A Falcon 9 Starlink L-24 rocket successfully launches from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., April 28, 2021. This is the ninth Starlink launch of 2021, which sent the 25th batch of Starlink satellites to join the Starlink satellite network. (U.S. Space Force photo by Joshua Conti)

Table of Contents

Definitions

National Security Space — The space-related systems, services, capabilities, and associated information networks of the Department of Defense and the national intelligence community, or other space-related systems that the Secretary of Defense may designate as national security space systems in coordination with the system owner, that support United States national security and enable defense and intelligence operations during times of peace, crisis, or conflict. (DODD 3100.10)

Negation — In space operations, measures to deceive, disrupt, degrade, deny, or destroy space systems. See also space control. (JP 3-14)

Offensive Space Control — Offensive operations conducted for space negation. Also called OSC. (JP 3-14)

Space Asset — Equipment that is an individual part of a space system, which is or can be placed in space or directly supports space activity terrestrially. (JP 3-14)

Space Capability — 1. The ability of a space asset to accomplish a mission. 2. The ability of a terrestrial-based asset to accomplish a mission in or through space. 3. The ability of a space asset to contribute to a mission from seabed to the space domain. See also space asset. (JP 3-14)

Space Control — Operations to ensure freedom of action in space for the United States and its allies and deny a threat freedom of action in space. See also combat service support; combat support; negation. (JP 3-14)

Space Coordinating Authority — The responsibility to plan, integrate, and coordinate space operations. Also called SCA. (JP 3-14)

Space Domain — The area surrounding Earth at altitudes of greater than or equal to 100 kilometers above mean sea level. (JP 3-14)

Space Environment — The environment corresponding to the space domain, where electromagnetic radiation, charged particles, and electric and magnetic fields are the dominant physical influences, and that encompasses the Earth’s ionosphere and magnetosphere, interplanetary space, and the solar atmosphere. (JP 3-59)

Space Forces —The space and terrestrial systems, equipment, facilities, organizations, and personnel, or combination thereof, necessary to conduct space operations. See also national security. (JP 3-14)

Space Situational Awareness — The requisite foundational, current, and predictive knowledge and characterization of space objects and the operational environment upon which space operations depend. Also called SSA. (JP 3-14)

Space Superiority — The degree of control in space of one force over any others that permits the conduct of its operations at a given time and place without prohibitive interference from terrestrial or space-based threats. (JP 3-14)

Space Weather — The conditions and phenomena in space and specifically in the near-Earth environment that may affect space assets or space operations. See also space asset. (JP 3-59)

Key Documents 

JP 3-14 Space Operations, DoD April 2018 Incorporating Change 1 October 2020. This publication provides fundamental principles and guidance to plan, execute, and assess joint space operations. 

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The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the newest branch of the Armed Forces, established December 20, 2019 with enactment of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The USSF was established within the Department of the Air Force, meaning the Secretary of the Air Force has overall responsibility for the USSF, under the guidance and direction of the Secretary of Defense. Additionally, a four-star general known as the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) serves as the senior military member of the USSF and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  

Space-Track.org promotes space flight safety, protection of the space environment and the peaceful use of space worldwide by sharing space situational awareness services and information with U.S. and international satellite owners/operators, academia and other entities. 

The UK Space Command is a Joint Command staffed from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and the Civil Service. It officially formed on 1 April 2021.