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The establishment of "Space Force" is overblown as a story... but in ways that support your point. It's basically a rebranding of an existing organization call

The establishment of "Space Force" is overblown as a story... but in ways that support your point. It's basically a rebranding of an existing organization called US Air Force Space Command, which controls all military orbital launches and most military satellites (I believe NRO is its own separate thing). They just wanted it to be less specifically tied to the Air Force, and for its chief to be on equal footing to a service chief.

SiempreViernes 5y ago
> The establishment of "Space Force" is overblown as a story In the immediate sense yes: Space Force was just taking existing departments and putting them in a separate organisation. But this has long term effects, cutting them free of the Air Force oversight means they are no longer bound to the Earth in a very concrete sense. It seems that while they were part of the Air Force, someone though it fun to put in their mandate that they should defend all US interests in space, which in particular means everything NASA has sent out. Now that they are an independent organisation, that what they develop their culture around. Space Force is already putting out material with a view on how to fight around the moon! There's nothing much on the moon of course, but still they are anxious to know how to put weapons there for when there might be. If given enough money, there's little question that Space Force would seek to achieve dominance over the Solar System.
- jacquesm 5y ago
  And everything that is labeled 'defense' really should be labeled 'offense'.
  - systemvoltage 5y ago
    Brilliant. That way we can never have any defense! It feels like you have an axe to grind.
    - MichaelZuo 5y ago
      Due to the particular characteristics of the environment the person your replying to does have a point. Everything labelled ‘defense’ in space’ also has significant ‘offense’ potential. You can call it the tyranny of orbital mechanics or gravity or whatever, but nothing any military does in space can be considered purely defensive. Which is why many smart folks, especially in the US, have advocated for the complete demilitarization of space because that would actually be the most advantageous in the long run.
      - systemvoltage 5y ago
        I see what you mean but it is a rather tiring to refute it, many things have duality to their nature. Technology itself can be used for offense or defense. Semiconductors to nuclear fuels.

SiempreViernes 5y ago

> The establishment of "Space Force" is overblown as a story In the immediate sense yes: Space Force was just taking existing departments and putting them in a separate organisation. But this has long term effects, cutting them free of the Air Force oversight means they are no longer bound to the Earth in a very concrete sense. It seems that while they were part of the Air Force, someone though it fun to put in their mandate that they should defend all US interests in space, which in particular means everything NASA has sent out. Now that they are an independent organisation, that what they develop their culture around. Space Force is already putting out material with a view on how to fight around the moon! There's nothing much on the moon of course, but still they are anxious to know how to put weapons there for when there might be. If given enough money, there's little question that Space Force would seek to achieve dominance over the Solar System.

jacquesm 5y ago
And everything that is labeled 'defense' really should be labeled 'offense'.
- systemvoltage 5y ago
  Brilliant. That way we can never have any defense! It feels like you have an axe to grind.
  - MichaelZuo 5y ago
    Due to the particular characteristics of the environment the person your replying to does have a point. Everything labelled ‘defense’ in space’ also has significant ‘offense’ potential. You can call it the tyranny of orbital mechanics or gravity or whatever, but nothing any military does in space can be considered purely defensive. Which is why many smart folks, especially in the US, have advocated for the complete demilitarization of space because that would actually be the most advantageous in the long run.
    - systemvoltage 5y ago
      I see what you mean but it is a rather tiring to refute it, many things have duality to their nature. Technology itself can be used for offense or defense. Semiconductors to nuclear fuels.