Proposal to have Trump’s ‘Space Force’ be situated in Florida moves forward
A Delta IV rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex-37 with the a U.S. Air Force payload. Photo Credit: ULA
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — President Donald Trump announced late last year that he would work to see a “Space Force” established. This proposal to create a new wing of the U.S. Armed Forces has received a wide spectrum of responses, including a recent show of support.
House Memorial 1281 drafted by Representative Tyler Sirois, R- Cocoa, has completed the first of two “committees of reference.” According to a release issued by Sirois’ office, the memorial received “unanimous” support.
The progression of the memorial is a two-step process, with the next being review and approval by the House State Affairs Committee. Should it be approved, it would then be submitted to the U.S. Congress and to President Trump asking that, should the Space Force be established, that it be headquartered in Florida.
The memorial requests Congress to approve the creation of the United States Space Force and the establishment of the Space Force and United States Space Command in Florida. The memorial follows a recent White House proposal by President Donald Trump, and Governor Ron DeSantis’ call for the Space Force to be headquartered in Florida.
“The United States and Florida are positioned as global leaders in commercial aerospace,” Sirois said to members of the House Local, Federal and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee. “With Florida’s spaceport infrastructure, deep-water seaports, and partnerships with NASA, the 45th Space Wing and the other three combatant commands located in Florida, we are the best choice for the headquarters of U.S. Space Command.”
President Trump signed Space Policy Directive-4 in February 2019. If approved, it would create a sixth branch of the armed forces. The “Space Force” would be a part of the Department of the Air Force, which oversees the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force itself also, at present, handles much of the U.S. military activities in space.
Space Policy Directive-4 will proceed forward until it is reviewed by Congress. If it is approved and moves forward to development, it would join the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command (based in Tampa) as well as U.S. Southern Command (based in Doral) and become the Sunshine State’s fourth military command.
Today’s announcement of House Memorial 1281 comes a day after House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., stated his direct opposition to the creation of a sixth branch of the U.S. military (according to a report by Sandra Erwin that appeared on Space News).
The announcement of the proposal to establish the “Space Force” comes at a time when the United States lacks the ability to launch anyone, anywhere. In fact, the U.S.’ only means of launching crew to orbit is via Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
Jason Rhian
Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.
> The announcement of the proposal to establish the “Space Force” comes at a time when the United States lacks the ability to launch anyone, anywhere.
That’s not strictly true. New Shepard is ready now and could perform a suborbital launch with a few weeks of preparations.
There are FAA/NASA requirements that must be met before people can fly on rockets. New Shepard hasn’t launched anyone yet. By your logic, Lockheed Martin and SpaceX can also launch crews (and a hell of a lot higher than poor ole suborbital NS). SpaceX had a Crew Dragon spacecraft at the space station for almost a week this month. You didn’t mention that. I’m guessing you’re either a BO shill or another ill-informed fanboy.
I personally think the Space Force is long overdue. My only problem with this article is in calling it “Trump’s ‘Space Force’”. This will be the ‘United States Space Force’ and belong to the American people.
Reuters, Bloomberg, CNET, Fortune & Space News have all called it Trump’s Space Force – https://spacenews.com/hasc-chairman-rejects-trumps-space-force-proposal-says-committee-will-seek-other-options/
If they all jumped off a cliff, would you blindly follow them?
I point out how this site isn’t the only one who used that phrase. I tell you larger orgs have said the same thing. You react by going full-out panties-in-a-twist. Do the gene pool a favor and jump off your hypothetical cliff Danny.
Good luck getting that away from Colorado. The 4-star, Gen Raymond, who is nominated to lead US Space Command and currently oversees the Air Force Space Command sits on Peterson AFB, add in Cheyenne Mountain, Shriever AFB, and Buckley AFB…Colorado is already the HQ of Space. Oh, and the Air Force Academy is in CO too, very likely the Space Force cadets will share that institution much like Navy/Marines share Annapolis
It only takes one to start to correct a wrong. After all, we don’t have ‘Truman’s Air Force’, do we?
Rudeness is not only unnecessary, it is not needed in a sane discussion.
Also, the only people to call me ‘Danny’ are a few close family and former classmates from the sixties. I’m pretty certain you are neither.
Good day.
“If they all jumped off a cliff, would you blindly follow them?” If you want a polite conversation, you probably should’ve led with that, instead of whining when you get a taste of your own snark. You can’t expect a blog to do something the big boys don’t. C’mon, you can do better.