To be clear, space is an increasingly dangerous and contested environment. As MT cogently conveys in its editorial programme, this high frontier has become nothing less than a warfighting domain, with huge stakes for the US, its allies and friends, and emerging competitors Russia and China. The Trump administration is correct to call space a US vital interest. The domain is increasingly a critical element in US military operations. Further, the US and most other nations' economies and current lifestyles depend on the Global Positioning System (GPS) for guiding car trips, and on 24/7 satellite operations for financial and other transactions: just for starters. But what was once a 'not really serious' policy idea - to establish a Space Force to allow the US to maintain superiority in this domain -has curiously gained serious momentum. The details for a Space Force remain clouded and incomplete, with the administration failing to justify to Congress and citizens at large the case for establishing the force. What is envisioned, is this new service branch, much like its sister services, the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy, would enlist people. Spoiler alert - do not look for the new service's personnel to launch into space and conduct tasks in the organisation's mission set. Rather, the individuals, units and staffs would, in all likelihood, primarily impose military influence on current space activities, and consolidate the way systems in space are used to guide and assist military operations on Earth.
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