Winning Space: The Time is Now for America

09/29/2020
By Ed Timperlake

The new book by Brandon J. Weichert focuses on the importance of space power and redirecting American efforts to built it out.

After 9/11, “The Country waged a costly global ‘war on terrorism” while the author accurately states many of our National Security mavens missed a key 21st Century war fighting point “that both Russia and China told the world of their revanchist intentions to strike boldly, in unconventional ways for decades-and the United States did little to prepare to withstand such asymmetrical attacks-will be a pox on the mansions of America’s political elites.”

That is such an accurate and very damning great phrase.

In the chapter aptly titled “The Bear Hugs the Dragon” he focus on the synergistic melding of Russia and China on war fighting.”

“Out of this new found alliance has come greater levels of cooperation on everything ranging from direct military interaction to shared nuclear energy development to joint Russian and Chinese ventures in space.”

However, he does not stop with the Bear and Dragon, because he makes a successful effort to discuss many many countries efforts in all things space. From Japan, Nato Countries, Israel, India to Brazil his survey of these many national efforts is important and significant in presenting a global context to space endeavors.

Personally I found his historical treatment of early seafaring explores important.

Portugal’s Henry the Navigator was a visionary but then Spain come on strong, because Christopher Columbus first approached Portugal and then ultimately found success with the Spanish Crown.

Columbus discovery of the new world, ultimately for all of Europe, triggered  the quest sea power.

The author’s discussion of that early historic age of discovery was well presented because like today in venturing into the new war fighting domain of space the  past can become prologue especially if a nation misses the opportunity.

Speaking of his sea power analogy, the author’s reach even includes musing about the proper ranks of the emerging space force. Eventually with Space breaking away from the US Air Force he enters a formerly humorous debate ever since Star Trek broke on the national scenes over half a century ago with Naval Ranks.

Mr. Weichert takes that issue seriously and makes a solid case for Naval Ranks.

One of the most innovative creative deans of science fiction was Robert A. Heinlein USNA 1929, so as a proud Naval Academy grad I personally applaud his detailed focus on even ranks.

The Robert A. Heinlein Award was established “for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings to inspire the human exploration of space”

Recognizing that Winning Space is not science fiction and thus not qualified for The Robert A Heinlein Award but it is still worthy of being recognized in the top tier of books that would deserve such an honor because of “technical writing.”

Consequently. with the great lasting iconic opening of Star Trek “Space the Final Frontier” the book Winning Space is the reverse of the saying of art imitating life.

Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower is life catching up with art.

This is a critical time of political testing for America between the responsible and strategic focus on protecting America’s national security by President Trump and his opponent former Senator Biden whose  team stands for a totally different path forward.

This book will soon be seen in an historical context because with the 2020 Presidential Election the book will either be seen as a  brilliant focused way ahead by helping America to continue to stand number one  of achieving  “space dominance” in a strategic must win war-fighting domain, or if President Trump does not get reelected, his concerns in the book about the competitiveness of American power as perhaps one of the saddest and most dangerous “would-coulda-shoulda” moments in our history.

This review will transcend the election so it might still be possible that the full weight of Brandon Weicharts cogent thoughtful and visionary arguments can help in the court of public opinion to make the case for American space power.

Taking the book on just its merits, for a complex subject, it is actually an easy read and very early he gives a powerful warning;

This work encourages all Americans to support the goals enumerated in Mr Weichert’s  book by successfully going forward into staying number one in all National Security war fighting domains, space included.