Space Strategy and the Future of Human Civilisation
Contents
Partners, Sponsors and Funding
Introduction and Overview
The Art & Philosophy of Space Strategy
The ‘Space Strategy’ project seeks to leverage lessons and tools derived from domains, significantly maritime, to advance understandings of the role of space in defence and security, in particular, the interactions between human exploration, science, commerce, law, communications, and military operations as part of a national strategy which reflects national ways of ‘war and peace’. It asks fundamental questions that revisit the ideas, tenets, and debates on space while challenging contemporary assumptions, guesswork and theories ranging from space forces, defence organisation, space doctrine, policy and more.
Dr James WE Smith designed the ‘Space Strategy’ project. The project, amongst other of Dr Smith’s work, supported the creation of Dr Smith’s appointment as the Laughton-Corbett Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies, a title specially approved by King’s Dean of Research. The Laughton-Corbett Research Fellow educates and encourages the use of the historical methodology––the analysis of experience––and advances research into strategic studies. This methodology forms the baseline for the project that seeks to codify, lead and mature the debate on future humanity in space and its influence on Earth while similarly exploring the applicability of strategic through such as by Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) and British maritime strategists, Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922), amongst others. The project not only reaches out across academic disciplines, like humanities and science, but also between nations, militaries and their service branches, government civilian services and related industries.
Aims
Advance research and understanding of the role of space in national defence.
Advance understanding of the ‘Art and Philosophy of Space and Space Strategy': Acting Strategic and Thinking Strategically
Advance research, development and education of Space Strategy, Strategic Space Policy and Defence Space Strategy, of which elements include Space Warfare and Doctrine.
Advance Space as a discussion point for the development of national defence strategy and a point for defence reform: ‘seabed to space’.
Explores maritime and naval analogies for military space and broader civilian uses, including both philosophical thought and practical application for humanity’s future in space.
Build interdisciplinary networks and relationships to discuss future joint civilian-military space strategy. As seen by James’s appointment to the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS), British Interplanetary Society, and in the United States, relationship with groups such as The Planetary Society, National Space Society, and Space Exploration advocacy.
Methods
Deliver a monograph as the principal output of the project.
Host invited scholars and speakers to events and discussion.
Timely and relevant papers, journals and lectures for professional and student education.
Uses the ‘historical school methodology’ to inform the research, counterbalancing other forms or biases.
Addresses deficiencies in the understanding of the history military and governmental use of space.
Develop closer relations between academic studies on space and interested parties, such as with civilian space agencies and military space forces across all services.
Outputs
Forthcoming Monograph.
Book Chapter (2027) ‘TBA’, Center for Maritime Strategy, United States.
Paper (2026) The Real Problem at the Root of Space Forces
Paper (2026) From Seablindness to Spaceblindness.
Lecture (2025) ’The Space Race within Thousands of Years of Civilisation of Peace and Warfare’. Washington DC/NASA.
Paper (2025) ’Navies our are guide to space strategy‘, Center for Maritime Strategy, United States.
Education and Understanding: The Strategy for Sea and Space. (2025), King’s College London.
Lecture (2025) ‘The final piece in the jigsaw of a national strategy: the maritime and space connection?’ by James W.E. Smith, King’s College London.
Lecture (2025) ‘A Report on The State of Thought on Space Strategy and Doctrine’ by James W.E. Smith, King’s College London.
Smith, James W.E. (2024) The Foundations of Future Space Strategy: The Admiralty, US Navy and Maritime Influences. (US Naval War College Press)
King’s College London Impact Report 2024: ‘Ensuring Security from Seabed to Outer Space’.
See James W.E. Smith, in Space Warfare: Strategy, Principles and Policy 2nd Edition (2024) by JohnKlein.
From Neptune to the Final Frontier: A maritime renaissance. (2024), King’s College London.
James W.E. Smith (2023), Battle for space: statecraft, diplomacy and defence strategy | Astronomy & Geophysics | Oxford Academic (oup.com), Royal Astronomical Society A&G, 64:2, 2.38–2.40, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/astrogeo/atad012
Lecture (Sept 2023) The U.S. Navy, Royal Navy, and the Maritime Influence on Space Power 1945–. U.S. Naval Academy.
Lecture (2021) “Defense Unification, the U.S. Navy and the Space Race 1957-1970.” U.S. Naval Academy.
‘Corbett offers more on Space than Mitchell.’ (2019) https://warontherocks.com/2019/12/corbett-offers-more-on-space-than-mitchell/
Partners, Sponsors and Funding
I am grateful to the support given by organisations and individuals, not all of whom are mentioned here. This project is partly funded between the British Academy, US Government and King’s College London.
Partners and sponsors, or those providing support and counsel include:
In the interests of research ethics and transparency, neither the British Academy, the British Government, the US Government nor any external party, sponsor or partner have any input or say over the research or its findings.
Press Releases
King’s College London Press Release (2023)
Dr James WE Smith, the Laughton-Corbett research fellow in the Department of War Studies, has embarked on new research that aims to address questions on the use of space as part of a national defence strategy that is inclusive of all domains from ‘seabed through to space’. Space is increasingly influential in geostrategy and geopolitics while also a growing concern in broader national policy discussions to its use. James’s research focuses on the applicability of a maritime model where the encompassing maritime environment sees exploration, science, commerce, law, communications, and military interact, which notably resembles the next-generation space revolution that is taking place.
The new research, partially funded by King’s, aims to contribute to scholarship by advancing understanding of the role of space in defence and its interface with diplomacy, foreign policy, and civilian activity at a time when the broader question of future human activity in space becomes a growing question for most nations. His research comes at a time of second space race is upon us; some call it the ‘space revolution’. This reflects the reality that space has become more accessible for the military and science and even for private citizens or commercial actors with the right resources. In response to this new era, governments are attempting to deliver an updated military response by revising defence policy, national policy and their military forces. Space has played a vital role in information gathering and intelligence, such as with the war in Ukraine, growing areas of tension like the Indo-Pacific, and monitoring environmental changes that raise of risk of conflict over dwindling planetary resources.
James’s novel approach will demonstrate to high-level decision and policymakers in governments how a maritime model for space is useful not only in broader national policy but military strategy, where navies will be an essential component of the process as space increasingly influences events and supports defence operations on Earth or potentially beyond.
“The reality is that future national strategy relies on comprehensively understanding space and how it forms part of viewing that strategy from the seabed right through to space. We cannot afford to ignore the close historical connection between the sea and maritime strategy and harness that for future thought on space. It comes a time where serious thought needs to be put towards the future of humanity as a spacefaring civilisation which is at a time of increased competition in and for space between nations, each of whom are influenced by national character and objectives.”––Dr James WE Smith
James’s postdoctoral research project on space is informed and builds on his PhD that he was awarded from King’s in 2021 and the projects he has led at the college. His PhD focused on the relationship between defence organisation and how nations think about national strategy in unique national ‘ways of war and peace’, which led him to lead ‘Corbett 100’, an international project that marked the centenary of the lesser-known philosopher of maritime strategy, British historian Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922). Dr Smith will advance concepts of maritime strategy adapting them for space such as beyond Earth orbit. Corbett’s work on maritime strategy will be a platform for James to broaden the debate on the strategic use of space and how humanity uses it as a final frontier to interact, something the oceans have also seen before throughout history and to this day. Leverage insight and tools derived from the maritime domain can advance understanding of the role of space in national defence and security today and in the future. The research aims to advance understanding of the role of space in defence and security, in particular the interactions between human exploration, science, commerce, law, communications, and military operations as part of a national strategy which reflects national ways of ‘war and peace’.
James is uniquely positioned for this research; he was awarded fellow status from the Royal Astronomical Society and a non-resident research fellow at the US Naval War College. As part of the research, he is engaging in conversation about the future of space power with civilian organisations such as NASA. Outreach beyond the defence community with partners from science, law, technology, and the environment will help inform the research. James argues military and defence circles need to take a more inclusive approach to space in the future than pursuing narrow doctrinal concepts and theories. He suggests mindfulness to the broader international discussions on a range of topics related to the future use of space, whether philosophical, scientific, or genuine concerns over the risk from space debris or hasty responses to ongoing threats of space warfare.
The study will be completed under the mentorship of the Laughton Chair of Naval History and Maritime Strategy, Professor Andrew Lambert.
“What is highly impressive about James and his research is that those outside the field of War and Defence Studies, from entirely different disciplines, have identified the importance of the research and the questions James is asking, such as those from the science, engineering communities and importantly the civilian space organisations who have awarded him the highest recognition usually reserved for this own fields. They clearly appreciate how James is outreaching to broaden the debate about space and human interaction in it. His use of the maritime model to think through solutions to growing problems in space is well-grounded in his previous research and the connection between seapower and space, which is a long-standing one.”
––Professor Andrew Lambert
The research highlights the need for growing attention to issues in space, its influence and impact on Earth, human civilisation, and future strategic and defence policy direction towards space even far beyond Earth orbit. He hopes to contribute to scholarship by advancing understanding of the role of space in defence and its interface with geostrategy, geopolitics, and civilian activity, something he argues the oceans have been central to throughout history and remain so. His research will demonstrate this connection will be key to future human activity and interaction in space.
The research that will take place over the coming years resulting in future publications and events held at King’s and beyond that, will also bring together an international audience of civilian and military space researchers and professionals.
You can read the original King’s College London news article release here:
“New project will use maritime approach to advance space strategy - King’s College London (kcl.ac.uk)”
British Academy Notification Press Release (2023)
I’m pleased to confirm that the British Academy has decided to support my research. The remit contained within the formal letter of offer states:
“To advance research into maritime strategy ‘from the seabed to space’ (including naval) and strategic studies for a national strategy.”
This will be facilitated through the Laughton-Corbett Research Fellowship in the School of Security Studies, Department of War Studies, King’s College London. It is British and international by nature.
The support is directed explicitly at the research process and the dissemination of findings over a set period. The resources will be specifically and only directed towards efforts and research projects under the mission statement, as mentioned earlier and as outlined by the British Academy. One specific project can move forward, as well as resources directed towards ongoing lines of effort and research that are interconnected or require completion, such as publications which sit under a maritime philosophy.
This support is notable as it is often the case that research in areas such as War Studies is usually (although rare) provided by Higher Education, through Private Military Education initiatives, the military, and the few remaining dedicated efforts to support it. The fact that, at this time, a prestigious and respected body external to the ‘norm’ to support a topic that usually does not get this high-level attention may reflect the times we live in. The remit to advance, reflect, analyse, and investigate maritime strategy, seapower and naval power both in a narrow and broader sense ‘seabed to space’ and push forward understanding of strategic thought (& theory) in national strategy and policy represents an opportunity and compliments the Fellow title that will help facilitate it. My work will continue to use the applied history methodology so aptly demonstrated by historian and philosopher of maritime strategy Sir Julian Corbett.
I will continue to share progress on the research project and various ongoing lines of efforts here and places like LinkedIn and X. I appreciate the support that Professor Andrew Lambert and academic colleagues, many who are alumni of King’s, including service personnel past and present, from Britain, the United States, Australia and Japan who provided support in my application to the Academy. I am honoured that confidence and trust has been placed in me on the basis of my evidence based research to date to be granted the opportunity to keep research moving forward and to do so to make it useful for practitioners and decision-makers today and tomorrow while also adding to knowledge of the past.
The British Academy for the promotion of historical, philosophical, and philological Studies is the United Kingdom’s national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its Royal Charter in the same year. They support research that is deemed of the highest importance and influence to the world today and tomorrow in service to society and a better world. The Academy is predominately funded by His Majesty’s Government.
From the Academy’s website: “The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. We mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future... today’s complex challenges can only be resolved by deepening our insight into people, cultures, and societies. We invest in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas to engage the public with fresh thinking and debates, and bring together scholars, government, business and civil society to influence policy for the benefit of everyone...”
In the interests of research ethics and transparency, neither the British Academy, the British Government, nor any external party have any input or say over the research or its findings.