Space Wargaming

Catalog description

This course promotes the understanding and effective use of space power while providing insight into the shaping and consequences of strategic decisions made in a space wargame. Students explore critical space issues in-depth and investigate the integration activities of multiple agencies associated with space systems and services. The course includes an overview of wargaming, the reasons why we wargame, and the history of wargaming. It then examines the space environment and why we wargame in space, even though there has never been a conflict in that domain. Next is an overview of Thor’s Hammer (the National Reconnaissance Office’s wargame) and the Schriever wargame series, followed by lessons learned from each wargame and how wargames affect military strategy. This course allows students to think critically about the importance of space assets and how best to protect them.