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.
The Pentagon produced a legislative proposal to establish a Space Force in 18 months after work that began in the fall of 2017 following a conversation with Representatives Mike Rogers and Jim Cooper.
Patrick Shanahan views the Space Force as an asset to help protect the United States’ $19,000,000,000,000 economy and the U.S. military that depend on satellite-based systems.
Heather Wilson proposed a $1,000,000,000 installation for U.S. Space Command as part of her Space Force proposal.
Secretary Heather Wilson floated a $13,000,000,000 five-year cost estimate for a separate Space Force department and U.S. Space Command.
The Pentagon is seeking authority from Congress for the Secretary of Defense to transfer up to 15,000 service members from other branches into the Space Force.
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan proposed keeping the cost of the Space Force at about $2,000,000,000 over five years by placing the new branch inside the Department of the Air Force.
The October 2018 Air Force white paper detailed analysis supporting a $13,000,000,000 cost estimate over five years for a separate Space Force department and U.S. Space Command.
DoD officials estimated on 2019-03-01 that a Space Force would have an annual cost of $500,000,000 and about 15,000 personnel, including a headquarters of about 1,000 personnel.
If Congress authorizes the new branch for fiscal year 2020, the Air Force must specify the staff that would have to be in place by 2018-10-01 to form the Space Force headquarters.
The Space Force Planning Task Force is working to complete the plan so it can be delivered by 2019-03-22.
Senate staff analyses estimate that creating the Space Force bureaucracy could cost $2,000,000,000 over the next five years.
Senator Dick Durbin questioned whether $2,000,000,000 spent on new equipment and training would be a better investment in national defense than creating a Space Force bureaucracy.
A Space Force Planning Task Force faces a 2019-03-22 deadline to deliver a report to Acting Secretary Patrick Shanahan.
Patrick Shanahan directed the Air Force in a 2019-02-21 memo to begin the detailed planning necessary to establish a U.S. Space Force when the legislation proposed by the President is enacted.
The fiscal year 2020 budget includes $72,400,000 for 160 billets to establish the Space Force headquarters, with 120 billets transferring from other services and 40 billets as new hires.
In addition to the Air Force’s $13.8 billion, the fiscal year 2020 defense budget request includes $306,000,000 to establish three new organizations: a U.S. Space Force, a Space Development Agency, and U.S. Space Command.
The budget includes $306,000,000 to establish three new organizations: a U.S. Space Force, a Space Development Agency, and U.S. Space Command.
The administration is seeking $72,400,000 for 160 billets to establish the Space Force headquarters, with 120 billets transferring from other services and 40 billets as new hires.
The administration planned to request $72,000,000 to stand up the Space Force headquarters.
The Department of Defense detailed a five-year plan to establish a Space Force of 15,000 members at an annual cost of about $500,000,000.