THE MOON — The Mitchell Institute published a paper on Thursday calling for the U.S. Space Force to prepare to station active-duty troops on the moon and on commercial space stations to counter China's lunar and military ambitions. The 22-page report urges the Space Force to prioritize the creation of a human spaceflight program and to redefine federal, active-duty Title 10 orders to compete against China's military-focused space initiatives.

The report notes that China has set a goal of putting its Taikonauts on the moon by 2030. It also calls on Congress to fund future commercial space station residencies or the purchase of a Space Force-dedicated space station in future national defense authorization legislation.

"These efforts will require additional funding from Congress for both U.S. Space Force human spaceflight opportunities and residencies at commercial space stations," the report said.

The paper addresses the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which calls for governments to use the moon and other planets for peaceful purposes and forbids military bases, testing, and maneuvers. "Moreover, China's record of territorial aggression and ignoring treaty agreements must drive a strategic vision unconstrained by the OST," the report said. "While upholding the OST should be the United States' desire and priority, pragmatically, it must prepare otherwise," the report said.

Kyle Pumroy, a retired Space Force colonel and the paper's author, addressed the treaty question directly. "So I don't think it's a violation to send them there, but whether we're violating the Outer Space Treaty or not is an important fact. The greater need is for a modernized Outer Space Treaty that appreciates a lunar economy and mining resources from the moon, and mining ice from the moon, and using the moon as a launch pad to get to Mars and other locations," Pumroy said.

Victoria Samson, chief director of space security and stability, described a shift in how civil and military space activities relate. "It used to almost be a separation of church and state between the two," Samson said. "Now, that line is being blurred, and I think it's more a matter of, we have an administration that is supportive of a very active and expanding Space Force," she added.

In a 2025 report titled "A Broader Look at Dynamic Space Operations," the Mitchell Institute pitched the idea of putting troops on critical Space Force assets. The Space Force has not sent any of its uniformed personnel into space for active-duty operations, though it has loaned its officers to NASA's exploration missions. In 2020, astronaut Mike Hopkins transferred from the Air Force into the Space Force while aboard the International Space Station. In 2024, Space Force Colonel Nick Hague commanded NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission, which lasted 171 days; Hague was the first active-duty guardian to launch into space.

"Nothing compares to in-domain, first-hand experience to inform the development of future military requirements. Furthermore, taking this decisive step will send a strong message about the commitment of the United States to maintain space superiority," the report said.