# Trump wants a US space force **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 18, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341 "2018-06-18T21:48:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/1 "2018-06-18T21:48:37Z")
Separate but equal to Air Force > **[Trump: Space Force and Air Force will be 'separate but equal' | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/18/politics/trump-space-force-air-force/index.html)** > > President Donald Trump used a term from US segregationist history to describe the relationship between the Air Force and his newest military branch, the Space Force, calling it "separate but equal." will the USSF sit at the back of the bus? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/2 "2018-06-18T21:56:40Z")
Of course he wants it, but can he get the Martians to pay for it? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/3 "2018-06-18T21:57:32Z")
Sounds like it will create a great deal of bureaucratic stovepiping. Better to still just let the USAF have the job to itself. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/4 "2018-06-18T21:58:40Z")
Although I must say that “U.S. Space Force Academy” is a mighty good-sounding school name - if such a branch ever gets its own military academy in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/5 "2018-06-18T22:02:09Z")
Agsin, he’s wagging the dog. It’s a smoke screen. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/6 "2018-06-18T22:02:55Z")
As long as he doesn’t try to micromanage it (and he’s not one for paying attention to details), it might actually be a good idea to have a space equivalent of SOCOM, if the people who are delegated to develop the idea and implement it do a good job. The “separate but equal” bit is hopefully just more of the same used-car salesman bluster. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/7 "2018-06-18T22:10:28Z")
Of course there’s a pesky [Outer Space Treaty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty), which bars the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in space. Trump probably thinks such things are no more an impediment than NY planning ordinances. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/8 "2018-06-18T22:12:37Z")
I hope they get cool capes, because that would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/9 "2018-06-18T22:12:47Z")
Is there a good reason for an independent Space Force? Asking because I don’t really know. The Air Force has independence that makes a certain amount of sense rooted in the history of independent operations of strategic bombers in World War II - it was conducting a significant portion of the war pretty much without much support or interaction with the army or navy, even though it was technically part of the Army at the time. Even so, there are those who think giving the Air Force independent bureaucratic status was [a mistake](https://medium.com/war-is-boring/america-does-not-need-the-air-force-ff4662469f95). Would the Space Force do things at least as independently as the Air Force? Like with the creation of the Air Force, it sounds like existing units that manage reconnaissance, communications, satellite launches, etc. would be given new uniforms and a new bureaucratic identity. Unlike with the creation of the Air Force, there’s no vast bomber fleets and bomber escort fighters that have a history of operating independently of the other military branches - instead, it seems like the Space Force would just be some small parts chopped off from the Air Force, not a huge new undertaking. Curious to see what other folks think, since I don’t feel like I know enough about it to make a reasonable judgment. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/10 "2018-06-18T22:22:29Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Separate but equal to Air Force > > [https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/18/politics/trump-space-force-air-force/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/18/politics/trump-space-force-air-force/index.html) > > will the USSF sit at the back of the bus? And if it were to ever be a true, real thing, it’s the kind of thing you keep under your hat. This fucking doofus announces it to the world. But he’s got a fucking doofus wall to finish, I mean start, first. Fucking idiot. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/11 "2018-06-18T22:50:08Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Although I must say that “U.S. Space Force Academy” is a mighty good-sounding school name - if such a branch ever gets its own military academy in the future. As long as it’s built in San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/12 "2018-06-18T22:52:19Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > Is there a good reason for an independent Space Force? Asking because I don’t really know. > > The Air Force has independence that makes a certain amount of sense rooted in the history of independent operations of strategic bombers in World War II - it was conducting a significant portion of the war pretty much without much support or interaction with the army or navy, even though it was technically part of the Army at the time. Even so, there are those who think giving the Air Force independent bureaucratic status was [a mistake](https://medium.com/war-is-boring/america-does-not-need-the-air-force-ff4662469f95). > > Would the Space Force do things at least as independently as the Air Force? Like with the creation of the Air Force, it sounds like existing units that manage reconnaissance, communications, satellite launches, etc. would be given new uniforms and a new bureaucratic identity. Unlike with the creation of the Air Force, there’s no vast bomber fleets and bomber escort fighters that have a history of operating independently of the other military branches - instead, it seems like the Space Force would just be some small parts chopped off from the Air Force, not a huge new undertaking. Curious to see what other folks think, since I don’t feel like I know enough about it to make a reasonable judgment. From what I understand, this is correct, although I could imagine assets from other branches as well. Additionally, the military has tried to discourage him from doing this. I’d be interested to know who put this bug up his butt. Maybe he just think it sounds cool. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/13 "2018-06-18T23:39:53Z")
to get into their new academy they will test your midi-chlorians. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/14 "2018-06-18T23:42:46Z")
What’s the matter with using NASA for outer space? Oh, yeah, there’s that pesky military aspect. Just what the world needs, bombs in space. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2018, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/15 "2018-06-18T23:56:00Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > Is there a good reason for an independent Space Force? Asking because I don’t really know. This is why I mentioned SOCOM, the special operations command which was created after Operation Eagle Claw, the bungled attempt to rescue hostages in Iran which was largely caused by insufficient planning & cooperation between services: [United States Special Operations Command - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Special_Operations_Command#History) [Operation Eagle Claw - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Eagle_Claw#Analysis) It would probably be a bad idea to make a separate service out of it, just as it arguably was with the Air Force. A Joint Command dedicated to a set of tasks requiring specific skills, organization and technology could be good though. Even if you don’t put any weapons in space, it’s going to get interesting with space launches getting cheaper, electronics getting better & cheaper and the software/machine learning to fuse data from multiple sensors. Imagine the planet as a multispectral panopticon. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/16 "2018-06-19T00:00:30Z")
The Department of Defense spends about 3 times more on information technology than it does on space. Maybe we need a Windows 10 Corps, too. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/17 "2018-06-19T00:06:06Z")
We’ll definitely need a Space Academy for all the Space Cadets. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/18 "2018-06-19T00:08:33Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > As long as it’s built in San Francisco. Did the government sell or lease out the Presidio? They may already have the land. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/19 "2018-06-19T00:12:44Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Did the government sell or lease out the Presidio? They may already have the land. Never mind. It is part of the National Park System. Like Bears Ears, easy to reclaim. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/20 "2018-06-19T00:19:57Z")
> [@wevets](#): > > Is there a good reason for an independent Space Force? Asking because I don’t really know. To prevent people who don’t want or don’t qualify for military service from participating in the space program. Oh, wait. That’s not a good reason. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341.md?page=2)