Description
When measuring strategic success, language is paramount. In a dynamic New Space Age, there is a pressing need for new frameworks to assess power and track the growth of space power. Space power is increasingly seen as an indicator of a state’s overall strength. By refining how we measure and evaluate a state’s space power and its trajectory, we can gain insight into the sustainability of national ambitions and the defining features of cohesive strategic approaches. Notably, there is no universally accepted method for defining and measuring power within international relations. Power theories are inherently adaptable, evolving with context and objectives. Definitions of strength and power vary, shaped by diverse strategic postures and subjective narratives of achievements. Success can be measured in various ways—by budgetary impact, levels of sovereignty, specific capability advancements, achievements beyond Earth’s orbit, or positioning relative to other actors. While these metrics offer useful insights, they also pose risks of unrealistic goal-setting, bias, and ambiguous value capture mechanisms. This presentation explores critical questions: What does it mean to thrive in space? Do we share a common understanding? What are the implications of misaligned and conflated language within this evolving strategic domain?
