'Space Force' Revived by Trump's Election... Will Musk Go to Mars? [AK Radio]

Trump, Who Established the Space Force in 2019
Preparation for the Creation of the 'Space Defense Force' Expected to Proceed
Policy Benefits Anticipated with Musk's Appointment

With former U.S. President Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election, expectations for the revitalization of the space industry are rising. In particular, as Trump plans to establish a Space Defense Force and companies like Elon Musk's SpaceX and Tesla emerge as the biggest beneficiaries, the global space industry is expected to enter a new phase.

Trump officially launched the Space Force Command in December 2019. At the time, he stated, "The establishment of the Space Force Command is one of my proudest achievements," and added, "It is time to create a Space Defense Force as a key combat reserve for the U.S. Space Force." He also pledged to sign legislation to establish the Space Defense Force if re-elected. If this promise materializes, the U.S. space military power is expected to take a significant leap forward.

The idea of establishing a Space Defense Force dates back to the Reagan administration in the 1980s. This was when the concept of network warfare linking satellites and ground stations was first introduced. The U.S. Department of Defense adopted the internet, and concepts emerged involving connecting reconnaissance satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to shoot down enemy reconnaissance satellites outside the atmosphere or detonate nuclear weapons to generate electromagnetic pulses (EMP) on the ground.

On the 11th (local time), SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is launching at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. Photo by UPI and Yonhap News.

Recently, concerns have grown that the U.S. satellite communication network could be threatened as Russia and China have developed and deployed anti-satellite missiles. Russia has conducted test launches of anti-satellite missiles, during which the International Space Station was damaged in an accident. This incident directly contributed to the establishment of the Space Force.

Industry experts expect the Space Defense Force to build a multi-layered defense system similar to Israel's 'Iron Dome' to protect U.S. territory from ICBMs launched by Russia, China, and North Korea. Especially among U.S. conservatives, there are calls to strengthen homeland defense in preparation for a potential Third World War, declaring that a new Cold War era has begun.

However, considering the vast territory of the United States, concerns about astronomical costs have also been raised. It is pointed out that building a dense missile defense network in a continental-sized country, unlike Israel's small territory, is practically difficult. Additionally, since the U.S. has already established maritime defense strategies through Aegis destroyers, questions about the efficiency of additional investment costs have been raised.

The company expected to benefit the most from Trump's re-election is SpaceX, led by Elon Musk. SpaceX already exclusively supplies rockets for major NASA space projects and is closely cooperating with the U.S. military, even entering the reconnaissance satellite sector. In particular, SpaceX's Starlink satellite communication network proved its effectiveness during the Ukraine war, earning gratitude from President Zelensky.

Tesla is also expected to benefit. Although Tesla has recently been under investigation by the U.S. government over safety issues related to its autonomous driving mode, regulatory easing is anticipated following the Trump administration's inauguration. Especially with the possibility of Musk joining the government regulatory committee as its head, Tesla's stock price has shown strength.

On the 5th of last month (local time), Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, participated in a campaign event for former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania and gave a speech. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.

Since joining the Trump camp, Musk has strongly opposed the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) safety regulations on SpaceX, interpreting them as political checks. The FAA restricted launches, citing that debris from the landing of SpaceX's Falcon rockets could damage residential areas, but the industry viewed this as excessive regulation by the Biden administration.

Musk is expected to take on a role in streamlining overlapping government projects and eliminating unnecessary regulations. This is anticipated to have a positive impact on his space development projects. In particular, Musk's Mars exploration project is expected to receive full government support.

However, experts assess that the possibility of realizing a space force that engages in direct combat in space, as depicted in science fiction movies, is low. As of 1982, the cost to build a single space shuttle was $6.2 billion (approximately 8 trillion KRW), which translates to about $30 billion (approximately 41 trillion KRW) in today's value, representing an astronomical cost barrier. Additionally, the 1966 UN Outer Space Treaty restricts the installation of weapons in outer space, which must also be considered.

Currently, the actual working conditions of space-related units worldwide mostly involve monitoring reconnaissance satellites and missiles via computers in offices. For the operation of a space fleet to become a reality, there would need to be a habitable or resource-rich extraterrestrial planet near Earth, but no such planet has yet been discovered.

In conclusion, while Trump's re-election is expected to usher in a new era for the U.S. space industry, space warfare as seen in science fiction movies is unlikely to be realized anytime soon. Experts advise that more attention should be paid to the development of space technologies for peaceful coexistence and advancement of humanity.