United States Space Force and United States Space Command: what can they do?

[Roger E. Moore]

https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/11/...0-joint-chiefs

Some harder information than usual about the actual functions of the United States Space Command and the new United States Space Force. Let's focus on them here.

Could this become in part a research or exploration force? Could it run its own uncrewed lunar missions, for example? Remember, the U.S. Army launched Explorer I in 1958.

We should talk about actual functions and missions of the combined two. Will they get the ICBM Space Wings? Will they get the X-37B?

[Roger E. Moore]

https://breakingdefense.com/2019/12/...bout-the-rest/

Another gritty-detail article on the nuts and bolts of assembling the USSPACECOM and USSF.

[Roger E. Moore]

Two more articles that reveal how much there is left to do to flesh out the entire Space Force identity, from what uniforms the servicemen and -women will wear to what it will do with how much money from where.

https://www.defensenews.com/breaking...ewest-service/

https://www.defensenews.com/congress...ted-head-room/

[Roger E. Moore]

Will USAF bases and other places be renamed as Space Bases? Very possible.

https://spacenews.com/following-stan...s-space-bases/

====

Military.com's short take on the USSF

https://www.military.com/space-force

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https://spacenews.com/five-things-to...space-command/

Five Things to know...

[Roger E. Moore]

The group that rescues astronauts in need, surely to be a part of the USSF: Detachment Three.

https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Articl...heir-last-day/

[docmordrid]

https://spacenews.com/45th-space-win...s-space-force/

45th Space Wing prepares for first launch under the U.S. Space Force

WASHINGTON — The SpaceX launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Jan. 6 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the Florida Space Coast will be the first launch of 2020 and also the 45th Space Wing’s inaugural launch as part of the U.S. Space Force.

The 45th Space Wing, headquartered at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., oversees the preparation and launching of U.S. government and commercial satellites from Cape Canaveral and operates the Eastern Range. It is one of five Air Force space wings that have been assigned to the U.S. Space Force effective Dec. 20,...
>

[Roger E. Moore]

More informed opinions on what the new USSF can actually DO. Interesting read.

https://www.space.com/united-states-...ext-steps.html

[Noclevername]

More informed opinions on what the new USSF can actually DO. Interesting read.

https://www.space.com/united-states-...ext-steps.html

Mostly it's about what the new organization CAN'T do at present. Which makes sense, as it was a spur of the moment creation. Plans for the development of projects and missions are still largely in the proposal stage.

[Roger E. Moore]

Funding for USSF noted here.

https://www.space.com/space-force-20...t-request.html

[Roger E. Moore]

Well, here's one thing the USSF can do: warn about other suspicious spacecraft.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/10/polit...rce/index.html

[Roger E. Moore]

First USSF launch. It's real now.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techn...on/ar-BB11LfgZ

[Roger E. Moore]

More on first USSF launch, with photos and updates

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020...-from-florida/

[Roger E. Moore]

Florida Today coverage of USSF launch

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/t...on/2915121001/

[Roger E. Moore]

One essay on why we need a Space Force.

https://www.space.com/why-us-needs-s...-thompson.html

[docmordrid]

It's not what they can do now; national security launches, manage most US military satellites, etc. Those were transferred from the Air Force Space Command and other services. Continuation.

It's what comes next. There are rumors, but way above our pay grade. One already public is the US Coast Guard wants in to extend their Search & Rescue and other roles into space. If space becomes a big business opportunity with routine travel they !ay have a point.

[Roger E. Moore]

The next USSF X-37B mission leaves Earth May 16th with a mystery payload. Mark your calendars!

https://www.livescience.com/x-37b-sp...unch-date.html
https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/202...88787069/?sl=5
https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Mys...X_37B_999.html

[Roger E. Moore]

The next USSF X-37B mission leaves Earth May 16th with a mystery payload. Mark your calendars!

https://www.livescience.com/x-37b-sp...unch-date.html
https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/202...88787069/?sl=5
https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Mys...X_37B_999.html

Payloads revealed for X-37B

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/0...ry-spaceplane/
https://www.leonarddavid.com/u-s-mil...ng-experiment/
https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Pen...drone_999.html

[Van Rijn]

I know it is a bit silly but I really like hearing and watching a launch of a US Space Force spaceplane. In practical terms, it is little more than a name change from what has been going on under the Air Force name, but for the kid in me that read stories involving a space force or aerospace force decades ago it’s a kick to hear it happening in real life. Especially as this “secret” mission isn’t all that secret or concerning.

Even better, of course, will be seeing the beginning of private crewed orbital space launches.

[schlaugh]

Boeing should install two small windows in the nose, just to mess with the intelligence community.

[Van Rijn]

Boeing should install two small windows in the nose, just to mess with the intelligence community.

That made me laugh. For those who don’t know, the X-37B is a small spaceplane. It has been pulled around by a pickup truck. See here, for example:

https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/1...ace-plane.html

Incidentally, I also get a chuckle out of how they show off this so-called “top secret” spacecraft. Sure, they keep some of the payloads and missions classified, but the same was true with the Space Shuttle.

[Roger E. Moore]

Nice liftoff on two engines...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techn...on/ar-BB14cXVo

[Roger E. Moore]

More news on the training and recruiting going on for the USSF...

https://phys.org/news/2020-05-space-soldiers.html

[Roger E. Moore]

USSF X-37B changes orbit, detected by amateur astronomers and spacecraft watchers.

https://www.space.com/9000-secret-37...ged-orbit.html

[Roger E. Moore]

DoD Defense Space Strategy documents and policies have been released.

https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Dep...ategy_999.html

[docmordrid]

The location of US Space Command is TBD, with numerous bases under consideration including Selfridge (Michigan) and some of those listed below under Bases. So far,

Congress is considering the use of Naval ranks, first proposed by House Armed Services.

STAR Command (Space Training And Readiness)

-- recruiting, basic training, education of space professionals

Space Operations Command

-- oversee the units that operate and launch satellites

Space Systems Command

-- developing, testing, acquiring, fielding and maintaining space systems. Also getting parts of AFRL

Bases (renaming on hold because of CoVid-19)

-- Vandenberg

-- Patrick

-- Peterson (Peterson-Schriever Garrison)

-- Los Angeles

-- Buckley (Buckley Garrison)

-- no doubt more...

Deltas (mission groups)
Space_Force_Delta_Garrisons_Graphic.jpg

[Rolling Stone]

One essay on why we need a Space Force.

https://www.space.com/why-us-needs-s...-thompson.html

This seems more like a very soft discussion of why the US military (I'm not part of that "we") should have a space capability, which is a different issue than having it be a separate organisation. The article even mentions that lots of activities are already on-going.

Today, he said, "not enough people innately understand what we already do in space in a military sense." For example, satellites help military vehicles navigate the air and sea. They also help make sure weapons are used correctly and land precisely where they're supposed to, Thompson said.

If the US for some good or bad reason needs to improve its space capability, that could have been done as part of the existing organisations, or in a separate organisation. Seems to me the creation of a separate branch is more a question of how an organisation ought to be structured, than what capabilities does the US need.

[Rolling Stone]

Also, the article mentions that no one questioned the need for an Air Force, although I found this document that refers to a "struggle" to make the US Air Force independent.

https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/2...100929-056.pdf

[docmordrid]

.
>
If the US for some good or bad reason needs to improve its space capability, that could have been done as part of the existing organisations, or in a separate organisation. Seems to me the creation of a separate branch is more a question of how an organisation ought to be structured, than what capabilities does the US need.

New capabilies are coming as well, one of the first announced being Space Force cislunar space platforms.

Initially they'll be repurposed Shooting Star external cargo modules from the Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser spaceplane, which can perform secondary missions as a free-flying platform. Later these may evolve into crewed platforms, or laboratories. One possibility for Crew capability is Sierra Nevada's LIFE habitat, which is much like Bigelow's habitat concept but smaller with an attached docking/berthing node. Launchable in a standard 5m fairing.

Shooting Star
shooting-star_2-e1594926137857.jpg

LIFE
7YwpPL9wd2MENhuUbdXEnP-1200-80.jpg

[docmordrid]

To absolutely no one's surprise...but to N-G and Blue Origin's consternation,

https://spacenews.com/pentagon-picks...xt-five-years/

Breaking News | Pentagon picks SpaceX and ULA to remain its primary launch providers

WASHINGTON —The Department of the Air Force announced Aug. 7 that incumbents United Launch Alliance and SpaceX have been selected to receive five-year contracts totaling $653 million to launch national security satellites for the U.S. military and intelligence agencies.

The companies beat Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman in the four-way competition known as the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement.
>
Between 2022 and 2027 SpaceX and ULA will collectively will fly as many as 34 missions for the Department of Defense and the National Reconnaissance Office under the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery contracts.
>

[Garrison]

To absolutely no one's surprise...but to N-G and Blue Origin's consternation,

https://spacenews.com/pentagon-picks...xt-five-years/

Honestly when both rival options still only seem to exist in Powerpoint what did they expect. Blue Origin have had ample time and money to get the New Glenn at least to the test phase and doing some public testing.