Space Force may be needed to protect U.S.

The need for an organized program in some branch of the military to protect our satellite systems and our interests in space is undeniable. How to organize it has become a recent public debate. Currently being handled by the Air Force, President Trump has been pushing to take credit for the creation of a separate Space Force. There are legitimate arguments and justifications for either option.

Both China and Russia have worked in recent years to develop anti-satellite capabilities. Both countries’ ground-tospace missile programs may soon be able to strike U.S. satellites as they orbit around the Earth. Given U.S. reliance on satellite transmissions for communications, reconnaissance and GPS, attacks on America’s roughly 120 military satellites could hinder U.S. fighting abilities on the ground.

Reinvigorated space development would contribute to economic growth. Government spending on space programs could be viewed as an investment rather than a burden on U.S. taxpayers. A study from the early days of the U.S. space program found that $25 billion in space spending turned into $52 billion in economic gains. The study predicted that gain would turn to $181 billion in economic returns a decade later.

Stretching back to the Cold War, the world’s major powers have attempted to keep space weapons-free. But the creation of national military space units could spark a new arms race beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Most of the world’s countries, including the United States, Russia and China, are members of the Outer Space Treaty, which prohibits weapons of mass destruction in space. Militarization of the expanse could lead to countries abandoning the terms, or even simply the spirit, of the agreement and placing potentially devastating