Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Winter 2025
Abstract
The escalating competition in space exploration demands a dedicated space rescue capability. This article argues for the establishment of a space rescue professional (SRP) career field within the Department of Defense and the US Space Force. By harnessing existing US Air Force combat rescue expertise and partnering with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Space Force can rapidly develop a robust SRP program with the warrant officer corps as its backbone. This article addresses a critical gap in national space policy to outline a cost-effective dual-service training pipeline and SRP operational roles. Such an investment safeguards astronauts, bolsters US leadership in space by operationalizing Guardians, and paves the way for a future where space exploration prioritizes human safety.
Source Publication
Air & Space Operations Review
Recommended Citation
Johnis, B.J., Bettinger, R.A., & Dean, J.W. (2025) The Space Rescue Professional: Operationalizing Guardians for the Future. Air & Space Operations Review. 4(2). 57-71.
Included in
Aeronautical Vehicles Commons, Commercial Space Operations Commons, Electromagnetics and Photonics Commons, Management and Operations Commons, Propulsion and Power Commons
Comments
This article appears in Air & Space Operations Review, a periodical of Air University Press, and the successor publication to Air and Space Power Journal (ASPJ). The ASOR journal has a searchable open archive here.
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