The U.S. Space Force was established Dec. 20, 2019.
The newest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Space Force celebrates its birthday every Dec. 20.
The Founding of the U.S. Space Force
On Dec. 20, 2019, President Donald Trump signed the 2020 Defense Authorization Bill, establishing the U.S. Space Force as the first new branch of the U.S. Military since the establishment of the U.S. Air Force in 1947.
The Space Force has Cold War origins
The Space Force takes over a mission once charged to the U.S. Air Force.
Space emerged as a potential theater of war with the Soviet Union at the beginning of the Cold War. Satellite and missile control and defense were critical in maintaining an edge over Soviet forces, but when the Cold War ended, the need to operate in space remained. U.S. dominance in space gave advancing U.S. and Coalition forces a significant edge against the Iraqi Military during the Persian Gulf War.
As peer nations rose to power and terrorism developed into an ever-present threat at the turn of the century, the need for a dedicated Space Force gained traction in Congress and the Department of Defense. Nearly 70 years after the Air Force first started exploring the possibility of space serving as an avenue of warfare, the U.S. Space Force was officially chartered.
Legacy of the U.S. Space Force
As military, political, and commercial interest in space continues to grow, the potential for future conflicts in this new theater increases. The U.S. Space Force stands ready to protect America’s interests in space while assisting all other branches of the U.S. Military to carry out their respective missions.
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Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.