Expect a major ping-pong match between advocates of the national Space Force" and those who oppose the idea as premature divisive and not fully thought out. But what is happening beneath that debate? The answer will surprise some observers more than meets the eye. Time for Congress to be proactive apply wisdom and common sense to space policy.
First the White House continues to entertain creative ideas on space exploration new technologies and ways to create both cooperative and comparative advantage options in space.
Second over at State the Secretary is seeking to scroll back and eventually eliminate the North Korean long range missile threat gain leverage over Iran and monitor as others are the space-related advances of China and Russia.
Third beyond reinforcing the foregoing objectives Defense is obviously redoubling efforts at ballistic missile defense parallel threat monitoring and strategic advantages that may protect Americans directly and through predictability and deterrence.
But what else could be done and what could Congress do that might reinforce the protection of American prerogatives in space. Obviously proper funding for NASA Air Force and other space-centric missions is important and must never be neglected even for a minute. But maybe there is more?
Yes other steps forward seem obvious but are seldom openly talked about in enough depth. Among these are simple moves like protecting Americas young and dynamic space launch industry. The companies in this sector are notable for their can-do attitude innovation and delivering beyond expectation.
They continue to stretch capacities managing to get payloads cost-effectively to every conceivable orbit moving more quickly than traditional options delivering with reliability often reduced risk and breathtakingly lower cost. If all this is good what can be missing?
One thing missing is congressional support for launching Americas most precious assets national security satellites complex civilian satellites exclusively from American launch facilities. The sooner we realize the importance of this element and insist it the more secure and economically viable the American space launch sector becomes.
What else? The ping-pong game of whether how and when to stand up a Space Force" as well as what budget to provide how to manage potentially splitting the US Air Force and whether to put older industry players and ideas on waivers so we can field a more robust US Aerospace Force" will continue.
Below that level important security options do present themselves to Congress. One is more vigorously supporting entrepreneurial American space launch companies. Yes we must always consider the inputs of time-proven sources such as the Air Force Association and others but whatever the score on Space Force" the time is now to get behind small American companies and keep space launch on US soil. That shows wisdom and common sense. Lets apply both.
John Cody Mosbey is a retired Air Force colonel and current university instructor. He is a former Executive Director of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security of the Naval Postgraduate School and writes often on Russian geopolitics.
