The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the space service branch of the U.S. Department of Defense, established in December 2019. Its primary role is to organize, train, and equip space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space by ensuring space superiority. The USSF manages space launch operations, satellite operations, space environment surveillance, and satellite defense, and partners with organizations like NASA on space domain awareness and planetary defense. Key areas of focus include missile warning, satellite communications, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Patrick Shanahan included the Space Development Agency in an August 2018 proposal that laid out three pillars for managing the Pentagon’s space enterprise: U.S. Space Command, U.S. Space Force, and the Space Development Agency.
The Space Force will closely work with the National Reconnaissance Office regardless of whether the NRO is merged into the new service.
The Department of Defense requested $72,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 to establish a Space Force headquarters of about 200 people.
The Trump administration sought enactment of the Space Force in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act by 2019-10-01.
The Department of Defense projected the cost to build the Space Force over the next five years would be $2,000,000,000.
The Department of Defense rolled out its Space Force proposal on 2019-03-01.
The initial work plan to establish a Space Force was delivered to Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan on 2019-03-22.
The Department of Defense proposal to form the Space Force seeks to keep costs down by creating the new service with existing personnel who would be transferred into the Space Force.
Patrick Shanahan argued that establishing a Space Force, a U.S. Space Command, and a Space Development Agency is necessary to stay ahead of adversaries advancing their space capabilities.
The Pentagon’s fiscal year 2020 budget requests $72,400,000 and 160 personnel (122 civilian and 38 military) to stand up the Space Force headquarters.
During the first year, Space Force leaders would develop a preliminary organizational design including permanent headquarters offices, subordinate field units, and mission support centers and agencies such as a Space Personnel Center, Space Doctrine Center, and Space Intelligence Center.
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson directed a team led by Air Force Maj. Gen. Clinton Crozier on 2019-02-21 to develop an initial work plan to establish a Space Force.
The Air Force would seek additional resources to add 40 more people to the Space Force headquarters beyond the 160 requested for 2019-10-01.
President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon in June to establish a Space Force.
The Defense Department submitted a legislative proposal in February to create a Space Force under the Department of the Air Force led by a four-star chief of staff, a four-star vice chief of staff, and a civilian undersecretary.
The Pentagon plans to seek establishment of a U.S. Space Force within the Department of the Air Force.
An additional $306,000,000 of the 2020 space budget proposal is for standing up U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command and the Space Development Agency.
The National Security Space Association supports the legislative process to create a Space Force and seeks to help move the reorganization forward.
The Department of Defense’s Space Force proposal would create a space branch led by a four-star chief and vice chief of staff and a civilian undersecretary.
The Pentagon estimated the new Space Force would cost $2,000,000,000 over five years.