AHC: United States Space Force

[Mysterion]

Challenge: with a POD at any point after the end of WW2, the US establishes a seperate military branch to deal with outer space. IIRC, during the late 40s and into the 50s the Army, Navy and Air Force all had their hands in seperate and often conflicting programs, slowing things down a bit.

Feel free to erase NASa from history if you feel it is necessary.

 

[oshron]

well for one thing, i've personally imagined that space forces would be organized like a navy but named like an air force. for example, Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force being the highest enlisted rank as opposed to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Space Force (sorry, John-117 )

 

[Michel Van]

around 1957 was a fight between the US forces to launch the First Satellite into Orbit
in end came the Sputnik shock hit the USA while the US Navy satellite went on live television KABOOM
This is perfect opportunity for reform of US space policy to United States Space Force

but not under President Eisenhower, who preferred a civilian program under NACA, what became NASA later.

so what is task for the United States Space Force ?
certainly the control of the ICBM and launch of Spy Satellites including manned ones like DynaSoar or MOL

or include this also this missions ?

 

[Chipperback]

A question would there be a Civilian Space Agency and a Military Space Agency, would the US Space Force handle both roles?

 

[Michel Van]

A question would there be a Civilian Space Agency and a Military Space Agency, would the US Space Force handle both roles?

like exploring ?
acutely USAF made this with Explore probe to moon, while US Army send scientific probes in low orbit.
But they used "civilian" programs as excuse like Discovery series official scientific probes were really first generation spy sat.
and there Manned Orbiting Laboratory had to fly, next to scientific experiments, a very large camera Telescope facing down to USSR and China...

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

The Soviets split their Strategic missile operation into its own seperate organization.

I could see a USSF being entirely earthbound, being in charge of missile silos and Cheyenne Mountain.