Space Force: An Opportunity Not To Be Wasted
Space Force could still turn out to have some net positives.
Look, I get it. The name makes a lot of us laugh. But Space Force could still turn out to have some net positives.
For starters, we wouldn't be the only country out there to have an independent branch of the military for space activities. Russia established its own Space Forces on June 1, 2001. China also has their own version, The People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force.
More importantly, this could be the perfect opportunity to make the case for more daring missions than in years past. The Apollo missions of the late sixties and early seventies were possible because of a pressing concern for the nation's security. With a new modern military angle, manned missions might become a reality once again.
Upgrading the Air Force Space Command to an entirely separate branch is a serious statement. It might even pave the way for a budget increase for space activities across the board, which will also benefit NASA. And that's exactly what is needed to further develop American interests outside Earth.
Without powerful motivation, we're unlikely going to see new missions to the Moon in the near future. If what it takes to get there is the initial guise of protecting national interests in orbit around Earth, so be it.
