I Believe I Can Fly: Proposed U.S. Space Force Budget Could Be Less Than $5 Billion

[pinto + 293]

The proposed U.S. Space Force, a new military service backed by President Donald Trump, could have an initial budget of less than $5 billion, the deputy defense secretary said on Thursday. The U.S. Air Force estimated start up costs for a proposed U.S. Space Force will be around $13 billion in the first five years. The Air Force is the U.S. military branch that currently has responsibility for space.

[50 shades of black + 254]

Won’t be able to build a Death Star on that budget:)

[rainman + 263]

 $5B for something that cannot be defined!? Space force - for what?  Can't wait until they actually have a purpose.

[ThunderBlade + 231]

3 minutes ago, rainman said:

 $5B for something that cannot be defined!? Space force - for what?  Can't wait until they actually have a purpose.

Purpose? You are so optimistic...Better to watch episode of Star Trek than to waste time with this

[damirUSBiH + 327]

Time for Sci Fi Thursday! Popcorn, beer and TV remote...

[Pavel + 384]

So, era of Space Empire is coming. There will be a Space Force Academy, like a West Point, or an Annapolis... Would we call it Star Fleet academy?  This is going to be fun.

[Guillaume Albasini + 851]

13 minutes ago, damirUSBiH said:

Time for Sci Fi Thursday! Popcorn, beer and TV remote...

[Epic + 390]

10 hours ago, rainman said:

Space force - for what?

My guess is to establish a Space force as a counter to Russia's unstoppable hypersonic missiles.  Those missiles can only be detected and stopped from space.  Once the missiles start their descent from orbit, there is nothing anyone can do.  Since those missiles reach orbit in Russia, that means the only way for the US to stop them is if the US puts up a missile defense system in Russia (which won't happen).  But the US can put one up in space.  Also, the DEWs can be countered more effectively from space than from land.  So, a Space force is really the next logical step.  Control space >>> control DEWs >>> control world.  

 

9 hours ago, Pavel said:

Would we call it Star Fleet academy?

Please please please let them call it this!!

[Dan Warnick + 6,100]

9 hours ago, Epic said:

My guess is to establish a Space force as a counter to Russia's unstoppable hypersonic missiles.  Those missiles can only be detected and stopped from space.  Once the missiles start their descent from orbit, there is nothing anyone can do.  Since those missiles reach orbit in Russia, that means the only way for the US to stop them is if the US puts up a missile defense system in Russia (which won't happen).  But the US can put one up in space.  Also, the DEWs can be countered more effectively from space than from land.  So, a Space force is really the next logical step.  Control space >>> control DEWs >>> control world.  

 

Please please please let them call it this!!

I think Trump is taking this from the Reagan playbook.  According to his autobiography, Reagan claimed nothing scared the Russians more than "Star Wars" or his Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

[shadowkin + 584]

On 11/15/2018 at 7:47 AM, pinto said:

The proposed U.S. Space Force, a new military service backed by President Donald Trump, could have an initial budget of less than $5 billion, the deputy defense secretary said on Thursday. The U.S. Air Force estimated start up costs for a proposed U.S. Space Force will be around $13 billion in the first five years. The Air Force is the U.S. military branch that currently has responsibility for space.

It could have an initial budget of only $500 million. It doesn't matter. Once a new federal department or agency is created you'll never kill it and it will only grow in size.