US plans new Space Force to prepare for the ‘next battlefield’

The White House has announced ambitious plans to create the US Space Force as a sixth, separate military warfighting service by 2020.

The proposal taps into the American public’s long fascination with space but with a military focus, and faces daunting hurdles.

It requires congressional approval and has been met with scepticism from military leaders and experts who question the wisdom of launching an expensive, bureaucratic new service branch.

Vice President Mike Pence announced the new force during a Pentagon speech, fleshing out an idea that President Donald Trump has flagged in recent months as he vowed to ensure American dominance in space.

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Mr Pence described space as a domain that was once peaceful and uncontested but has now become crowded and adversarial.

“Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America’s best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation,” said Mr Pence.

Mr Trump marked Mr Pence’s announcement with a tweet: “Space Force all the way!”

Mr Pence portrayed the change as a response to foes’ potential aggression rather than any offensive US military effort.

Citing Russia and China, he said that for years US adversaries have “pursued weapons to jam, blind and disable our navigation and communication satellites via electronic attacks from the ground”.

“As their actions make clear, our adversaries have transformed space into a warfighting domain already, and the United States will not shrink from this challenge,” he said.

In June, the president directed the Pentagon to create a “separate but equal” space force, a complicated and expensive move that could take years to gain Congress’ approval and become operational.

On Thursday, Mr Pence said the administration will work with Congress on the plan, and will outline a budget next year. The last time the US created a new uniformed military service was in 1947, when the Air Force was launched after the Second World War. It joined the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Defence secretary Jim Mattis has endorsed steps to reorganise the military’s space warfighting forces and create a new command, but has previously opposed launching an expensive new service. A new branch of the military would require layers of bureaucracy, military and civilian leaders, uniforms, equipment and an expansive support structure.

Asked about the cost, deputy defence secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters the Pentagon does not have a number yet, but will when the legislative proposal is finished by the end of the year.

“I would assume it’s billions,” he said.

Deborah James, who served as Air Force secretary for the final three years of the Obama administration, estimated it would be five to 10 years before a separate service would be fully formed.

“Eventually, it’ll settle out, but you will go through years of thrashing. And is that thrashing going to slow your momentum or is it going to help you achieve your goals and address the real challenges that we have on our plate?” she said at Brookings Institution last week.

“I don’t think so. I don’t. I wouldn’t vote in favour of it.”

Mars awaits

Trump supporters have been asked to put aside questions like “How much will this cost?” and “Isn’t the air force already doing this?” and instead focus their attention on another crucial issue: what should the space force logo be? Brad Pascale, who is Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign manager, has emailed supporters asking them to vote for one of six space force logos to commemorate the “huge announcement”.

“President Trump wants a space force - a groundbreaking endeavour for the future of America and the final frontier,” wrote Mr Pascale. It is unclear if the winning logo will actually be adopted by the sixth military service, or just used on commemorative merchandise produced by the campaign, which Mr Pascale announced would be sold to mark the announcement.

The six logos all feature the words “Space Force”. One also has the slogan “Mars awaits”, which the science editor at Mashable took issue with. Most logos are adorned with spaceships, though one has an odd yellow shape that some on Twitter have suggested is an homage to the president’s hair.

Twitter users have responded with their own suggestions for the logo. David Frum, a former speechwriter for George W Bush, suggested it should draw on the catchphrase from Galaxy Quest, a spoof sci-fi film. Others weighed in with gifs and videos, or amendments to some of the suggested logos. Still others suggested that the logo - like space force itself - was unnecessary, echoing retired astronaut Capt Mark Kelly who told MSNBC it was a “dumb idea” that would duplicate work already done by the air force. – AP, Guardian