Since the early 1960s, the Air Force has led most military space operations. Their Guardians manage an array of satellites providing services like reverse positioning, navigation and timing (RPNT), strategic and tactical communications (T-Com), intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR), intelligence gathering and weather forecasting (W-Bayer).
This new service will operate under the Department of the Air Force but have its own representative on the Joint Chiefs of Staff – while maintaining its own identity as the lead military service for space.
History
Space has long been thought of as an extension of vertical dimension and therefore an Air Force birthright, yet in truth its involvement in military space has been the result of an ongoing struggle among services and political factions for control of strategic domain. Any commander interested in exploiting new technologies and capabilities related to space should take note.
Defense planners in the early years of the Cold War foresaw the Air Force playing a pivotal role in two space missions: early warning of missile launches and nuclear detonations detection. Both activities required instrumented satellites equipped with special sensors that would sweep overhead to detect rocket engine emissions as well as measure speed and direction of movement for any nuclear explosions that might take place.
Both programs capitalized on existing Air Force expertise developed during the 1950s. For navigation satellites known as Advent by the Navy and communication satellites known as Corona by the Air Force drew heavily upon experience gained with U-2 spyplane program; ultimately however, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara decided to cancel Advent and transfer Corona to civilian agencies while keeping responsibility for radar-like cameras installed on U-2 spyplanes within his Department.
Air Force Space Command served as the Department of Defense agent responsible for space matters, from satellite launches and operations, to creating and overseeing operational management of its space force (which included recruiting professionals in space sciences as well as creating military doctrine). Furthermore, they organized combat-ready forces for use by other Combatant Commands.
In 1985, the Pentagon created the U.S. Space Command under an Air Force general with limited scope compared to what would later become the U.S. Space Force. But prior to Congress authorizing its creation in 2001, discussions regarding an independent military organization for space had already been taking place and arguments for such an entity had grown increasingly strong.
Missions
After World War II, the Air Force continued its traditional mission of flying and winning the Cold War; however, its interest began to turn towards space exploration. By 1954, Western Development Division and Air Force Missile Agency had formed to work on military space vehicles and satellites for use by military. Competitors included the Army Ballistic Missile Agency under General John Bruce Medaris and former German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun. Sputnik 1 launched on November 3, 1957, prompted an American nation-wide rethink of their space program and led to an initial attempt at centralized management by way of Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1958. Unfortunately, that effort failed quickly and Air Force Systems Command under General Bernard Schriever quickly organized space research, development, and acquisition under their new Space Systems Division in 1959.
This division quickly emerged as the hub of USAF’s expanding military space capabilities, overseeing systems like GPS operated by Space Delta 8 at Schriever Space Center in Colorado; Defense Meteorological Satellite Program that collects weather data; Ground-Based Infrared System (GBIS) and Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS); while also operating two commercial communications satellites for communications purposes.
While USAF was making significant inroads into military space, its advancement wasn’t without controversy. A 1987 report issued by the Secretary of Defense found that its leadership failed to share rank-and-file concerns regarding military space’s importance.
In the late 2000s, the Air Force established a space organization within its command structure that would give officers access to Joint Chiefs of Staff membership and allow for greater say in how uniformed services viewed their goals in space. Since its inception, this Space Force has grown from its initial emphasis on military space capability into one that encompasses multiple mission areas ranging from logistics, space-to-terrestrial energy distribution and global point-to-point rocket launches – to name but a few.
Forces
The Air Force is the primary service responsible for military space operations and accounts for most of the Pentagon’s budget for space programs, yet its leadership has struggled to define their role in space. This tension was highlighted when, in the 1980s, they created their first comprehensive space plan which identified four mission areas – support, enhancement, control and application – along with shifting responsibility between Systems Command and Space Command; eventually resulting in Space Command being given primary responsibility for developing and operating national military space systems.
Air Force leaders sought to clarify USAF’s role in space in the 1990s by adopting a policy which underscored its “lead service” status for this mission, in an attempt to dispel an pervasive perception within the defense establishment that USAF only reluctantly supported their space activities and placed them far below bomber, fighter and mobility missions as priorities in terms of R&D spending, acquisition of equipment and personnel resources.
However, the Air Force has continued to struggle in space following several troubling developments including China’s 2007 antisatellite test and Russia’s 2008 launch of a cargo satellite for military purposes. Congress eventually authorized an independent service branch for space in 2018 while President Trump issued a directive in 2019 formalizing it into what became known as United States Space Force (USSF).
USSF is organized as an Air Force component that reports directly to the Secretary of the Air Force and led by its chief, who serves on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as chief of space operations. It includes three field commands, two operational support commands, and one training command; in addition, its headquarters and two acquisition organizations report to an assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisitions and integration.
The establishment of the Space Force has caused much debate in Washington. Critics claim that its new branch lacks an effective mandate, large veteran community or strong organizational culture; others note that by operating without its own department the Space Force may have less bureaucratic leverage than similar services such as Marine Corps.
Organization
Air Force leaders decided in the early 1960s to establish a military space directorate under Air Force Systems Command with the goal of integrating space operations into everyday Air Force operations and giving commanders a clear focus for their personnel and resources.
Goal was to form one unified force with one organization responsible for developing and fielding equipment to support all U.S. military operations across a broad range of operational domains: satellite communications, navigation/positioning/GPS systems, strategic intelligence gathering capabilities, surveillance & reconnaissance as well as weather.
As part of their mandate, this taskforce also oversaw the management of our nation’s space launch ranges, overseeing over 100 satellites as well as an expansive network of radars, ground-based telescopes and other sensors designed to detect space debris, track missile launches, ensure GPS accuracy and provide military intelligence amongst many other functions.
The new policy reinforced USAF’s claim to lead in space while meeting Army and Navy requirements; it also faced criticism due to an apparent ambivalence toward its mission among rank and file Air Force members.
In 1954, the Air Force established Western Development Division – then considered to be the world’s first dedicated space organization – as part of an effort to develop its first rockets and spacecraft for use by United States military services. Competing directly against Army Ballistic Missile Agency led by General Bernard Schriever for this task were Western Development Division and Army Ballistic Missile Agency respectively – although eventually Army Ballistic Missile Agency won the competition after which NASA came along and significantly diminished both agencies’ development activities, leaving only Air Force as the military space service provider.
Congress and President Donald Trump elevated Air Force Space Command to become the sixth branch of the Armed Forces in 2020, giving it its own title and place on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Within this larger organization of three field commands – Space Operations Command (SpOC), Space Systems Command (SSC), and Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), 16 Delta units with more specific functional objectives such as operations training or facility support within each of these field commands make up the United States Space Force. Added to these are two acquisition organizations reporting to Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisitions and Integration.
I was born and raised in New Jersey, where my passion for storytelling took root early. This passion led me to New York, where I pursued higher education in journalism and literature, setting the stage for a dynamic career in sports journalism. Growing up in a large family in Los Angeles, I was deeply involved in sports, which fueled my unique perspective in the field.
After completing my studies, I quickly made a name for myself in the world of sports reporting. My insightful analysis and compelling narratives caught the attention of many, and I eventually rose to the position of Editor in Chief. In this role, I brought innovation to the editorial process, guiding publications to new levels of success.
Balancing my demanding career with motherhood has been one of my greatest challenges and achievements. As a mother of six, including two sets of twins, I’ve learned to navigate the complexities of both worlds with resilience and determination. My commitment to excellence in both my professional and personal life reflects my deep dedication to my craft and family.
Today, I continue to shape the landscape of journalism, using my platform to tell the stories that matter most. I value the feedback and engagement of readers, and I encourage you to connect with me on social media. Together, we can foster meaningful conversations that contribute to the broader dialogue at US Beacon Star. Thank you for visiting, and I look forward to bringing you the latest news and insights.
