Does the United Space need armed forces in space? In December 2019, President Donald Trump created the United States Space Force. However, this new military branch has been met with confusion and sometimes open mockery.
The more you learn about the U.S. Space Force, the more you will appreciate it, thus read on.
The USSF primary purpose is to reinforce U.S. military skills in areas where these services were not prioritized.
What is the U.S. Space Force?
The USSF is the sixth military branch in the U.S. that is solely focused on space protection. It is tasked with the organizing, training and equipping of Guardians to carry out global space operations that improve how the joint and coalition forces fight.
Like other military services, the Space Force is led by a four-star general who is also a Joint Chiefs of Staff member and hence a contributor to U.S. National Military Strategy.
The Space Force is predicted to grow to 16,000 military service members with 2,500 active-duty personnel transferred from the Air Force Space Command. The estimated budget in the financial year 2021 for USSF is $15 billion.
USSF Capabilities
The new and sovereign USSF will maintain and augment the competitive edge of the Department of Defence in space while adapting to evolving strategic challenges.
There are space lift operations at the East and West Coast launch bases that provide services, range safety control and facilities for the conduct of NASA, DOD and commercial space launches. The force is also tasked with the command and control of all DOD satellites to provide force-multiplying effects.
These satellites provide essential in-theatre protected communications, navigation and weather data for ground, fleet and air operations.
Additionally, all ground and space-based systems keep track of ballistic missile launches worldwide to safeguard against any unexpected attacks on North America. A worldwide system of space surveillance sensors is vital for providing information on the location of space debris and satellites for the country and the world.
What is Space and Why Does it Require Military Protection?
Space is an area of orbital flight that includes all rocket-propelled vehicles that leave and then reenter the atmosphere without making an orbit, such as ballistic missiles.
Some space definitions depend on a judgement of the point where the earth’s atmosphere ends (100km above sea level). However, the Space Force repels using any particular physical demarcation.
Concerning the militarization of space, this is the use of space for military functions. These functions include the use of satellites for surveillance and communication and transit of objects like missiles. Militarization of space started in the final WWII years when Germany began to strike England with V-2 ballistic missiles.
After WWII, both the Soviet Union and the U.S. utilized scientists and technology from Germany to create and advance their space programs. This eventually led to a “space race” to achieve various milestones for national stature.
The difficulty and essence of military operations in space have substantially changed since the 1950s. The military and civilian use of space has increased since then. There are many communication satellites in the international communications industry providing connectivity to individuals and firms worldwide.
However, these civilian and military advantages brought by greater use of space have also enhanced new vulnerabilities. Competitors can access space and the technologies to attack U.S. satellites. Therefore, competitors may threaten mutilation against the U.S. military and civilian economy through attacking space infrastructure.
For example, China destroyed one of its satellites in low-Earth orbit which showed its ability to threaten primary U.S. communications infrastructure.
Conclusion
The increasing militarization of space has led to a need for additional space governance. Our daily lives today depend primarily on operations in space. The USSF will help enhance national security and possibly civil and economic benefit.
