On Dec. 20, 2019, the United States Space Force was established as the nation’s sixth military service. The first new branch created since the U.S. Air Force in 1947, the Space Force elbowed its way into the national security establishment and public consciousness, often as a punchline of late-night talk show hosts.
More than three years hence, large numbers of Americans remain unaware of what the Space Force does and the vital role it plays protecting the United States, allies and friends worldwide.
To be fair, even we chuckled at some of the jokes, especially the ones alleging our uniforms are Star Trek rip-offs, or our “commander” is Steve Carell.
But have no doubt, America’s military space professionals — its Guardians — are serious about our task and purpose: to secure freedom of action and protect the nation’s interests in space; to deter potential adversaries alongside soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to deter potential adversaries, and to fight and win the nation’s wars if called upon.
The Space Force is no longer a “start-up.” We are a fully functioning and expanding enterprise, an integral element of the U.S. Armed Forces. But our future and standing are predicated on a clear understanding by national leaders and by the American people about who we are, what we do, and why. We owe it to them to clarify some misconceptions.
Misconception No. 1: When established, the Space Force had to “find something to do.”
The United States did not discover the importance of space to national security when the Space Force was created. Just as the United States already had the world’s best air forces when the U.S. Air Force was established in 1947, the U.S. has been the world leader in military space for more than 60 years.
Hundreds of millions of people follow the “blue dot” when traveling every day, courtesy of the Space Force’s Global Positioning System. For more than 30 years, U.S. forces have used GPS to navigate over vast stretches of ocean, in airspace above barren ice caps and across trackless deserts. The Space Force also provides military communications satellites that keep those forces connected even in the most austere locations and hostile circumstances.
Whenever you access the internet, transfer money, or speak to a relative by phone, that same GPS constellation synchronizes the networks that provide those functions. It does the same for military command, control and communications networks that move information and ensure military forces are also synchronized and operating effectively.
Guardians track almost 50,000 satellites and pieces of space debris every day. We determine where each of these objects is, where it is going, and whether it poses a hazard to other objects in space — not just our own satellites, but astronauts on board the International Space Station and satellites of other countries. We perform this function for the entire world and the challenge is growing — we have seen a 16 percent increase in the number of space objects over the past year alone. It’s a big job and one only the Space Force is prepared to execute.
Finally, since the days of the Cold War we have detected, tracked and provided warning for every missile launched anywhere on the face of the earth. That function is a major element of deterrence that has successfully maintained peace and stability among global powers for decades.
Misconception No. 2: Space Force does the same thing as NASA and commercial companies.
The nation needs, and has, three strong space sectors: the Space Force focuses on national security; NASA focuses on space science and exploration; and private companies provide commercial services to a broad array of government and private customers. While all operate and collaborate in space, any one of these is not a substitute for another; we have distinctly different roles and missions.
Space Force protects U.S. interests in space and guarantees our ability to operate there. Our mission is increasingly complicated as the domain gets more crowded and a growing number of potential adversaries learn how to exploit the advantages that come with operating in the “Final Frontier.” We work closely with NASA and rely on commercial services to assist with some functions, but the roles of each sector are different. Linking it all together is this indisputable fact: whether military, civil or commercial no one goes a day without space.
Misconception No. 3: Space Force is weaponizing space.
The potential for conflict was illustrated as far back as 2007 when China conducted a destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile test. Other countries have fielded anti-satellite weapons since. The Space Force is charged with providing information, navigation and timing, early warning, communications, and other services from space, so that soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines can execute their mission effectively.
Just as significantly, a priority for Space Force — as with all our military forces — is to deter conflict from starting in the first place. Knowing the U.S. has a military service specifically devoted to protecting our interests and freedom in space gives any potential adversary pause, enhancing security and stability.
While there have been misconceptions, confusion, and perhaps even indifference, the bottom line is this: space has never been more important to our nation’s security, prosperity and economic well-being. That is why the nation needs a military service dedicated to providing for and protecting our use of space; and why the Space Force is here to do exactly that.
Gen. David D. Thompson is Vice Chief of Space Operations for U.S. Space Force.