太空是垂直空间的自然延伸、因而也是空军天生的“领地”。这 一观念是美国空军长期以来所坚持的传统信仰,为大多数空军人员 毫不置疑地加以接受。但实际情况却并非如此。粗略地回顾一下美 国军事航天活动的历史,人们就会发现,空军一直都在与其他军种 及各种政治利益进行着激烈的斗争,以期获得对军事航天活动的控 制权。时至今日,空军虽然早已稳操胜券,但这场争夺“地盘”的 较量并没有终结。 Space is a natural extension of vertical space and therefore also the Air Force’s innate “territory ”. This notion is the traditional belief the United States Air Force has upheld for a long time and has been accepted by most Air Force personnel with no doubt. But the reality is not the case. Roughly reviewing the history of the U.S. military space activities, one finds that the Air Force has been fiercely battling with other services and various political interests in order to gain control over military space activities. Today, although the Air Force has long been a safe bet, but the battle for “site” contest has not ended.