Paul S Szymanski
Space Strategies Center, USA
Title: What are the possible conflict termination criteria that define winning the next space war?
Biography
Biography: Paul S Szymanski
Abstract
As with most military planning, we fight the last wars that we understand well. That is probably the biggest problem outer space warfighters have in conceptualizing how a future conflict might play out. We just have not had that much experience in true space warfare. This makes it very difficult to predict how such combat will actually occur. Much as the concepts of air power were being developed in the 1920’s-30’s, the true power of space warfare is currently not well understood. To help solve these strategic issues, the author, based on his 41 years’ experience in space warfare, has determined possible criteria that would define “winning” the next space war. This is a difficult area to study because traditional terrestrial criteria for peace involve returning territory, prisoners of war, and economic restitution, but these do not necessarily apply to space warfare. This briefing will discuss these possible termination criteria, which are so important to define before any military space operations commence, or any military war goals are defined.
