he offers a candid assessment of how each administration affected the US space capabilities of today.

To complete the book's calculus equation, Lambakis offers recommendations on how to fix the problem of American space policy. He contends American space policy presents a "Janus" to the world. He states that American space policy presents the face that space is a medium to be dominated by the military, versus "space is a peaceful preserve, a sanctuary that man must not despoil." He asserts that this lack of strategic vision is affecting the acquisition strategy for space programs today.

Lambakis did an outstanding job of reviewing policy documents and interviewing personnel involved in developing America's space policy. However, I could not find any references in his book to the military budget documents submitted annually to Congress. These documents identify each service's requested funding for Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation (RDT&E) programs , and for system acquisition. Ironically, he asserts space policy determines acquisition strategy, yet it appears he failed to review the documents that could factually defend his theory.

My second criticism is that the recommendations do focus on eliminating adversarial satellites. The focus needs to be on the operational effect which is eliminating the ability to use the data provided by the satellite. There are a number of asymmetric options available that achieve the same effect, without having to physically destroy a satellite. Jamming the communications links or hacking the terminals that manipulate the data would have the same effect, and would cost substantially less than an ASAT system.

Criticisms aside, Lambakis did an outstanding job defining the problem set and identifying recommendations on how to retain America's dominant position in space. General T. Michael Moseley thought so highly of this book, he identified it on his 2008 Reading List for all Airmen.

Perhaps it isn't fair to write a review just yet, since I am only through the first 69 pages, but I will anyway. I like this book, but it is not for the layperson. I'm educated at the post graduate level and I am reading almost every page/paragraph several times in order to comprehend the material. It is very technical and has a LOT of acronymns. I'm struggling through it and I plan on finishing it, I just don't know when that will be. I have learned a lot that I did not know about space already, I just wish it didn't take me so long to get the main ideas because they are so technical.