The Air Force and SpaceX will conduct an event on April 8 that will see SpaceX Starlink satellites link up with a variety of military assets using a new command and control system during a “massive” live fire exercise, which will involve shooting down a drone and a cruise missile.
Retired Lt. Gen. Steven L. Kwast says fantastic technology exists that could transport a human anywhere on earth within an hour.
The House of Representatives and the Senate have agreed to a version of an annual bill outlining defense policy and budgeting for the 2020 Fiscal Year that would stand up an all-new U.S. military service for operations in space. Despite years of debate, Space Force now looks all but certain to formally arrive next year, but the language in the law that would create it shows that serious questions remain as to its organization and function.
The U.S. military is consolidating space-focused operational activities, but questions remain regarding budgets, roles and missions, and more.
The president has told the U.S. military to get moving on standing up its sixth branch, but doing so will be easier said than done.
As Defense Secretary James Mattis enters the debate, lawmakers are already deeply divided about creating a new military branch.
