President Barack Obama’s recent budget request to Congress reflects a strong desire to reach for the stars.
U.S. military wants to spend big in space
President Barack Obama’s recent budget request to Congress reflects a strong desire to reach for the stars.
The U.S. Defense Department is requesting $7 billion for space programs.
The U.S. Navy is asking for $21 million for Navy satellite communications, up from $11 million last year.
The request for space-based reconnaissance increased from $78 million to $100 million and the request for architecture and support for space electronic warfare rose from $18 million to $30 million.
The Air Force space situation awareness program, consisting of two satellites, rose from $9 million to $32 million.
The U.S. also wants to spend $243 million on a “space fence” system to track space debris, up from $200 million last year.
The Defense Department’s manufacturing science and technology program is seeking $157 million, up from $90 million a year ago.
The program is exploring advanced propulsion, radar affordability, transparent ceramics, advanced electronics and optics and other emerging manufacturing capabilities.
The Navy’s Rapid Technology Transition program is looking to more than double its budget from $8.4 million to $18 million.
Experts say the Pentagon understands that some of the most innovative thinking in technology is happening outside of the federal government and they want to be able to transition that technology from any source, including those not traditionally associated with defense technology.
Spending requests for classified Air Force programs increased from $14 billion to $15 billion this year in the President’s budget.
