intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

    From Joint Publication 3-14, Space Operations, 10 April 2018:

5. Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance

    a. Space-based intelligence collection synchronizes and integrates sensors, assets, and systems for gathering data and information on an object or in an area of interest (AOI) on a persistent, event-driven, or scheduled basis. Space-based ISR, which includes OPIR, tasking, and collection, is conducted by an organization’s intelligence collection manager to ensure integrated, synchronized, and deconflicted operations of high-demand assets. This includes warning (to include ballistic missile activity), targeting analysis, threat capability assessment, situational awareness, battle damage assessment (BDA), and characterization of the OE. Space-based intelligence collection supports the President and USG departments and agencies (e.g., National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency [NGA], National Security Agency [NSA], and DOD). The CCMDs and the components have access to space capabilities that can collect diverse military, diplomatic, and economic information for planning and execution across the range of military operations and to the intelligence derived and developed from the data collected.

    b. Significant advantages of space-based collection capabilities are their coverage over denied areas where little or no data can be obtained from ground, maritime, or airborne sensors and their mission longevity. While able to provide worldwide coverage, demands on individual space-based systems often exceed their capacity, and their associated orbit requirements may limit the ability to meet operational requirements. Space-based ISR systems are operated by military, nonmilitary, and intelligence community (IC) organizations. International cooperation in military space-based intelligence collection systems with allies and other partners contributes to US national security objectives by improving resiliency and interoperability, supporting multinational operations, and building partnership capacity and capability.

    c. Often, the product of a space or terrestrial capability can enhance intelligence accuracy and shorten reaction time by cueing another space system to survey an AOI. Likewise, a space-based capability may cue a terrestrial-based system on a noninterference basis for more precise location, discrimination, and targeting.

    d. ISR capabilities also enhance planning by providing updated information regarding terrain and adversary force dispositions. Space-based imagery, in particular, supports military intelligence activities, including warning, current intelligence, order of battle, scientific and technical intelligence assessments, targeting and combat assessments, and mission planning and rehearsal. Commanders should be aware, adversaries may have access to similar capabilities to employ against US forces.

—Joint Publication 3-14, Space Operations, 10 April 2018

    Isaac Arthur’s Megatelescopes:

table of contents

0. fans of space
1. Space Force
2. response to criticism of Space Force
3. space situational awareness
4. space control
5. protecting satellites
6. space debris
7. navigation warfare
8. surveillance
9. satellite communications
10. environmental monitoring
11. missile warning
12. nuclear detonation detection
13. drones
14. spacelift
15. space academy
16. spaceborne military base
17. asteroid mining
18. disaster relief
19. first contact
20. space warfare
21. spaceborne energy
22. spaceborne food
23. orbital ring
24. moon base
25. colonizing the solar system
26. megastructures
27. T O & E
28. Pence speech
29. history
30. space news