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On September 20th, the US Space Force conducted its very first deployment outside US soil – and it’s not on the desert planet of Tatooine (from Star Wars), but rather to Qatar, in the Persian Gulf.
The squadron of 20 servicemen arrived at the Al-Udeid Airbase, located in a desert southwest the Qatari capital Doha, in late August, according to their commander, Colonel Todd Benson.
All of them were former air force personnel turned space force personnel.
#ICYMI, deployed Airmen transitioned to the USSF ranks on September 1, 2020, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. pic.twitter.com/riMxKdGKx6
— United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) September 20, 2020
Just days earlier on September 14th, there was a transition ceremony in which a new batch of Space Force personnel entered the ranks.
During a September 14 transition ceremony in Colorado, the USSF gained several more Space Professionals. @PeteAFB pic.twitter.com/fYz7qFTiuZ
— United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) September 21, 2020
Just two weeks earlier, Air Force personnel joined the ranks of the Space Force.
Welcome to the team. https://t.co/5VVSS2Y1mv
— United States Space Force (@SpaceForceDoD) September 19, 2020
The Qatar-based unit will be tasked with running satellites, monitoring enemy forces and preventing conflicts in space, Benson pointed out, adding that more airmen will be later joining the “core space operators.”
The deployment is likely linked to Washington’s escalating squabble with Iran. Hopefully, Tehran isn’t building a Death Star.
Iran successfully launched a small military satellite earlier in 2020. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps praised it as its first ever successful space launch. It was much too small to feature any large-scale laser weapons, however, so the planet is also likely safe.
“We’re starting to see other nations that are extremely aggressive in preparing to extend conflict into space,” Benson told AP, without naming any specific countries. “We have to be able to compete and defend and protect all of our national interests.”
The Space Force was officially established by an act of Congress in December 2019, following a Trump initiative aiming to ensure US freedom of operation in space and deterring possible aggression.
It is the least-funded branch of military, with only $15.4 billion in 2021.
The creation of the space for was criticized by Russia and China, who insisted that outer space shouldn’t become a military theater and ought to be used solely for peaceful purposes.
But the Space Force was created specifically because, according to the United Stated, Russia and China were militarizing space, and that space needed some policing and “rules-based order.”
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But the Space Force was created specifically because, according to the United Stated, Russia and China were militarizing space, and that space needed some policing and “rules-based order.”
“Rules-based order” LOL
“Rules-based order” Rule No. 1) USA are the boss! Rule No. 2) USA are the boss! Rule No. 3) USA are the boss! Rule No. 4) Repeat first 3 rules all the time !
Though they always called themselves number two nuclear power.
Who did ? Russia & China? Russsia is number two to nobody since they have more warheads than US and their missiles are almost all new or much more modern and all up to date upgraded. While US missiles the newest has 30+ years and others are even much older. Russia is second to no one when it comes to nukes. Specially not to China who has only 320 warheads officially.
USA call themselves nr2 nuclear power.
Can’t, believe this, seriously?!! That is soo un-American!
Itsseemes ignored by others too. That of course dont make this better:(
No other nation was preparing to “militarize” space, but now that USA has pioneered it, certainly others will be increasingly interested in fu#king up US detection/GPS satellites.
Working on anti-satellite weapons, was worked on both sides already in Soviet times. I am 100% sure that by now both Russia and China have some anti-satellite weapons in orbit. So does US as well.
Well Russians has too.
…We will see if the new Abrams will be the next car on mars or the moon:)
I’d love to see them try. It’ll hasten their demise.
Me too.
I have an old Volvo car joke.
If volvo put all the safety gear they have made to their cars it can only be used as tranporters if it is on a train.
Yes because it’s obscenely heavy and it’s only good as a paperweight. In the lighter gravity it will do just fine.
Inner space is defined as the first 100km to the Karman line. Outer space is the thermosphere which has a range temperature from 500C where satelites are going, to the upper layers of 2000C, plus the Van Allen radiation Belt penetrates the thermosphere sometimes down to satelites and destroy their sensors. The Van Allen radiation can penetrate 100mm lead. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/74423b104a35cbb1e9876cff95ca4af02254f5dc5124e911e315f171edcc793d.jpg How these public funding suckers in MIC are going to fight a Space war in 2000C and a bombardment of heavy radiation are yet to be seen.
they get their ideas from space sci fi movies hahahahahaha
A lot of sciencefiction comes through.
I would say the relevance is where the things for us are located. Thats where the satelites for all communications are and fx spacelabs.
I am not that old but I do remember a lot of things which was seen as impossible is now.
Yay. American space cadets, we have plenty of them here.