US Space Force -- Good? Bad? Alternate proposal?

[Vic Tory]

President Trump wants to have a Space Force???NO! Let’s NOT keep making government bigger.

My counter:
1. Combine Air & Space Force
2. Combine Marines & Army
3. Combine Navy & Coast Guard

There. We just reduced the military from 5 to 3 branches, saving BILLION$. You’re welcome.

[DenverGP]

Let private industry do it. NASA was necessary in the beginning, but these days the commercial competition is resulting in much more efficiency and innovation.

[Justin]

President Trump wants to have a Space Force???NO! Let’s NOT keep making government bigger.

My counter:
1. Combine Air & Space Force
2. Combine Marines & Army
3. Combine Navy & Coast Guard

There. We just reduced the military from 5 to 3 branches, saving BILLION$. You’re welcome.

Currently most milspace things are under the purview of the Air Force, with the Navy and Army having their own programs.

One of the biggest issues that I've heard rumblings about is that the AF has taken congressional money that was earmarked for milspace programs and redirected it to funding the F35. Not sure how much truth there is to the claim, but I've heard it from more than one source.

I'm somewhat ambivalent about whether milspace programs should be organized under existing forces or if we need a new Space Force, but what is clear is that as other nations spin up their own mil- and civil space programs, the US is in distinct danger of losing its competitive and military advantage. In any given future conflict, such a loss would be hugely detrimental to US forces because of how dependent the military is on space-based assets.

General Hyten has probably been the biggest public voice calling for a shakeup in how milspace is handled; that said, I don't know if he supports a distinctly separate Space Force. Regardless, however, much of what he's said on the topic is worth reading:

http://spacenews.com/?s=Hyten

[Justin]

Let private industry do it. NASA was necessary in the beginning, but these days the commercial competition is resulting in much more efficiency and innovation.

NASA is primarily concerned with civil space, science and exploration. There is crossover wil milspace, but most milspace programs (spysats, GPS, missile warning, etc.) are handled by the Air Force, or in some cases some TLAs.

[TFOGGER]

To create such a force may well violate a treaty to which we subscribe...

https://www.state.gov/t/isn/5181.htm...VY7Jc.facebook

[Justin]

Here's an op-ed on the proposed Space Force.

http://spacenews.com/what-would-the-...pace-force-be/

[davsel]

Here's an op-ed on the proposed Space Force.

http://spacenews.com/what-would-the-...pace-force-be/

Mark Whittington's fantasy idea of what a Space Force would consist of and be responsible for is laughable.

[davsel]

President Trump wants to have a Space Force???NO! Let’s NOT keep making government bigger.

My counter:
1. Combine Air & Space Force
2. Combine Marines & Army
3. Combine Navy & Coast Guard

There. We just reduced the military from 5 to 3 branches, saving BILLION$. You’re welcome.

Which branch did you serve in?

[Irving]

I think this is an issue that was a done deal ever since we first turned our eyes skyward. The only real debate will be how it is implemented and into which accounting buckets the funds are organized.

[Justin]

Agree that some is hugely fanciful, especially near the end.