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Pence unveils plan to create Space Force by 2020
Vice President Mike Pence announced the Pentagon's detailed plan for President Donald Trump's vision of a Space Force on Thursday, which would establish the first military branch in over 70 years.
[...] Pence on Thursday stressed that the new branch would be built, in part, from pre-existing elements. "The Space Force will not be built from scratch," Pence said during a speech before members of the Pentagon. "This is a critical step toward's establishing the Space Force as the sixth branch of our armed forces."
Here are the four components to the Department of Defense establishing a Space Force:
First, DoD will establish a Space Development Agency to develop and field space capabilities at speed and scale. The Air Force has already begun to transform its Space and Missile Center (SMC). The Department will accelerate and extend this transformation to all services by creating a joint Space Development Agency.
Second, the Department will develop the Space Operations Force to support the Combatant Commands. These joint space warfighters will provide space expertise to combatant commanders and the Space Development Agency, and surge expertise in time of crisis to ensure that space capabilities are leveraged effectively in conflict.
Third, the Department will create the governance, services, and support functions of the Space Force. Many of these will require changes to U.S. law. The Department will build a legislative proposal for Congressional consideration as a part of the Fiscal Year 2020 budget cycle.
Fourth, the Department will create a U.S. Space Command, led by a four star general or flag officer, to lead the use of space assets in warfighting and accelerate integration of space capabilities into other warfighting forces. U.S. Space Command will be responsible for directing the employment of the Space Force.
Will Space Development Agency research trickle down to NASA?
Previously: The United States Space Corps Wants You...
Congressional Panel Puts Plans for a US Space Corps in 2018 Defense Budget
The Case for a U.S. Space Force
President Trump Orders the Creation of a United States Space Force
(Score: 0, Troll) by realDonaldTrump on Friday August 10 2018, @02:48AM (2 children)
Beautiful speech by @VP [twitter.com] Pence. We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force -- separate but equal. It's going to be the sixth branch of my armed forces. That's a big step. It is going to be something so important. We must have American dominance in space. Not just going there. Totally dominating. We're going to bring Law & Order to outer space. And put America First!!!
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @05:51AM
Well I, for one, applaud the effort to enforce a Safe Space.
And to reduce the likelihood of friendly-fire incidents the weapons systems should come equipped with Trigger Warnings.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @04:35PM
Job One for the Space Farce should be to investigate the empty space between your ears.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 10 2018, @02:55AM (7 children)
Nonsense. The current armed forces already have all of the necessary skills, expertise, knowledge, and whatever else you might wish for. The Navy has long experience with solitary missions that last for months, and even years further back in history. The Marines have always been the Navy's muscle - just in case the Martians finally come out to fight after we arrive. The Air Force has aerospace, of course - much of which can be simply moved into space. The Army - maybe not so valuable in space, but they can always be hauled from planet to planet by the Navy's ships, just like on earth.
It would make the MOST SENSE to just create a Space Navy, add some Marines, and the job is done.
But politics isn't supposed to make sense. Obviously, Trump has some sycophant lined up to appoint as the Space Force Commandant, or HMFICAS. (Head mother fucker in charge of all space.)
We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @03:42AM
"It would make the MOST SENSE to just create a Space Navy, add some Marines, and the job is done."
Yeah, right. Next you're gonna suggest they'll need some kind of space ships as well. Hah!
(Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Friday August 10 2018, @10:12AM
I believe Pence and Trump are thinking Space Marines like in the Alien Series and think..how hard can that be? Yeah, we can do that.....
Because launching people and equipment into space is so easy, we've been doing it for years! Just gotta add MOAR BOOSTERS!
Fuck it, back to KSP.....
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 1) by bussdriver on Friday August 10 2018, @02:10PM (3 children)
Religious tax payers don't like pentagons; this will please them after we spend a few billion creating The Hexagon for this new equal branch... For trump's 2nd term.
Space Force not only sounds stupid, it's a big waste of money and adds more bureaucracy. If anything should be redone it's merging the branches; and while doing that remove the modern name and go back to the Dept. of War -- the honest original name.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 10 2018, @02:32PM (2 children)
Merging branches? Up to a point. Put the Air Force back into the Army. Making a separate Air Force was nothing more, and nothing less, than a political maneuver. Marines and Navy go together like beer and football, so no problems, again. But, you can't merge those two remaining forces very well.
The other armed force? The Coast Guard? Nahhhh - they have an entirely different mission than the others. The Coast Guard are police forces, and part of the Department of Transportation. They aren't even part of DoD, or Department of War, or whatever we're calling it these days. Just let the Coasties do what the Coasties do, because they are good at it.
Imagine, if you will, a bunch of battle crazed, hardened war veterans patrolling the various tourist traps on the US coasts. Do you really want the Navy launching a gig full of Marines to come inspect your little party barge?
"SARGE! Bag of pot here!"
"SARGE! Bag of white powder here!"
"FIRE IN THE HOLE!!"
If that isn't enough to get your imagination cooking, check out David Drake's 'Redliners'. The basic premise of the story is, "What do you do with combat troops who are no longer fit for combat, and too damned dangerous to bring back into the civilian population?"
We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @05:20PM (1 child)
A neighbor joined the Coast Guard during the Vietnam War only to serve in Riverine Patrol in that country. The Coast Guard provided many of the coxswains for the landing craft in WWII. Show a little respect.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 10 2018, @05:32PM
I meant no disrespect - I only pointed out that the Coasties have a carefully maintained legal status, entirely separate from the DoD. They won't want to lose that status, because it would complicate their law enforcement mission. It could even adversely affect their safety and rescue missions if they lost their status. The courts do all sorts of weird things, never know what they'll come up with next.
We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Friday August 10 2018, @04:58PM
It would make the MOST SENSE to just
create a Space Navy, add some Marines, and the job is done.hire Chuck Norris.FTFY
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 4, Funny) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday August 10 2018, @03:10AM (2 children)
Right but does service guarantee citizenship?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by Fluffeh on Friday August 10 2018, @03:31AM
I'm doing my part!
(Score: 4, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @03:34AM
"Some immigrant U.S. Army reservists and recruits who enlisted in the military with a promised path to citizenship are being abruptly discharged, the Associated Press has learned. [apnews.com]"
(Score: 2) by legont on Friday August 10 2018, @03:33AM (2 children)
What a socialist idea! Surely all the funds will be appropriated by private enterprises.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
(Score: 3, Touché) by MostCynical on Friday August 10 2018, @08:18AM (1 child)
Why doesn't the US just create a "Separate, but Equal" wing of the armed forces and call it "Money Force" or "Contractor Corp"
Then all the other parts of the armed forces could be contracted or outsourced, and "Contractor Corp" could manage all the contracts.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @01:58PM
That's pretty much what the NRO is. The Chair Force brass couldn't manage early satellite projects early or on budget, so satellites were taken from them and given to the NRO, which also works for the CIA and NSA. The NRO's tiny staff is mostly Air Force, but all the actual work is done by contractors.
The NRO is the real "Space Force" anyway.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @04:03AM (8 children)
Old [theguardian.com]story [disclose.tv]
Considering the propensity that governments have for announcing 'new' military projects which in reality have existed for years/decades in a black form, it would pain me to think that this [wikipedia.org] nutjob was even partially telling the truth about the material he allegedly gained access to.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday August 10 2018, @04:08AM (7 children)
The Space Force proposal is about moving functions currently performed by the Air Force into a new branch. So if the Air Force is operating stargates or space fleets, those can be put into the Space Force alongside the boring satellite stuff.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @04:32AM (1 child)
Air Force? naah, that's just disinformation, it's the Navy who operate them buggers...
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @09:27AM
Informative? I was aiming for Funny..
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @10:05AM (4 children)
The Space Force proposal is about Trump trying to get his name in the history books.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Friday August 10 2018, @03:45PM (3 children)
Oh, he's done that already. They may even devote a full chapter, called, "This Can Never Be Allowed to Happen Again".
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Friday August 10 2018, @05:32PM
And that's the best-case-scenario chapter!
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday August 11 2018, @03:25AM
Very dumb & mean thing to say!
Edward Russo wrote a tremendous book about me. Donald J. Trump: An Environmental Hero. Available wherever INTERESTING & VERY POSITIVE books are sold. Highly recommend!!! amazon.com/Donald-J-Trump-Environmental-Hero/dp/1535456868 [amazon.com]
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Monday August 13 2018, @03:57AM
That's what I said about GWB. Oh, how wrong I was!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @04:10AM (11 children)
Nuking from orbit used to be a funny phrase. Pretty soon you might get in trouble if you use it.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday August 10 2018, @04:13AM (1 child)
Or you might get a medal.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @04:25AM
No medals from me. Nuking anything for real sure seems like it must be a net loss to humanity.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @10:05AM (7 children)
Nukes?
Far too messy, try "Hypervelocity rod bundles".. [af.mil]
(Score: 2) by theluggage on Friday August 10 2018, @11:02AM (3 children)
But: "Take off and rod them from orbit - its the only way to be sure!" at best sounds like you're going to unblock their drains...
Not that "trying to sound cool" has anything to do with this topic...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @12:34PM (1 child)
I mentally read that in Kenneth William's [wikipedia.org] voice..I now have a scenario for a Carry on Rodding film running through my brain...I really think I need to grab some sleep...
The CIA have their 'Plumbers', Space Force Command could have 'Sanitary Engineers', so any proposed $billion budget allocations for USSF 'drainage and waste management supplies' would make sense..
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Friday August 10 2018, @05:01PM
a Carry on Rodding film
Please mister, can I have one too?
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Saturday August 11 2018, @03:41AM
My Generals call them Rods from God. They're not from God. They're from me. Tremendous name!!!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @01:44PM (2 children)
Hypervelocity rods are overrated ... thats what she said!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @01:52PM (1 child)
Anyway, the idea (hypervelocity penetrators destroying underground facilities) is not even a sound one - the rod would heat up and lose its necessary mechanical integrity, and it would disintegrate upon contact with planet surface. The damage (remaining energy transfer) would be decreasing with depth. It is all just a superweapon propaganda, to make illiterate rogue dictators of the world hesitant to commission their expensive burrows.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 10 2018, @02:16PM
Are you sure enough of that idea, that you're willing to stand at ground zero when the prototype is tested? Let me warn you that we will be testing a two ton rod, with some heat ablative tiles, and guidance fins. The guidance isn't anything to brag about, we just want to get the rod within a couple hundred yards of the target. We don't figure we need to get the bull's eye painted on a gnat's ass.
We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 10 2018, @02:10PM
Depends on your definition of "trouble". If it pisses off libbies, then it's all good. If it triggers the FBI/CIA/NSA/etc then it's even better. Fek 'em if they can't take a joke.
We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.
(Score: 4, Informative) by takyon on Friday August 10 2018, @04:21AM (3 children)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Space_Command [wikipedia.org]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Space_Force [wikipedia.org]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Friday August 10 2018, @08:21AM (1 child)
They separate nicely, at escape velocity*
*YMMV, launch location, direction and weather may impede attempts to join "Space Force"
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Friday August 10 2018, @10:18AM
And of course, there is always the possibility of an unplanned, spontaneous disassembly event. Make sure your insurance is paid up!
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @02:38PM
"Re:what would it do?"
Perpetrate kickback fraud.
It will demand millions of dollars of shit nobody wants, be built by long established military contractors, who will funnel revenues from those projects back through PACs into political campaigns. But in the mean time, they will get in everybody elses business, make unjustified demands, and fuck everybody elses shit up.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by jelizondo on Friday August 10 2018, @05:34AM (6 children)
Well, another international treaty down the tubes. The US ratified in 1967 the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies” [un.org] which expressly forbids the militarization of Space.
Article IV is very clear:
If treaties keep getting broken unilaterally for no reason, no one will trust the U.S. What is the perceived need to militarize space? Against who is such a move? Or are we just being dickheads?
Now what is going to stop China, Russia or India from militarizing space as well? How can the U.S. demand from Iran and North Korea to dismantle nuclear weapons forbidden under international treaties while breaking such treaties?
I’m old and frankly, don’t give a damn about myself but I worry for my children and grandchildren.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday August 10 2018, @06:38AM
Everything the Space Force would do is already being done by the Air Force Space Command. Give General John W. Raymond [wikipedia.org] a call, maybe he'll tell you about it. If the plan to create a Space Force fizzles, the Air Force will continue doing it instead. And "it" probably means development of satellite defenses, redundant/resilient satellites, or ways to take out or capture satellites.
Space Force needed to thwart Russian, Chinese anti-satellite laser weapons: Pentagon [globalnews.ca]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 4, Informative) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday August 10 2018, @06:58AM (1 child)
"no one trusts the US anymore"
FTFY
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @10:36AM
We don't even trust ourselves anymore.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @02:01PM
May I draw your attention to bolded text:
As you see, by specifically singling out "nuclear weapons" and "any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction", the treaty implicitly allows other, smaller arms to be installed and used in space, except (second paragraph) on Moon and other celestial bodies, where total ban on militarization has been agreed on.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 10 2018, @02:20PM
That particular treaty was never worth the paper it was printed on. Every nation or state on earth knew that at the first opportunity, it would wipe it's figurative arse with that treaty. Anyone who ever took it seriously was deluding himself.
We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.
(Score: 2) by corey on Saturday August 11 2018, @02:39AM
They already have or are planning to. Russia and China have all but ignored that treaty. The US is doing this as a response to their moves. The US is playing catch up in a lot of areas right now, including hypersonics, EW, lasers, quantum cryptography etc. Adversaries already have lasers and missiles to take down satellites. This space force is establishing posture and resources for future scenarios. Not needed now but what about in ten years.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday August 10 2018, @06:05AM (2 children)
The reason their rockets can orbit heavier payloads is because during the cold war they were less accurate than US ICBMs.
If the US really _does_ create a Space Command, you can be damn sure that Soviet Union and the PRC will orbit far far more powerful forces.
The PRC has only been making baby steps in space so far but they have _plans_ for that eight percent growth they officially target every year. And they're still pissed that they got uninvited to some manner of international manned spaceflight that took place back in the day.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Friday August 10 2018, @06:59AM (1 child)
Russia's space program is decaying, and China's current rocket plans would give them something better than SLS but far worse than SpaceX's BFR (on cost) around 2030.
Russia’s Space Program Is Struggling Mightily [slate.com]
How Elon Musk Beat Russia's Space Program [bloomberg.com]
China main SpaceX competitor as Russia is giving up [nextbigfuture.com]
Russia will spend $24 billion to develop a large rocket by 2028 [nextbigfuture.com] (that would be worse than Falcon Heavy)
China Plans to One Up NASA's SLS With the Long March-9 [soylentnews.org] (140 tons to LEO vs. BFR's 150 tons, and first flights in early 2030s with BFR flying up to a decade before it. Not fully reusable, possibly not reusable whatsoever.)
Now, could China pump some more billions into its space program, hack into SpaceX's computers, and plan to make some good rockets faster? Maybe. But the "Space Force" won't be the catalyst do that. The Space Force is mostly a rebrand of the existing Air Force Space Command. It's not going to put a military base on the Moon anytime soon. It's about deploying, tracking, maintaining, and protecting satellites, which are critical for military surveillance of ground targets, GPS, monitoring weather conditions, etc.
If anything, BFR being realized with its first full launch will be the second punch, following the first punch that was the Falcon Heavy demo. BFR will make Falcon Heavy look like a toy. And if the U.S. wanted to go full Space Marines, they certainly have the money to order a fleet of BFRs from SpaceX. If they can be reused daily/weekly, you could get thousands of launches for the previous price of dozens of launches.
And we don't even need to put all our eggs in one basket. Blue Origin's planned New Glenn (three-stage version) could also smoke Russia's 2028 rocket.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday August 10 2018, @10:01AM
-es:
Use a phased array of masers to melt some of their solder joints.
That there is no air in space results in the only way to cool something in it is to emit blackbody radiation. That wouldn't be enough if you heated a satellite each time it passed within view. After a few such passes you'll get it cooking but good.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday August 10 2018, @01:28PM
Canada is legalising marijuana.
We will have the best spaced-out force EVER!
#MCG!
Make Canada Greater!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. I have always been here. ---Gaaark 2.0 --
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 10 2018, @10:34PM
...noone can hear me fart. Here, let me show you:
*prrrffffft*
*pffffffrrrrrrrrt*
*pffffffffrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt*
See?