10 U.S.C. § 9081: The United States Space Force

There is established a United States Space Force as an armed force within the Department of the Air Force. the Regular Space Force; all persons appointed or enlisted in, or conscripted into, the Space Force, including those not assigned to units, necessary to form the basis for a complete and immediate mobilization for the national defense in the event of a national emergency; and all Space Force units and other Space Force organizations, including installations and supporting and auxiliary combat, training, administrative, and logistic elements. provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space; conduct space operations; and protect the interests of the United States in space. Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration shall carry out a pilot program to demonstrate a hybrid satellite communication architecture at the Space Systems Command of the Space Force. In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary shall include in the hybrid satellite communication architecture at least one military satellite communications system, such as the Wideband Global Satcom system or the Micro Geostationary Earth Orbit system. a description of the hybrid satellite communication architecture developed under the pilot program under subsection (a) and a summary of the results of the program as of the date of the briefing; and a plan for supporting the transition of the hybrid satellite communication architecture efforts to a program of record within the Space Force and the Space Systems Command. In this section, the term ‘hybrid satellite communication architecture’ means the network of integrated United States Government, allied Government, and commercially owned and operated capabilities both for on-orbit communication constellations and ground systems.” The Secretary of the Air Force may establish the National Space Intelligence Center as a field operating agency of the Space Force to analyze and produce scientific and technical intelligence on space-based and counterspace threats from foreign adversaries. If the Secretary of the Air Force decides to establish the National Space Intelligence Center as a field operating agency, the Secretary shall consider the operational and geographical benefits provided by colocating with the National Air and Space Intelligence Center.” The Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Space Operations, in coordination with the Chief Technology and Innovation Office of the Space Force, may carry out applied research and educational activities to support space technology development. space domain awareness; positioning, navigation, and timing; communications; hypersonics; cybersecurity; and any other matter the Secretary of the Air Force considers relevant. promote education and training for students so as to support the future national security space workforce of the United States; and explore opportunities for international collaboration. The authority provided by this section shall expire on December 31, 2027 .” Before implementing the application of the adaptive acquisition framework to a Space Systems Acquisition pathway described in subsection (c), there shall be within the Department of the Air Force an individual serving as the Service Acquisition Executive of the Department of the Air Force for Space Systems and Programs as required under section 957 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 ( Public Law 116–92 ; 133 Stat. 1566 ; 10 U.S.C. 9016 note). The Service Acquisition Executive for Space Systems and Programs of the United States Space Force may further delegate authority to an appropriate portfolio acquisition executive to serve as the milestone decision authority for major defense acquisition programs of the United States Space Force. The portfolio acquisition executive assigned under paragraph (1) may further delegate authority over major systems to an appropriate program manager. The Secretary of Defense shall take such actions necessary to ensure the adaptive acquisition framework (as described in Department of Defense Instruction 5000.02, ‘Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework’) includes one or more pathways specifically tailored for Space Systems Acquisition in order to achieve faster acquisition, improve synchronization and more rapid fielding of critical end-to-end capabilities (including by using new commercial capabilities and services), while maintaining accountability for effective programs that are delivered on time and on budget. The goal of the application of the adaptive acquisition framework to a Space Systems Acquisition pathway shall be to quickly and effectively acquire end-to-end space warfighting capabilities needed to address the requirements of the national defense strategy (as defined under section 113(g) of title 10 , United States Code). a comparison with budget line items for any major defense acquisition programs, middle tier acquisition programs, covered software programs, and major systems of the United States Space Force for three previous fiscal years; existing and recommended measures to ensure sufficient transparency and accountability related to the performance of the Space Systems Acquisition pathway; and proposed mechanisms to enable insight into the funding prioritization process and significant funding changes, including the independent cost estimate basis and full funding considerations for any major defense acquisition programs, middle tier acquisition programs, covered software programs, and major systems procured by the United States Space Force. Proposed revised, flexible, and streamlined options for joint requirements validation in order to be more responsive and innovative, while ensuring the ability of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to ensure top-level system requirements are properly prioritized to address joint-warfighting needs. A list of acquisition programs of the United States Space Force for which multiyear contracting authority under sections 2306b [now 10 U.S.C. 3501 ] or 2306c [now 10 U.S.C. 3531 ] of title 10, United States Code, is recommended. A list of space systems acquisition programs for which alternative acquisition pathways may be used. Policies or procedures for potential new pathways in the application of the adaptive acquisition framework to a Space Systems Acquisition with specific acquisition key decision points and reporting requirements for development, fielding, and sustainment activities that meet the requirements of the adaptive acquisition framework. An analysis of the need for updated determination authority for procurement of useable end items that are not weapon systems. Policies and a governance structure, for both the Office of the Secretary of Defense and each military department, for a separate United States Space Force budget topline, corporate process, and portfolio management process. An analysis of the risks and benefits of the delegation of the authority of the head of contracting activity authority to the Chief of Space Operations in a manner that would not expand the operations of the United States Space Force. Not later than 60 days after the submission of the report required under paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the United States shall review such report and submit to the congressional defense committees an analysis and recommendations based on such report. The term ‘covered software program’ means an acquisition program or project that is carried out using the software acquisition pathway established under section 3603 of title 10 , United States Code. The term ‘major defense acquisition program’ has the meaning given in section 2430 of title 10 , United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 4201 ]. The term ‘major system’ has the meaning given in section 2302 of title 10 , United States Code [now 10 U.S.C. 3041 ]. The term ‘middle tier acquisition program’ means an acquisition program or project that is carried out using the rapid fielding or rapid prototyping acquisition pathway under section 3602 of title 10 , United States Code. The term ‘milestone decision authority’ has the meaning given the term ‘decision authority’ in section 4211 of title 10 , United States Code. The terms ‘portfolio acquisition executive’ and ‘program manager’ have the meanings given those terms, respectively, in section 1737 of title 10 , United States Code.” Effective as of the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 20, 2019 ], there shall be assigned to the Space Force such members of the Air Force as the Secretary of the Air Force shall specify. The Secretary shall carry out this subsection within military personnel of the Air Force otherwise authorized by this Act. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize additional military billets for the purposes of, or in connection with, the establishment of the Space Force.” a member of the Space Force shall be treated as a member of the Air Force for the purpose of the application of any provision of law, including provisions of law relating to pay, benefits, and retirement; a civilian employee of the Space Force shall be treated as a civilian employee of the Air Force for the purpose of the application of any provision of law, including provisions of law relating to pay, benefits, and retirement; the authority of the Secretary of Defense with respect to the Air Force, members of the Air Force, or civilian employees of the Air Force may be exercised by the Secretary with respect to the Space Force, members of the Space Force, or civilian employees of the Space Force; and the authority of the Secretary of the Air Force with respect to the Air Force, members of the Air Force, or civilian employees of the Air Force may be exercised by the Secretary with respect to the Space Force, members of the Space Force, or civilian employees of the Space Force. For purposes of the appointment or enlistment of individuals as members of the Space Force pending the integration of the Space Force into the laws providing for the appointment or enlistment of individuals as members of the Armed Forces, appointments and enlistments of individuals as members of the Armed Forces in the Space Force may be made in the same manner in which appointments and enlistments of individuals as members of the Armed Forces in the other Armed Forces may be made by law.” Except as specifically provided by this subtitle [subtitle D (§§ 951–961) of title IX of div. A of Pub. L. 116–92 , see Short Title of 2019 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title and Tables], the Secretary of the Air Force shall implement this subtitle, and the amendments made by this subtitle, by not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 20, 2019 ]. Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 60 days thereafter until March 31, 2023 , the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Space Operations shall jointly provide to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a briefing on the status of the implementation of the Space Force pursuant to this subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle. Each briefing shall address the current missions, operations and activities, manpower requirements and status, and budget and funding requirements and status of the Space Force, and such other matters with respect to the implementation and operation of the Space Force as the Secretary and the Chief jointly consider appropriate to keep Congress fully and currently informed on the status of the implementation of the Space Force.”