Keith’s note: If only NASA could utilize the same recruitment tools as effectively as Space Force i.e. “Some people look to the stars and ask “what if?”. Our job is to have an answer. … Maybe your purpose on this planet – isn’t on this planet”. The Space Force folks clearly ‘get’ the Star Trek / Star Wars vibe. NASA sometimes gets close to embracing that vide (see above) but then NASA always seems to hold back when they could run with the meme. Why?

Keith’s note: The DNI has posted a NCSC/FBI/USAF Bulletin titled “Safeguarding The U.S. Space Industry” which opens by saying: “According to US financial sector estimates, the global space economy is projected to grow from $469 billion in 2021 to more than $1 trillion by 2030. The United States is the main driver of this growth through its role as a global leader in space investment, research, innovation, and production. Space is fundamental to every aspect of our society, including emergency services, energy, financial services, telecommunications, transportation, and food and agriculture. All rely on space services to operate. Foreign intelligence entities (FIEs) recognize the importance of the commercial space industry to the US economy and national security, including the growing dependence of critical infrastructure on space-based assets. They see US space-related innovation and assets as potential threats as well as valuable opportunities to acquire vital technologies and expertise. FIEs use cyberattacks, strategic investment (including joint ventures and acquisitions), the targeting of key supply chain nodes, and other techniques to gain access to the US space industry.” More

Keith’s note: NASA, DoD, USAF, and Space Force have decided that there’s a “New Space Race” between the U.S. and China. Yes, there’s competition for influence and dominance in space between America and China. But to characterize things as bipolar without considering the true multipolarity of space – all the other spacefaring countries and companies with budgets that exceed many nation’s budgets – is simplistic. Yes, there’s overt competition. There’s also overt collaboration and cooperation. Here’s the report.

——–

Letter From Congress To USAF Secretary Over Moving U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) From Colorado To Alabama “We write to request that you conduct an urgent and thorough review of the Trump Administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama. This move undermines our ability to respond to the threats in space and is disruptive to the current mission. Additionally, significant evidence exists that […]

Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, DNI “The UAP documented in this limited dataset demonstrate an array of aerial behaviors, reinforcing the possibility there are multiple types of UAP requiring different explanations. Our analysis of the data supports the construct that if and when individual UAP incidents are resolved they will fall into one of five potential explanatory categories: airborne clutter, natural atmospheric phenomena, USG or industry developmental programs, foreign adversary […]

GAO: Weapon Systems Annual Assessment Updated Program Oversight Approach Needed – Excerpt: National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Keith’s note: The ULA Vulcan program has contracted with Blue Origin to provide its BE-4 rocket engine. This BE-4 engine is not referred to by name in this report, but it is what is referred to in this report. “A U.S. produced rocket engine under development for ULA’s Vulcan launch vehicle is experiencing […]

Keith’s note: Really? NASA Wallops PAO is giving “exclusive on-pad access” to a launch pad with a classified mission sitting on it and only one media outlet gets this “exclusive on-pad access”? And they are bragging about it? And that’s OK with NASA PAO? The last time I asked NASA HQ PAO about this they told me emphatically that they do not give “exclusives”. WTKR News 3 is not exactly […]

Asked if @POTUS plans to keep/modify @SpaceForceDoD "Wow. #SpaceForce. Its the plane of today! It is an interesting question. I'm happy to check with our Space Force point of contact. I'm not sure who that is but I will find out and see if we have any update on that." Tick tock. https://t.co/seI1UG8Ok7 — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) February 3, 2021 We look forward to the continuing work of Space Force […]

Letter From Colorado Congressional Delegation To President Biden Regarding Relocation Of The U.S. Space Command “We write to request you conduct a thorough review of the Trump Administration’s last-minute decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama and suspend any actions to relocate the headquarters until you complete the review. This move undermines our ability to respond to the threats in space and is disruptive […]

SecAF selects Huntsville, Alabama, as preferred location to host USSPACECOM, US Space Command “The Secretary of the Air Force, on behalf of the Office of Secretary of Defense, selected Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama, as the preferred location for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters. … Albuquerque, New Mexico; Bellevue, Nebraska; Cape Canaveral, Florida; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and San Antonio, Texas, will remain reasonable alternative locations for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters.” […]

Could 2020 be any stranger? The (supposedly) civilian International Space Station is rented out by @NASA to the U.S. #SpaceForce to endorse military activities while one ISS partner (Russia) is simultaneously mounting a massive cyberattack on another ISS partner – the U.S. pic.twitter.com/3RyGlYrRhk — NASA Watch (@NASAWatch) December 18, 2020

The sky is not the limit … #SemperSupra!pic.twitter.com/HKlBiAJLBB — Gen. Jay Raymond (@SpaceForceCSO) October 30, 2020 Keith’s note: This is a nicely done video. One small problem: most of it shows military people from the Space Force doing the things that NASA is supposed to be doing – like going to the Moon and Mars – in SLS/Orion hardware. They also a space station-derived interplanetary vehicle with a large centrifuge […]

Tune in as 1,000 #FutureSoldiers across the nation launch their careers in the @USArmy and take their oath of enlistment from the @space_station with Col. @AstroDrewMorgan. https://t.co/rgjF7FiVCq — U.S. Army (@USArmy) February 26, 2020 NASA’s Crew-1 commander to be sworn into U.S. Space Force from the International Space Station, Space News “NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins, a U.S. Air Force colonel and the commander of the upcoming SpaceX Crew Dragon mission, […]

Space Force considers merging Cape Canaveral with Kennedy Space Center, Ars Technica “Would NASA be willing to listen as well? The space agency administrator, Jim Bridenstine, said yes. “I’m glad to see big ideas being proposed such as a potential merger,” he told Ars. “This, and other ambitious concepts for the future should all be given due consideration. However, such a proposed merger would require a great deal of work […]

SPACE FORCE. VOTE! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2020

Space Force Will Eventually Put Troops in Orbit, Ops Boss Says, Air Force Magazine “Military troops in the Space Force will someday deploy to orbit, one of the service’s top operations officials said Sept. 29. “At some point, yes, we will be putting humans into space,” Maj. Gen. John E. Shaw, head of the Space Force’s Space Operations Command and part of U.S. Space Command leadership, said during a conference […]

NASA Administrator to Discuss Collaboration with US Space Force, NASA “NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine will participate in a virtual discussion on the agency’s collaboration with the United States Space Force at 9:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 22. This Space Power Forum event will stream live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, will join Bridenstine in this […]

The Space Force’s relevance to the green agenda, The Hill “But the service is also doing more in this domain. The USSF, for instance, is taking the lead on what will become the ultimate green energy technology: space-based solar power. Ignored for decades by both NASA and the Department of Energy, space-based solar power is unique as a renewable energy source because it is far more efficient than its terrestrial […]

I’m looking forward to my upcoming virtual discussion with @SpaceForceCSO hosted by @mitchellstudies. On Tuesday at 9:30am ET, watch NASA TV to hear more about areas of collaboration between @NASA & @SpaceForceDoD. More info: https://t.co/u9kO2NVTJe — Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) September 17, 2020 Bridenstine is talking about Eisenhower wanting to separate civil space (NASA) from the military, enabling NASA to become part of U.S. soft power in DIME theory of national […]