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TardisReality t1_j1k0wwx wrote

NASA could do SO MUCH more than whatever that Space Force subdivision of the military could...

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Million2026 t1_j1k4rk3 wrote

This is great news for space. Like it or not, the US will never increase NASAs budget too far above what it is now. But for military applications money is unlimited. So basically instead of the $20 billion the US government used to spend on space, it’s now spending $50 billion a year!

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TardisReality t1_j1k54et wrote

Yeah...saddens me that is the way it is. I cry when NASA loses a rover....when the military loses a plane...eh

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Corbulo2526 OP t1_j1k346q wrote

NASA and the Space Force do different things, just like NASA and the Air Force do different things.

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Joelmale t1_j1kxtg2 wrote

Yes but Space Force just does what the Air Force used to do except now they add in additional “staff” overhead. Really it just costs more to have a separate service do it. This needs a really good relook.

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Corbulo2526 OP t1_j1kxw6a wrote

You can say the exact same thing about the Army and Air Force having done the same thing. But you don’t see any serious arguments for trying to merge the Air Force back into the Army.

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Joelmale t1_j1kydmu wrote

You could except we don’t fight in space and have signed a treaty saying we won’t weaponize it. Space is a domain just as air is but air is a warfighting domain, I think we should be exploring/discovering space not conquering it. When we look at ways the US could spend on space I just don’t think the DoD is the best way to do it. ‘Merica and all that

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Corbulo2526 OP t1_j1kygwm wrote

>have signed a treaty saying we won’t weaponize it.

No such treaty has been signed by any major spacefaring country.

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Joelmale t1_j1kyto9 wrote

You are right it was an agreement to not place WMDs in space so an over simplification, and even at that not really binding. Countries will do what countries will do. Still doesn’t change my take… stupid way to spend money :D

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Kamakaziturtle t1_j1mxjvh wrote

This paragraph makes me think you don’t actually know what the space force does

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TardisReality t1_j1k3c68 wrote

Isn't Space Force just a branch of the Air Force anyway?

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Corbulo2526 OP t1_j1k3r92 wrote

No. Both the Air Force and Space Force coequal military branches under the larger civilian-led Department of the Air Force.

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TardisReality t1_j1k46zt wrote

Seems redundant and just bloats an already useless military budget. Like air force...would already deal with the space above

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Corbulo2526 OP t1_j1k4c0v wrote

Much like the Army already dealt with air before 1947. Yet we have an Air Force today.

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notataco007 t1_j1kibeg wrote

You in 1947: "air force? How redundant. Just keep it the US Army Air Corps"

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Tommyblockhead20 t1_j1kif1j wrote

Question: do you have a smartphone? If so, have you ever used a feature that uses location, like maps, local weather, or photo locations? Guess what organization is in charge of that location data getting to your phone?

It’s not NASA. It’s the one you just called useless. The space force specifically. That’s just one example of the things the military does that benefits you. We can certainly debate exactly how much the military and NASA should be getting, but it’s just wrong to say the military budget I completely useless.

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Kamakaziturtle t1_j1mxcm6 wrote

Other way around. Having all military branches in a single organization would be a nightmare and inefficient to properly manage. Splitting groups off when they get big enough aids in organization and makes sense both from a management and financial level

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Kamakaziturtle t1_j1mx0d8 wrote

No they couldn’t, they do very different things.

The space force has effectively existed for decades now under the air force, operating our military satellites, gps, as well as identifying potential threats. NASA doesn’t do all that, they are more about space research and travel.

All that happened is the groups working on this got big enough to warrant them getting their own branch.

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