What is the Original Mission?

• A. Conduct global space operations that enhance the way our joint and coalition forces fight, while also offering decision makers military options to achieve national objectives.
• B. Develop commercial spaceflight capabilities for civilian research.
• C. Protect space assets from cyber threats.
• D. Navigate international space law and treaties.

Answer: (A)

The mission is to conduct global space operations that enhance how our joint and coalition forces fight, while also offering decision makers military options to achieve national objectives. This framing shows space power as a tool that directly strengthens combat effectiveness and strategic outcomes, coordinating with other services and allied forces to deter, prevail, or influence in conflict. It captures the broad, warfighting-focused purpose of space activities—not just technical or civilian tasks.

The other options point to important functions, but they don’t define the overarching military mission: civilian spaceflight for research, cyber defense of space assets, or navigating space law and treaties. Each is valuable, yet they don’t embody the broad, defense-oriented role of using space to support national objectives alongside joint and coalition forces.