Proposed US space force will open Pandora's box

Exactly as he anticipated, the United States commander-in-chief made a "big, breaking story" last Monday as he ordered the Pentagon to establish a "space force" as the sixth branch of his country's military. About which he had previously been "not really serious".

Now it seems he is deadly serious - literally - that, a "space force""separate but equal" to the US Air Force, should be established. He just needs to get the US Congress to amend Title 10 of the United States Code to create a brand-new military service. And convince congressional critics that an independent "space force" is a necessity for national security and worth the potentially astronomical input it would entail.

The US House of Representatives passed legislation last July authorizing establishment of a "space corps" within the US Air Force. The idea of a "separate" "space force" invites doubts because few view it as a national security imperative or believe it is advisable.