The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Launch Is an Event, Sustainment Is the Campaign: Building an On-Orbit Sustainment Ecosystem
English Summary
The article argues that while launching replacement satellites is sufficient for some missions, on-orbit sustainment capabilities are critical for protecting high-value, fuel-limited GEO assets during conflict. Current technologies needed for orbital servicing exist but lack integration and scaling into a dependable logistics network required by the U.S. Space Force. To overcome this gap, the report urges deliberate government action to make future national security spacecraft service-ready and develop interoperable standards with allies and industry partners. Ultimately, establishing a pathway for mature commercial logistics services will allow the U.S. military to access assured orbital capacity during a crisis without having to build an entirely separate government fleet.
中文摘要
本文論述，雖然發射替換衛星足以應對某些任務需求，但在衝突期間保護高價值、燃料有限的地球同步軌道（GEO）資產時，「在軌維護能力」（on-orbit sustainment capabilities）至關重要。目前已具備用於軌道服務的技術，但缺乏整合性，也無法擴展成美國太空軍所需的可靠後勤網絡。為彌補這一鴻溝，報告呼籲政府採取積極行動，使未來的國家安全航天器達到「即戰力」（service-ready）狀態，並與盟國及產業夥伴建立可互操作的標準。最終而言，建立成熟的商業物流服務途徑，將使美國軍方在危機時期能夠獲得可靠的軌道容量，而無需自行建置一套獨立的政府艦隊。
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