Clearing the Intellectual Underbrush: Preparing for Conflict that Extends Into Space

In April 2018, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff released the latest version of Joint Publication 3-14 Space Operations (JP 3-14) making many changes to the previous 2013 version. One of those revisions was the deletion of the space mission area taxonomy. Why does deletion of the space mission area taxonomy matter? This paper argues that saying goodbye to the space mission area taxonomy will contribute to normalizing space terminology and concepts for the joint warfighter and help prepare the joint force for conflict that extends into space.