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‘Ultimate high ground’: Pentagon launches US Space Command, crosses fingers for Space Force
The Pentagon has formally established the US Space Command, tasked with deterring US rivals from “challenging American space assets or operations” – and, it hopes, serving as a stepping stone to an independent Space Force.
“The dangers to our country constantly evolve, and so must we,” President Donald Trump said at a ceremony marking the establishment of the military’s 11th combatant command on Thursday. “Now those that wish to harm the United States to seek to challenge us in the ultimate high ground of space – it’s gonna be a whole different ball game.”
The ultimate goal of Space Command – and the Space Force Trump and the Pentagon hope it will become – is to have the capacity to “degrade, deny, disrupt, destroy, and manipulate adversary capabilities to protect US interests, assets, and way of life,” according to internal documents. After years of watching its rivals moving effortlessly through space – NASA relies on Russian technology to ferry its astronauts to the International Space Station, while China has beaten the US to the dark side of the moon – the US wants revenge. Or if not, at least to load up earth orbit with as many weapons as possible.
The new command is led by Air Force General Jay Raymond, who took the occasion to put Russia, China, and “other powers” that might “challenge” American assets or operations on notice.
“Our adversaries have had a front-row seat to our many successes of integrating space [into war] and they are developing capabilities to negate our access to space,” he told reporters ahead of the ceremony.
The character of warfare is changing. Our adversaries are developing ways to deny our use of space in a crisis. Today’s creation of @US_SpaceCom, #DOD’s 11th unified combatant command, is the next crucial step in deterring aggression & protecting vital U.S. interests. #USSPACECOMpic.twitter.com/EgN7SothW6
— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) August 29, 2019
Space Command is currently housed at the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, though the administration hopes to launch an independent Space Force as soon as 2020. The command takes charge of some 18,000 service members and civilians involved in space operations.
There technically was a “Space Command” that existed from 1985 until 2002, when it was scrapped to make way for the US Northern Command as the Pentagon pivoted toward the War on Terror. Aside from the name, however, the new version bears little resemblance to the Space Command of two decades ago.
“SPACECOM will ensure that America’s dominance in space is never questioned and never threatened, because we know the best way to prevent conflict is to prepare for victory,” Trump said, calling the establishment of the new command “a big deal” and “a landmark day.”
Following Trump's ambitious multi-billion dollar 'space force' coming closer to fruition, especially after last month the Democratic-controlled House Armed Services Committee voted to give Trump his expensive program, though they want it called the “Space Corps,” Russia has warned of a new space arms race which could endanger humanity.
arts of the Air Force, Navy and Army would move into a sixth branch, but the NRO will likely remain independent.
Vice President Mike Pence delivered a speech on Thursday outlining President Donald Trump’s vision of a Space Force, an idea that Trump has repeatedly riffed about at rallies over the past several months.
Within months, DoD will start standing up a new combatant command, a new space-procurement agency, and a new Space Operations Force. The U.S. Defense Department this week will take the first steps to create the Space Force, a new branch of the military ordered up by President Trump but not yet fully backed by Congress.
During a press conference Monday, Donald Trump announced that, as he hinted previously, he's ordering the Pentagon to "immediately" establish a "space force" as an independent service branch. That's right: Today might be the day that future generations look back on as the anniversary of the creation of the legendary US Space Force, guardians of intergalactic order.
