Space Domain Awareness Demands New “Operational Intelligence” Requirement

The Elara Edge: Expert Insights on Space Security

From satellite imagery to G.P.S.-guided navigation, intelligence gathered from space has long facilitated military operations. But after space was declared a warfighting domain, intelligence agencies are now shifting their focus to supporting operations in space.

For the United States Space Force, this shift is exemplified by the evolving mission concept known as SSA - or Space Situational Awareness - which prioritized identifying and tracking space-based objects as an operational task. But now, the DOD must leverage intelligence to understand their purposes and capabilities as well. As a result, SSA has evolved into what’s now known as Space Domain Awareness - or SDA - an emerging imperative that is blurring the lines between two previously distinct military responsibilities - intelligence and operations - into a whole new, integrated mission requirement of "operational intelligence."

In this episode of, “The Elara Edge: Expert Insights on Space Security,” Elara Nova partner Sean Kirkpatrick, PhD, former Deputy Director of Intelligence at US Strategic Command and US Space Command, explains how the Space Domain Awareness mission is introducing a new "Operational Intelligence," requirement for the Space Force, its Allies and partners.

"The Elara Edge" is hosted by Scott King and produced by Regia Multimedia Services. The full story can be found on Elara Nova's Insights page here. Music was produced by Patrick Watkins of PW Audio.