Space Primer (AU-18): Comprehensive Spaceflight History and Guidebook, Doctrine, Orbital Mechanics, Military Space, Satellites, Rockets, NASA Programs, Threats, Designs, Operations, Intelligence

In what may be the best single-volume introduction to military and civilian space flight, this up-to-date space primer from the Department of Defense provides comprehensive coverage of modern spaceflight principles and practices, with an extensive and authoritative history of military and NASA programs, along with the fundamentals of space. This book was prepared by the Air Command and Staff College as part of the Space Research Electives Seminars of the Air University Press at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Contents include: Space History * Space Power Theory * Current Space Law And Policy * Space Doctrine * US Military Space Planning * Orbital Mechanics * Space Environment * Joint Space Mission Areas * US Government Space Organizations and Missions * US Military Space Organizations * Command and Control of Space Forces * Space Event Processing * US Space-Based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance * Satellite Communications * Weather/Environmental Satellites * Navstar Global Positioning System * Missile Warning Systems * Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles * Space Surveillance Network * Space-Lift Systems * Space System Threats * Spacecraft Design, Structure, and Operations * Acronyms *Bibliography.

This primer is a useful tool both for individuals who are not “space aware” — unacquainted with space capabilities, organizations, and operations — and for those who are “space aware,” especially individuals associated with the space community, but not familiar with space capabilities, organizations, and operations outside their particular areas of expertise. It is your guide and your invitation to all the excitement and opportunity of space.

As an integral part of that endeavor, AU-18, Space Primer, provides to the joint war fighter an unclassified resource for understanding the capabilities, organizations, and operations of space forces. Historically, the United States has been a world leader in space exploration and use. Recent conflicts and world events continuously demonstrate the importance of space assets and capabilities to our security functions. Our navigation satellites provide instant pinpoint positional and targeting information to aircraft, ground forces, ships, and command centers. These same satellites provide a precise timing source around the world that is critical to maintaining infrastructures, including financial institutions, power grids, cell phones, and even our cable and satellite TV. Communications satellites provide global connectivity between all levels of our national security infrastructure. Weather satellites report meteorological data, better than ever before, in near real time directly to forces in theater. Early warning satellites detect and report missile launches and serve as both strategic and tactical theater warning. These same early warning satellites serve to cue the integrated missile defense system. Finally, the US government conducts satellite photo reconnaissance that includes near-real-time capability, overhead signals intelligence collection, and overhead measurement and signature intelligence collection, which contribute directly to the success of our war fighters.

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