10-11-2012, 09:54 AM | #31 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,732
Karma: 128354696
Join Date: May 2009
Location: 26 kly from Sgr A*
Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000
|
|
10-11-2012, 10:28 AM | #32 |
Well trained by Cats
Posts: 30,377
Karma: 58053698
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: The Central Coast of California
Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A
|
|
10-11-2012, 11:17 AM | #33 |
Wizard
Posts: 2,230
Karma: 7145404
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Southern California
Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+
|
I like some authors' assertions that jurisdictions have to be clear-cut because otherwise the 'space force' just takes over everything. They have the high ground, so to speak, especially in SF where there is any value in off-planet activities (colonization or alien trade).
On air force versus navy, in some SF we see an awful lot of air-bouyant craft (e.g. dirigibles), which stay in the air as easily as a ship stays afloat in water. |
10-11-2012, 12:21 PM | #34 | |
Wizard
Posts: 2,251
Karma: 3720310
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)
|
Quote:
|
|
10-11-2012, 12:26 PM | #35 | |
Omnivorous
Posts: 3,281
Karma: 27978909
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Rural NW Oregon
Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1
|
Quote:
The Army/Air Force did fly B-25's off of the USS Hornet in 1942 (Google doolittle raid), though there was no intention of them landing again. And landing on an aircraft carrier is quite an experience. In the early 70's I was assigned to Admiral's Staff on the USS Enterprise, then at sea. I was flown out on a two engine prop job. The landing was nowhere as hard as jet pilots experience, but .. Damn that deck looks small from the air. |
|
10-11-2012, 12:49 PM | #36 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,747
Karma: 3761220
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD
|
It's refreshing to see that the Air Force/Navy debate is still going strong (24 years in AF). As far as who will control this space force, it always comes down to politics (in other words, who has the bigger stick). For a long time, the Air Force has always been the second banana since it is the newer of the services. But it is possible for aircraft to stay airborne for quite a long time and they have. Most of the air force planes are refuelable and that is used to keep them airborne for quite a long time. I would definitely suggest a combined force instead of a single entity. That way both sides would be appeased and make it easier for the OP to just concentrate on writing a great story.
|
10-11-2012, 01:00 PM | #37 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,732
Karma: 128354696
Join Date: May 2009
Location: 26 kly from Sgr A*
Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000
|
In real world terms, the US Space Force will without question be an evolution of the Air Force: it is already happening. Space Command is one of the USAF top-level commands and already has a substantial mission and budget. As time goes on they should have no problem in maintaining control as technology and the mission changes.
On the other hand, if we ever run into an alien FTL drive that we can adapt to build starships, the Navy will jump to the front of the line. In that case, the first Starship Captain would likely be an ex-pilot Carrier Captain. Probably one with an odd fondness for 80's rock like FINAL COUNTDOWN. Last edited by fjtorres; 10-11-2012 at 01:02 PM. |
10-11-2012, 03:50 PM | #38 | |
Evangelist
Posts: 408
Karma: 1786912
Join Date: Nov 2010
Device: Kindle Voyage
|
Quote:
I don't think it's just a Navy/Air Force issue. I can imagine the Navy developing the technology needed for troop carriers, etc, and the Air Force developing smaller, faster, fighter ships, and the Marines & Army gearing up for lunar conflicts, but I can't envision any one of these overseeing all space-based conflict. Perhaps there would be an entirely new branch--a USOF (orbital force) drawn from useful members of the other branches. |
|
10-11-2012, 04:38 PM | #39 |
Member
Posts: 20
Karma: 567553
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: USA
Device: Nook 1st Edition
|
The very section you quoted mentioned life support. Which is what you just said. Congrats on not reading before hitting the reply button. :P
|
10-11-2012, 05:09 PM | #40 |
Connoisseur
Posts: 95
Karma: 210032
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dayton, OH
Device: iPad 4, iPhone 4, iPod touch, Sony PRS 300
|
During my 21 years of AF active duty, I had once had the opportunity to be stationed at an installation that belonged to AF Space Command. During our Friday afternoon "Safety Briefings" which were only attended by the field grade officers in the squadron, I used to listen to the "space guys" wax philosophic about the creation of a separate Space Force. They were all convinced it could and would happen and that all it would take would be for the "Space Billy Mitchell" to show up and put his career on the line.
None of them wanted to volunteer. That was 12 years ago and we still don't have a separate Space Force. |
10-11-2012, 05:20 PM | #41 | |
Grand Master of Flowers
Posts: 2,201
Karma: 8389072
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Naptown
Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)
|
Quote:
|
|
10-11-2012, 06:06 PM | #42 |
Groupie
Posts: 155
Karma: 58410
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SE Michigan
Device: Kindle on Android phone; PB360; Sony 950
|
What about halliburtonization?
Given that the U.S. has scrapped the space shuttle, and that tons of formerly military missions have been transferred to private contractors in recent decades (former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan), I'm surprised that no one is envisioning private businesses having the resources and agility to dominate this domain.
|
10-11-2012, 10:14 PM | #43 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,732
Karma: 128354696
Join Date: May 2009
Location: 26 kly from Sgr A*
Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000
|
Quote:
It is all a political shell game. Note that Space X got hundreds of millions from NASA to develop their rocket and hundreds more to develop the capsule and are now getting $1.6 billion to launch 12 capsules with 1000 lbs of cargo. That is $133 million per launch. Not that much different from other existing launch systems. And the "new" tech in use is still 60's vintage O2-kerosene combustion. You're not going to builld any kind of advanced space combat infrastructure with that. The *real* advanced tech space developments are being done by the AF and DARPA with the x37b program and x51a and other seriously "black" projects. Not NASA (under the current Administration NASA has been redirected into paper studies and money funnels, much like DOE) and certainly not the private space launchers. The most advanced "private" launcher vehicle in develoment is Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser which is a retread of an 80's-vintage NASA design, the HL-20: http://www.space.com/12131-private-s...am-chaser.html |
|
10-11-2012, 10:42 PM | #44 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 30
Karma: 500690
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: North Carolina
Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Touch; Android Tablet (Asus TF300); PC App
|
Though I think I understand what you are saying which is simply "write what you know", I believe that your conclusion is necessarily a non sequitor. Nobody has experience in orbital ops, not even the top military brass (at least so far as we've been told) so in that sense the OP is on level footing with other sci-fi writers. As for the "feel" of military service - that can be overcome with research and asking questions. So far, so good.
|
10-11-2012, 11:17 PM | #45 | |
Grand Master of Flowers
Posts: 2,201
Karma: 8389072
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Naptown
Device: Kindle PW, Kindle 3 (aka Keyboard), iPhone, iPad 3 (not for reading)
|
Quote:
But no pressure, Nancy! |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Military Sci-fi | jbcohen | Reading Recommendations | 48 | 09-22-2017 04:19 AM |
Scientists invent human avatars | xg4bx | Lounge | 1 | 07-19-2012 02:26 PM |
Scientists Invent Particles That Will Let You Live Without Breathing | xg4bx | Lounge | 17 | 07-06-2012 04:06 AM |
PRS-T1 Military Only --- | AJ Starr | Sony Reader | 7 | 10-31-2011 10:09 AM |
Military site | Bob Russell | Lounge | 0 | 11-08-2005 10:14 AM |