space force

noun

plural space forces

: the military organization of a nation for space warfare

Peter Dutton, Australia's defence minister, pledged to increase spending on its space capability, which could eventually include an American-style space force similar to that created by Donald Trump, the former US president.

—Roger Maynard

At roughly the same time, Russian fighter jets roared dangerously close to American Navy planes over the Mediterranean Sea, while the country's space forces conducted an antisatellite missile test clearly aimed at sending the message that Moscow could blind U.S. spy satellites and take down GPS and other communications systems.

—David E. Sanger et al.

Examples of space force in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The appointment was especially meaningful for the Princess of Wales, as one of her grandfathers served in the British air and space force — and reportedly worked with Prince Philip! —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024

But in creating its own national space force, the United States could prompt even more governments to do the same—leading to an increasingly dangerous situation in space. —Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Jan. 2022

According to officials with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the two countries have been reorganizing and reforming their space forces. —Bret Baier, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2023

While a handful of private companies has driven the most recent space exploration efforts, there are ongoing discussions for establishing a space force as the sixth branch of the U.S. military. —Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above