This study reviews the Army's involvement in the nation's space activities during the late 1950's when the Army went from being the clear leader in space research and operations to a position of relatively minor significance by 1961. The purpose of this analysis is to reveal those forces responsible for the rapid departure by the Army from the space field. Such an analysis is important now since the Army appears ready to dramatically increase its activities in space. Unless Army leaders account for the existence of these same forces today, this service may be destined to repeat past mistakes, refight old battles, and, in the end, find important Army space aspirations frustrated. The forces identified include inter-service rivalry, national strategy controversy, and political and bureaucratic disputes. Each of these forces is examined and the consequences on the Army detailed. When the final bureaucratic and political battles are waged in 1961, the Army proves willing to trade off most of its space activities to fund much needed conventional force modernization. The reasons for the renewal of Army interest in space are examined along with the emerging organizational and policy initiatives concerning space undertaken by the Army. In a number of appendices, current Army statements of policy, organizational proposals, and study summaries are presented. The final chapter contains over 24 conclusions concerning potential problems facing Army leaders as the Army increases it involvement with space activities. These conclusions are all drawn based on historical antecedents and observations of emerging Army space intentions discussed in the thesis. Overall, the Army can expect opposition when its actions cross perceived or actual boundaries between "accepted" roles and missions in space or threaten the existence of USAF or USN space systems that support "vital" air or sea operations. The Army's strongest bureaucratic position seems to be as spokesman for the space needs of the ground commander fighting at the operational level of war. Only so far as the Army can show space and space systems support the ground attack throughout the operational depth of the battlefield can it expect to have Air force and Navy support of its space operations. Without this willingness to champion space systems that meet the conventional needs of ground forces, even internal Army support for Army space aspirations is suspect.

ADB 105345 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)