That could well save lives. Locating a lost crew member who gets blown out of an airlock could be nearly impossible without something to reflect light. This seems perfect.
4 Likes
It’s a great story. Imagine being the crewmember who accidentally pulled the lever that dropped that bomb [or, as he later recanted, was present when a defective lever was yanked by his safety wire.] Craziness.
3 Likes
At some level, the creation of space command was supposed to ameliorate some of the existing overlap. The Navy, and the intelligence services use a large number of satellites, and they were not a fan of the idea of creating a unified command and losing some control over those assets and possibly the funding to go with them. But Space Command is just not really big enough to be efficiently stood up as it’s own, separate service. Will it get its own uniforms and service academy? It’s own judge advocates, chaplain corps, set of administrative regulations? The smaller number of people and postings makes it more difficult to keep enough people posted to make up for retirements, illnesses etc.
Well since none of the people in “space force” are likely to go into space, “business casual” of khaki slacks and a logo polo shirt would probably be the best camouflage. But don’t tell that to the the Air Force fashionistas that spend their time designing new uniforms every couple of years.
3 Likes
At least until Jan 20, 2021 that should be “Take me to your lecher”
5 Likes
Patrick AFB - one of the finalists - is literally a few miles down the road from KSC. But too far from DisneyWorld.
2 Likes
How can there be 6 candidates for Space Command HQ when there are only 5 Lagrange points?
5 Likes
[Whoops. First attempt was cut off. Let’s try again.]
BTW, folks:
Space Command (SPACECOM) =/= Space Force
SPACECOM is a Unified Combatant Command (UCC). UCCs divide combat command (for all forces) into geographic regions, like SEACOM for Southeast Asia, CENTCOM for Central Europe, PACOM `for the Pacific, and so on.
SPACECOM (which has been with us since the '80s) is the UCC for outer space. It was originally part of the USAF; now it’s part of the Space Force
“Space Force”, OTOH, in the new re-org created by Trump, takes an assortment of different military space activities scattered across multiple forces (mostly, but not entirely USAF), and merges them into a single force separate from the Air Force.
Neither SPACECOM nor USSF have their own camo. Everybody just kept wearing what they had; only the name tapes were changed. Going forward, Space Force will equip new members with the same camo the USAF uses. (Which is NOT, you will note, blue skies with puffy clouds. Guess why?)
The creation of a centralized space force was discussed long before Trump arrived, but most people didn’t think it was necessary quite yet. Trump wanted the credit, so he went ahead and created it.
1 Like
Makes no sense. There is no air in space. /s
4 Likes
Well yes. Presumably USSF would be the lead service in SPACECOM. And it is unclear to me exactly what current units are going to be rolled up into USSF. This will be like the “Treaty of Key West” all over again. It is a reasonable bet that the satellite operations currently managed by SPACECOM will be part of the USSF but beyond that…I’m guessing the the USAF (and the Army) will argue strongly that anything that doesn’t get into orbit is not part of the USSF remit regardless of the altitude it reaches, so no ICBMs.
The USAF didn’t have it’s own uniforms or service academy to start, but it developed them over time. similarly, one would anticipate USSF developing it’s own insignia, things like cap devices and possibly rank insignia over time, even if, like the USMC they still use another service’s academy. Then there is all the administrivia of exactly who will promulgate what regulations for the USSF. Will there a USSF Reserve or National Guard? What about Reserve Technicians? (A weird civilian/military hybrid) None of the exists YET, but they are things that military services DO.
3 Likes
There won’t be any need of that. We’ll have ICE troopers at the ‘border’ (what is that, low earth orbit?) that will ask for their galactic passport. They won’t have it, so they’ll be turned away.
Seriously, there is no way for the foreseeable future that Musk’s Martians will be independent of earth whatsoever. Libertarian wet dream.
1 Like
The color of the uniform doesn’t matter as much as the wicked cool arm patch (designed by master designer Milton Glaser):
5 Likes
This topic was automatically closed after 5 days. New replies are no longer allowed.
