2021 Top Ten: Space Force

Here are some of the top Space Force stories from 2021:

Should Killing a Satellite Provoke War on Earth? // Jacqueline Feldscher: A Space Force official says the service is considering how to respond to attacks in orbit.

China’s Space Program Is More Military Than You Might Think  // Taylor A. Lee, Peter W. Singer: Proposals for U.S.-Chinese cooperation must proceed carefully.

Pentagon Scrambles to Defend ‘Juicy Targets’ After Rivals’ Space Tests // Tara Copp: U.S. Space Force is taking Russia’s destruction of its own satellite as a warning.

The Military is Preparing for a ‘Space Superhighway,’ Complete with Pit Stops // Tara Copp: Those hubs would do more than refuel spaceships; they are seen as key to staying ahead of China.

Space Force’s First Battle Is With the US Army // Tara Copp: The newest force is relying on Army and Navy transfers to grow. But giving up missions is not in the military’s DNA.

Space Force Aims to Take on an Air Force Surveillance Mission // Tara Copp: Ground Moving Target Indicator satellites would begin to replace decades-old aircraft as the newest service expands its mission set.

Nobody Wants Rules in Space // Patrick Tucker: As space becomes more crowded, there’s little hope for new international rules to make it safer.

Space Force Has a Plan for Training Its Troops. Now It Must Figure Out What They Need to Learn // Patrick Tucker: The newest service can’t train the same way its sisters do. It needs a new simulated environment.

US Space Force Seeks 2,020 Civilian Acquisition Staff in 2022 // Tara Copp: $17.4 billion request includes two GPS satellites, five launch vehicles.

Can Rockets Deliver Supplies to War Zones? Space Force, Air Force Aim to Find Out // Tara Copp: A research lab will see whether reusable boosters can deliver up to a C-17s’ worth of cargo to terrestrial destinations.