President Donald Trump is taking the U.S. Armed Forces to the final frontier, directing the Department of Defense to establish a new branch called the Space Force. Secretary of Defense James Mattis says, “We are not weaponizing space,” adding that the Trump administration is “dealing with space as it’s developing.”
But Trump is envisioning big developments ahead. He told the National Space Council this week that the first step is another trip to the moon. “This time, we will do more than plant our flag and leave our footprints," the president said. "We will establish a long-term presence, expand our economy, and build the foundation for the eventual mission to Mars — which is actually going to happen very quickly.”
So, will the Space Force be with us? Jim Braude was joined by veteran space reporter, Sky and Telescope’s Kelly Beatty.
