# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/21 "2018-06-19T00:43:27Z")
Y’know, a Cyberspace Force might actually make some sense, now that you mention it, **Ravenman**. The Internet has actually been used as a battlefield, and that’s just going to get more common as time goes on. And it’s a fundamentally different skill set than what forms the basis of the other services. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/22 "2018-06-19T00:50:15Z")
With apologies to Brian May\*, I have a suggestion for the official Space Force song: \*Send a message out across the sky Alien raiders just passed Gemini Who will come and save us now? Who can defend us from the power? Space Force, Space Force Space Force, Space Force Tell the people back at Earth control Send Space Force legions to save our souls Always daring and courageous Ooh Only they can save us…\* \*Brian’s song is actually called [Star Fleet](https://youtu.be/Z7GFU5ncKhU?t=12s). But as they say, it’s close enough for government work ---
**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, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/23 "2018-06-19T00:52:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Y’know, a Cyberspace Force might actually make some sense, now that you mention it, **Ravenman**. The Internet has actually been used as a battlefield, and that’s just going to get more common as time goes on. And it’s a fundamentally different skill set than what forms the basis of the other services. Well, then we should probably start a new service for naval aviation, seeing how that’s a fundamentally different skill set than what sailors practice. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/24 "2018-06-19T02:08:53Z")
This reminds me of a twitter quote I saw. “President Trump has sex with porn stars and wants to create space marines and I still hate him” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/25 "2018-06-19T02:34:37Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > 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… You just knows Trump’s thinking space fighter ships (X-wings, or more appropriately TIE fighters). With lasers. That go _PEW PEW!_ 2020s-Style Death Rays. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/26 "2018-06-19T02:45:24Z")
The troops would be housed at Trump Hotels and trained by Trump Universities. Ivanka would be in charge of the uniforms. Well, I just figure making him some money has to factor in somehow. ---
**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, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/27 "2018-06-19T03:01:20Z")
Does he realize that the only current way into space is on board Russian spacecraft? Oh, wait… ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/28 "2018-06-19T05:20:17Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > 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. I’m thinking he’s flailing for a distraction. The only thing he’s got going for him personally at the moment is that the outrage over the children is sucking up all the attention from Manafort and Cohen. So now he needs a new distraction to get rid of the coverage of the border. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/29 "2018-06-19T06:15:40Z")
"…so, anyway, the new Trump Space Atomic Engine will get us to Mars in a couple weeks! Then what? Well, we put on the space brakes! Delta-V? Yeah, I know what that is, its where you grab 'em! What’s that got to do with space stuff?.." ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/30 "2018-06-19T06:28:06Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Does he realize that the only current way into space is on board Russian spacecraft? > > Oh, wait… Nitpick: the Russians have the only current way to the ISS (for a few more months at least - both SpaceX and Boeing are expected to launch manned test flights of their respective capsules later this year or early next year), but not the only way “into space”. The Chinese have been putting people into orbit for the last 15 years. On the horizon, there’s also Blue Origin’s New Shepard program and Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity which are undergoing tests and should be capable of carrying people “into space” albeit at suborbital velocity. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/31 "2018-06-19T08:18:13Z")
Lucky for the Martians, they don’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/32 "2018-06-19T08:30:02Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Lucky for the Martians, they don’t exist. That makes me very angry. Very angry, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/33 "2018-06-19T08:44:34Z")
Wait! I figured it out! Not weapons, but wall-erecting lasers-- from space-- will erect the wall on southern border and he will only hire Mexicans to fire the laser before deporting them. That’s gotta be it. “The Latino kids can play with my son, um… Barron! And his cheap \*Obama-given rocking horse and won’t be deported until laser-space-wall is complete!” \*Yeah, I know it was given to Prince Georgie, but he’ll get that wrong too. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/34 "2018-06-19T08:54:45Z")
Is he trying to do to China what Reagan did to the Soviet Union with Star Wars? Because he’ll fail. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/35 "2018-06-19T09:36:49Z")
It figures. He sees himself as the God-Emperor of a neo-fascist USkind and he’s already got [del]Commissars[/del]flunkies purging [del]heresy[/del]Democrats from the ranks of the [del]Adeptus Administratorum[/del]various state departments, it’s only natural that he’d want to found Legions of Space Marines next. I gotta say though, Jeff Sessions makes for a very poor Horus. I mean he’s got the Chaos part right, but you just can’t picture him and a pair of Lightning Claws in the same room, can you ? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/36 "2018-06-19T09:43:57Z")
As the nation’s leading space cadet, I can see Donald doing this. I understand his highest priority is development of the Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/37 "2018-06-19T10:26:45Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > As the nation’s leading space cadet, I can see Donald doing this. I understand his highest priority is development of the Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator. That revelation is dynamite! ---
**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 19, 2018, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/38 "2018-06-19T10:47:40Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Well, then we should probably start a new service for naval aviation, seeing how that’s a fundamentally different skill set than what sailors practice. The question of what should be an independent service branch is an interesting one. I’m not sure about it myself but I’m interested in what criteria you think should be used to determine the type and number of service branches if you were starting from scratch. ---
**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, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/39 "2018-06-19T12:30:59Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > The question of what should be an independent service branch is an interesting one. I’m not sure about it myself but I’m interested in what criteria you think should be used to determine the type and number of service branches if you were starting from scratch. The bar should be high. Much higher than “an incompetent President wanted to make some news one day so announced a decision he has no authority to make and for which he doesn’t show the slightest understanding of the issues.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341/40 "2018-06-19T14:56:37Z")
[Trump wants to create a brand new branch of the armed services](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/18/politics/trump-space-force-air-force/index.html)-the “Space Force”. He says it will be “separate but equal” from the U.S. Air Force, which suggests two things: 1. At least part of the funding will be ripped from the U.S.A.F., and 2. Nobody with a knowledge of history is proofreading his speeches-will they have separate water fountains, and will the U.S.A.F. now have to enter the Pentagon via the servant’s entrance? NASA doesn’t have the budget for a trip to the grocery store, so I wonder how much of what they are now allotted will be diverted to this new project. Is this a project that is needed at this time? Are we in a position economically that makes this feasible? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wants-a-us-space-force/816341.md?page=3)