Like cyberspace, space remains a critical enabler of America’s military power. Whether for navigating Navy destroyers through narrow straits, or guiding smart bombs to their targets, the military relies heavily on a strong presence in space. For this reason, potential adversaries, according to Secretary Gates, are investing “in weapons geared to neutralize our advantages.” This is true of China’s military modernization, which the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs has said is “very much focused” on the United States military.
A central effort to overcoming America’s vulnerabilities in space is an Air Force program known as Operationally Responsive Space (ORS). ORS seeks to transform the archaic way America builds satellites today through the use of miniaturized, mission-focused satellites that can be launched on demand and used to construct large constellations that are more difficult for adversaries to target.
During the House Armed Services Committee mark-up last week, an additional $23 million was added to the ORS budget, bringing total funding for the program to $132 million. Although this figure is still short of the $197 million that was budgeted for ORS this year, it is a positive sign that Congress recognizes the role ORS has to play. In an environment of increased budget pressures, ORS offers a promising path forward on space that can be both strategically beneficial and cost-effective. When the Senate marks-up its Defense Authorization bill this week, it should look to provide the entirety of the Air Force’s $103.4 million unfunded requirement for ORS.
I think it is vitally important that we not only fun space programs like the ORS, but also like the one taking place to the moon right now. It all plays into new technologies etc., that we will need and use in the future. Plus, being raised a 'space kid' myself, I think it is cool that we're going back to the moon and other places to learn more!!!
Um, funding for space "military defense" applications I can support. NASA and the GLOBAL WARMING LIE, I oppose.
Finnish what you start!by NO-Brainer!
No brainer! Everything spent on the ,"Space Program" is spent in this Country and creates jobs in this Country, and taxes are paid in this Country! We might as well dominate Space because with Obama and his ilk in Wshington we sure are not dominating America!
Hozro
Yes we need this and we need the other 14 missiles that we have paid for the silos and will pay 75 million to cancel.The government is to protect us and with Obama that is lacking.
I beleive that funding for the space program is vital and crucial for us as americans, think about it everyone else, like japan, china, etc. has high intelect and technology, so we need to invest in our space program, maybe not as much as we are for human space flight but we most defantly need our space program. AND for OBAMA he's just trying to fix what BUSH screwed up. So give the man a brake. It takes time to fix anything and he has a nation to bring together, so with faith and due time, let the man do his job, he could probally use a little support.