[Infowarrior] - New Bush Space Policy Unveiled, Stresses U.S. Freedom of Action

[Richard Forno]

New Bush Space Policy Unveiled, Stresses U.S. Freedom of Action
By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 07 October 2006
http://www.space.com/news/061007_bush_spacepolicy.html

U.S. President George W. Bush has authorized a sweeping new national space
policy, green-lighting an overarching national policy that governs the
conduct of America¹s space activities.

The new policy supports not only a Moon, Mars and beyond exploration agenda,
but also responds to a post 9/11 world of terrorist actions, such as the
need for intelligence-gathering internal and external to the United States.

U.S. assets must be unhindered in carrying out their space duties, the Bush
space policy says, stressing that ³freedom of action in space is as
important to the United States as air power and sea power.²

Without fanfare, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP) rolled out the National Space Policy on October 6‹a document that
supersedes a September 1996 version of the directive. President Bush signed
off on the new space policy on August 31.

A 10-page unclassified version of the U.S. National Space Policy was posted
Friday on the OSTP web site.

Across the solar system

The White House document spells out U.S. space policy goals, including the
implementation of a sustained ³innovative human and robotic exploration
program² geared to extending human presence across the solar system.

As a civil space guideline, the policy calls upon NASA to ³execute a
sustained and affordable human and robotic program of space exploration and
develop, acquire, and use civil space systems to advance fundamental
scientific knowledge of our Earth system, solar system, and universe.²

The Bush space policy supports use of space nuclear power systems to ³enable
or significantly enhance space exploration or operational capabilities.² The
document adds that utilization of nuclear power systems ³shall be consistent
with U.S. national and homeland security, and foreign policy interests, and
take into account the potential risks.²

The policy highlights an interagency approval process for space launch and
in-space use of nuclear power sources.

Risk from orbital debris

Among a wide range of topics ­ including commercial space policy and
international cooperation‹the Bush space policy includes an orbital debris
section. It labels human-made space junk as posing a risk to continued
reliable use of space-based services and operations, including the safety of
space travelers and property in space and on Earth.

³The United States shall seek to minimize the creation of orbital debris by
government and non-government operations in space in order to preserve the
space environment for future generations,² the space policy explains.

In regards to curbing space debris, the document encourages foreign nations
and international organizations to also take steps toward debris
minimization.

Freedom of action

For 50 years, the U.S. has led the world in space exploration, developing ³a
solid civil, commercial, and national security space foundation,² the
document notes.

³Space has become a place that is increasingly used by a host of nations,
consortia, businesses, and entrepreneurs,² the space policy states. ³In this
new century, those who effectively utilize space will enjoy added prosperity
and security and will hold a substantial advantage over those who do not.²

Additionally, the Bush space policy is designed to ³ensure that space
capabilities are available in time to further U.S. national security,
homeland security, and foreign policy objectives.²  Moreover, a fundamental
goal of the policy is to ³enable unhindered U.S. operations in and through
space to defend our interests there.²

The policy calls upon the Secretary of Defense to ³develop capabilities,
plans, and options to ensure freedom of action in space, and, if directed,
deny such freedom of action to adversaries.²

Overhead intelligence

In a section called ³Space-related Security Classification,² the new space
policy lists several unclassified facts, such as: The U.S. government
conducts satellite photoreconnaissance that includes a near real-time
capability, as well as overhead signals intelligence collection.

Among a number of tasks, U.S. government photoreconnaissance is used to
³image the United States and its territories and possessions, consistent
with applicable laws, for purposes including, but not limited to, homeland
security.²

The Director of National Intelligence is charged by the policy to ³provide a
robust foreign space intelligence collection and analysis capability that
provides timely information and data to support national and homeland
security.²

For the complete White House National Space Policy Document, go to:

http://www.ostp.gov/html/US%20National%20Space%20Policy.pdf