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Trump's Space Force


Maverick

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Wilson Pegs Initial Space Force Cost At $12.9B

 
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Atlas launch: ULA
 
U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson has outlined a plan to build a Space Development Agency and lay the foundation for a separate military service known as the U.S. Space Force by fiscal 2020.

The first five years of the Space Force is estimated to cost $12.9 billion, according to a Sept. 14 report included in a letter from Wilson to “colleagues.” Space Force funding would come in next February’s fiscal 2020 budget request, and the first year of the Space Force, which would fund the creation of a headquarters and combatant command, would cost $3.3 billion, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Aerospace DAILY.

That new Space Force would include space elements of the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), but Wilson’s letter to does not make reference to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, which cooperates extensively with the NRO and uses Earth-observation satellites for mapping purposes.

Wilson proposes having the Space Rapid Capabilities Office assume the duties of a Space Development Agency and declare initial operational capability in fiscal 2019. The Space Rapid Capabilities Office was approved by Congress in 2018 and was given authority to move quickly and efficiently.

“Like the National Reconnaissance Office, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, fulfilling the role of the Space Development Agency, will be staffed with members from all Services and U.S. government agencies,” the report reads. “We propose other military departments have a direct role in developing capability solutions to ensure sustainment, training, logistics and other organize, train and equip activities fully considered across the Services.”

The service plan would outline what resources are necessary to establish a Space Force headquarters in fiscal 2020. This includes establishing a budget, scoping the service’s mission, and gaining authorities from Congress and approvals for the new organization.

In fiscal 2021, the Pentagon would move to organize and realign forces to complete the establishment and transition to a Department of the Space Force. This would include bringing the Space Development Agency, Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, elements of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and elements of Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command into the Space Force.

The consolidation of the NRO into the new service will not adversely affect the intelligence community, the document reads.

The document calls for establishing the Space Force through organic legislation in a way that is consistent with how the other services were created, in a structure that “will closely follow the Army and Air Force,” the document says. A service secretary must be nominated with full Title 10 authorities to organize, train and equip the new service.

The Space Force would take on the programs involved in operating, sustaining and modernizing space launch vehicles, ground command and control of space systems, ground-based space surveillance, early warning and other space systems that are used to support national security missions.

The new force will require the transfer of space forces from the Army, Navy, Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Defense Information Systems Agency and NRO. It also includes the air bases housing radars designed to track ICBMs bound for the U.S., such as Clear AFS in Alaska.

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http://aviationweek.com/defense/wilson-pegs-initial-space-force-cost-129b?NL=AW-05&Issue=AW-05_20180918_AW-05_258&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1&utm_rid=CPEN1000000441429&utm_campaign=16499&utm_medium=email&elq2=ccf2f038114741828c63042a0325b739

 

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In the Second World War, you had, you know, a war. The Germans had the Luftwaffe, and they bombed, you know, countries. And the Japanese had an air force - both land based and carrier based - and they bombed, you know, Pearl Harbor and countries. So the clear purpose in having an air force. What exactly, is the clear purpose of having a Space Force? Is there an area in the control or exploration of space where the US doesn't have a huge advantage over any potential adversary? Do the Chinese even have a space shuttle that could scoop up enemy satellites? My experience with military spending suggests a Space Force at this stage of human development is just a Gargantuan waste of money. Just another needly bureaucracy, more bread and circuses to distract the lowest common denominator of US society from their misery.

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10 hours ago, conehead said:

Isn’t there some kind of international agreement to NOT militarize space?  I thought there was...?

yes, signed in the 60s .  but when has that ever stopped anyone.

 

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But to be fair you guys should acknowledge that your opinions are not formed on the basis of any particular fact, right?

I'm no military expert, but I know that the guy that controls the high ground enjoys a 'distinct' advantage.

 

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