Mattis: U.S. Needs Space Force to Counter Russia, China

August 15, 2018 — Voice of America News reports: “A U.S. Space Force is necessary to protect American satellites from being targeted by attack weapons in the hands of China and Russia, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday.

Mattis’ comments came days after Vice President Mike Pence announced ambitious plans to create a sixth, separate U.S. military war-fighting service by 2020 to ensure American dominance in space…

He recalled China’s use of a ground-based missile to destroy one of its own nonfunctional weather satellites in January 2007, which he suggested was a calculated demonstration to the United States of Chinese capabilities…”  (“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” – Luke 21:25 – 27. See the next three reports.)

Mattis supports creation of command dedicated to space

August 8, 2018 — SpaceDaily.com reports: “US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday he ‘absolutely’ agrees the Pentagon should create a new command dedicated to space, but he stopped short of fully endorsing President Donald Trump’s order to create a whole new Space Force.

Trump in June ordered the creation of Space Force, which he said would become the sixth branch of the US military, arguing the Pentagon needs a dedicated service to tackle vulnerabilities in space and assert US dominance in orbit.

The Pentagon is expected this week to present Congress with proposals for how it will carry out Trump’s order…”

Growing U.S. unease with China’s new deep space facility in Argentina

August 1, 2018 — SpaceDaily.com reports: “China is expanding its presence in Latin America filling the gap left by the US, Argentinian foreign studies analyst Gustavo Cardozo told Sputnik. Besides solidifying its positions on the continent, China is seeking to become a major space power, according to the analyst.

China’s space base in Argentina’s Patagonia is making Washington feel unease amid Beijing’s consistent expansion in Latin America, once considered the US’ backyard.

‘The isolated base is one of the most striking symbols of Beijing’s long push to transform Latin America and shape its future for generations to come – often in ways that directly undermine the United States’ political, economic and strategic power in the region,’ remarked Ernesto Londono, an editorial writer for The New York Times…”

U.S. mulls missile defense interceptors in space

August 10, 2018 — SpaceDaily.com reports: “The US has unveiled plans for a space-based missile defense network less than a month after the July 16 US-Russia summit in Helsinki, where President Vladimir Putin presented his American counterpart Donald Trump with a series of concrete initiatives on disarmament, nuclear arms control and a proposed ban on weapons in space.

US military strategists believe that a space-based sensor layer’s vantage point high above Earth would ensure persistent tracking of hostile missiles, a capability that by far exceeds that of ground-based sensors.

The Pentagon and Congress are pushing for a possible deployment of missile defense interceptors in space, Defense News reported, citing the Missile Defense Agency’s director, Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves…”