Space‑Hacking the Pentagon: Trump’s Dream Gets a Rocket‑Fueling Make‑over
What the Trump Administration Is Trying to Do
The U.S. president’s team announced a bold plan to launch a new “Space Force” as the Sixth Army‑by‑2020.
In Trump’s words, he’s “turning the idea into a rallying cry.” That’s the kind of label you’d see on a zany poster at a rally, but this time it’s in bright, bold letters on a new campaign flyer.
Even as he sends out a fund‑raising email asking his backers to pick their favourite Space Force logo for campaign merch (six options, someone says, “pick, pick!”), he’s also tweeting “Space Force all the way!”—the hallmark of a late‑night political genius who knows how to keep his followers excited.
Message from the Vice President
Mike Pence addressed the Pentagon and declared the Space Force “an idea whose time has come.” He discussed the paradox (peace in outer space vs. the need for military strength). “America should always pursue peace in space, but the reality is that the only real peace comes from strength,” he said, demanding Congress step up and fund the new agency.
Key Players: Dicey or Uplift?
- President Trump – a visionary who sees space as the next great uncharted territory.
- Vice President Pence – calling for a strong, forward‑thinking Space Force; ready to see the future in orbit.
- The Pentagon & its Defense Secretary Jim Mattis – Historically skeptical, but they’ve all come together for this new destiny.
- Democratic Critiques – Senators Brian Schatz, Bill Nelson, and Bernie Sanders are all clutching their pencils. They see this as more of a vanity project.
What The Space Force Would Actually Do
The proposition says: everything from GPS satellites to missile‑tracking sensors. The ultimate aim is to sway American rivals like Russia and China who might target our orbit‑based capabilities.
Critics’ Argument: More Bureaucracy, Less Impact
Some say the Air Force already covers this territory. Senator Schatz called it a “dumb idea.” He warned that tailored military forces are dangerous when a leader refuses to be talked out of lofty dreams.
In a statement, Senator Sanders added that healthcare needs should be addressed before billions are spent on “militarizing outer space.”
Support From the Pentagon
Despite earlier reservations, senior Pentagon officials bought into the concept. They’re rolling out a US Space Command by the end of 2018, which will be led by Air Force Space Command’s commander (a dual-hatted role).
- Jim Mattis praised the “contested war-fighting domain” that requires strategic preparation.
- Previously, the Air Force managed these tasks. Mattis acknowledged this and suggested the new command be a top-level organisational shift.
Legal Landscape: Outer Space Treaties
The U.S. is bound by the 1967 Outer Space Treaty that forbids weapons of mass destruction in orbit and limits moon activities to peaceful usage. The proposed Space Force would have to navigate these thorny obligations.
What Retired Astronaut Mark Kelly Says
On MSNBC, he offered a calm counterpoint. “There is a threat out there, but it’s already being handled by the U.S. Air Force today.” He argued we don’t need another layer of bureaucracy in a manner he’s calling “incredibly bureaucratic.” He believes gravity (and budget) matters more than an extra military branch.
Bottom Line
With the Space Force plan dominating campaign nights, the U.S. front lines are split. Some view it as the next logical step in modern warfare; others see it as a costly makeover for a tool that already exists.
It’s a pitch that’s likely to go past the congressional red lights and into the stuffed pages of a future—not all of us will film it. But that’s the spirit of the Space Age for the 21st‑century military—heavy on drama, light on outright cynicism, and heavy on the hope that we’ll someday flaunt american air‑and‑space strength for a future of the cosmos.
