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April 6, 2020
Defense Primer: The United States Space Force
On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force
infrastructure support for the Space Force. Some of these
(USSF) became the sixth branch of the Armed Forces. The
support functions include logistics, base operating support,
Space Force was established within the Department of the
civilian personnel management, IT support, and financial
Air Force (DAF) with the enactment of the FY2020
management.
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The
Secretary of the Air Force is responsible for organizing,
Space Force Stand-Up
training, and equipping the Space Force and the United
The FY2020 NDAA redesignated Air Force Space
States Air Force (USAF), two separate and distinct military
Command (AFSPC), located at Peterson Air Force Base,
uniformed services (see Figure 1). The Chief of Space
CO, as the U.S. Space Force. Subsequently, an estimated
Operations (CSO), a four-star general, serves as the
16,000 military and civilian personnel assigned to the
principal uniformed advisor for all space activities to the
former AFSPC were reassigned to the Space Force. The Air
Secretary of the Air Force.
Force personnel who were reassigned to the Space Force
and are in space-related positions are to transfer into the
Figure 1. Space Force Within DOD and DAF
new service and become Space Force service members over
the next 18 months. DOD’s future plans include
consolidating all of the space missions currently residing
across all the Armed Forces and placing them within the
Space Force.
Mission
According to DOD, the Space Force will be lean, agile, and
mission-focused in order to remove the traditional layers of
bureaucracy. The Space Force mission is focused on space
doctrine, training, and warfighting capability. Some of the
Space Force missions include Space Superiority; Space
Domain Awareness (military, civil, and commercial);
Offense and Defensive Space Control; Command and
Control of Space Forces & Satellite Operations; Space
Support Nuclear Command, Control, Communications; and
Missile Warning/Defense Operations.
Space Force Core Organic (SFCO)
Framework
Source: Comprehensive Plan on the Organizational Structure of
The Space Force is responsible for developing military
USSF (Department of the Air Force, report to congressional
space professionals, acquiring military space systems,
committees).
developing a mature military doctrine for space power, and
organizing space forces operationally for the Combatant
Overview
Commands. To accomplish this, the Space Force created a
The FY2020 NDAA assigned the Space Force the
Space Force Core Organic (SFCO) framework and aims to
following duties: (1) protect the interests of the United
establish field units to execute space-unique functions (see
States in space; (2) deter aggression in, from, and to space;
Table 1). The SFCO comprises a set of career specialties
and (3) conduct space operations. The Space Force mission
organic to the Space Force, with career tracks that include
is to “organize, train, and equip military space forces of the
space-specific operations, intelligence, engineering,
United States to provide: freedom of operation in, from, and
acquisition, science, and cyber/communications.
to the space domain; and prompt and sustained space
Table 1. Field Units of the SFCO
operations.” This includes both combat and space-focused
combat support functions intended to enable the United
Personnel Center
Professional Military
States to promptly conduct offensive and defensive space
Intelligence Center
Education (PME) Center
operations to protect U.S. and allied interests in all war-
Test Center
fighting domains.
Doctrine Center
Warfare Center
Except for functions unique to the space domain, in order to
Source: Comprehensive Plan on the Organizational Structure of
reduce cost and avoid duplication, the Air Force is to
USSF (Department of the Air Force, report to congressional
provide approximately 80% of the foundational and
committees).
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 Defense Primer: The United States Space Force
FY2021—Initial Budget
The Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Projects
To provide space warfighting capabilities, the Space Force
would provide SATCOM in three capability areas:
requested total personnel end strength for FY2021 of 9,979
strategic aims to provide Nuclear Command, Control,
people:
and Communications (NC3); protected is to enable
tactical communications in a contested environment;
6,434 military end strength in the active Space Force,
and wideband/narrowband is to provide large amounts
and
of throughput in a less contested environment.
3,545 in civilian full-time equivalents.
Congressional Reports
The Space Force budget includes resources to build and
The FY2020 NDAA directed the Secretary of the Air Force
staff its headquarters and field centers. The estimated
and the Secretary of Defense to provide various reports and
personnel level within the headquarters and field centers is
briefings to the congressional defense committees on the
approximately 553 in FY2021, with an estimated end
establishment of the U.S. Space Force. The first report,
strength of 1,800 by FY2025. The four major investment
Comprehensive Plan for the Organizational Structure of the
areas identified in the defense budget request for space-
U.S. Space Force, delivered to Congress in February 2020,
based systems are shown in Table 2.
provided a status update on implementation of the Space
Force. As DOD and DAF continue to refine planning
Table 2. FY2021 Space-Based Systems ($15.5 Billion)
efforts, updates are to be provided accordingly. The next
Type
FY2021
major milestone outlining the Space Force organizational
design is estimated to be complete and presented to
Technology Development
$8.9
Congress by May 1, 2020.
Satellites
$4.1
Relevant Laws
Support
$1.4
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L.
Launch
$1.1
116-92)
Total
$15.5
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 803 – Department of the Air
Force
Source: Program Acquisition Cost By Weapon System (Department of
Defense Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request).
Major Space Acquisition Programs
CRS Products
The FY2021 budget request for space-based systems
CRS In Focus IF10547, Defense Primer: The United States Air
includes funding for the development and procurement of
Force, by Jeremiah Gertler
space-based spacecraft, launch vehicles, space command
and control systems, and terrestrial satellite terminals and
CRS In Focus IF11326, Military Space Reform: FY2020 NDAA
equipment. It also includes Space Force startup costs. The
Legislative Proposals, by Stephen M. McCall
major acquisition programs include the following:
CRS In Focus IF11244, FY2020 National Security Space Budget
Request: An Overview, by Stephen M. McCall and Brendan W.
The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program
McGarry
would provide launch services for the Space Force, Air
Force, Navy, the National Reconnaissance Office
CRS In Focus IF11172, “Space Force” and Related DOD
(NRO), Space Development Agency (SDA), and many
Proposals: Issues for Congress, by Kathleen J. McInnis and
other government agencies. DOD is currently
Stephen M. McCall
developing two or more commercially viable space
launch providers intended to meet U.S. NSSL
requirements.
Other Resources
The Global Positioning System III and Projects
would provide 24-hour-a-day, worldwide coverage,
USAF. Comprehensive Plan for the Organizational Structure of the
including positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) for
U.S. Space Force, February, 2020.
military and civilian users. The mission of the GPS III is
to provide PNT coverage to all users around the globe.
The Space Based Overhead Persistent Infrared
(OPIR) Systems would aim to provide the initial
Stephen M. McCall, Analyst in Military Space, Missile
warning of ballistic missile attacks against the United
Defense, and Defense Innovation
States homeland, as well as deployed, and allied forces.
IF11495
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Defense Primer: The United States Space Force
Disclaimer
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