Morning Ed: Space {2018.06.19.T}

Kolohe says:

hey, can we clear something up about the Space Force?

Trump has issued three Space orders so far
– Space Policy Directive 1, which says Obama’s space policy is continued, except instead of a vague statement on ‘far-reaching exploration milestones’, it replaces it with a vague statement on getting humans to the Moon, Mars, and beyond (and back) with no timetable nor additional personnel or resources.
– Space Policy Directive 2 orders a re-consideration of all the current regulations on commercial spaceflight. (which is a worthwhile effort)
– Space Policy Directive 3, the one from yesterday, which deals with managing and limiting space junk. (again, almost certainly a worthwhile effort)

Trump has never written anything down regarding his Space Force. The current effective National Defense Authorization Act has the “Space Force” as just another command under the Air Force.

Ҥ 2279c. Air Force Space Command

“(a) Commander.— (1) The head of the Air Force Space Command shall be the Commander of the Air Force Space Command, who shall be appointed in accordance with section 601 of this title. The officer serving as Commander, while so serving, has the grade of general without vacating the permanent grade of the officer.
[parts omitted]
“(b) Authorities.—In addition to the authorities and responsibilities assigned to the Commander before the date of the enactment of this section, the Commander has the sole authority with respect to each of the following:

“(1) Organizing, training, and equipping personnel and operations of the space forces of the Air Force.

“(2) Subject to the direction of the Secretary of the Air Force, serving as the service acquisition executive under section 1704 of this title for defense space acquisitions.

“(3) In consultation with the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense, procurement of commercial satellite communications services for the Department of Defense for such services entered into on or after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this section.”.
[parts omitted]
“2279c. Air Force Space Command.”.
(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in subsection (b)(1) of section 2279c of title 10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), may be construed to prohibit or otherwise affect the authority of the Secretary of the Air Force to provide to the space forces of the Air Force the services of the Department of the Air Force relating to basic personnel functions, the United States Air Force Academy, recruitment, and basic training.

That last part? Codifies that the Space Force is *not* separate from the Air Force.

The 2019 NDAA presently in the legislative churn has no mention of a Space Force. (though sect 1602 does order “Not later than March 29, 2019, the Secretary of Defense shall develop a space warfighting policy.”Report