Although the US won the race to the moon, the Soviets were far more active in space in the decade that followed. By the 1980s, space experts feared the US was in danger of being surpassed. A few, looking ahead, recommended a space force within two decades. Standing up Space Force is organised chronologically by presidential administration.

Dr. Marion takes readers through a fascinating story of national security space spanning multiple administrations, and an unlikely sequence of events that should go down in history as one of the greatest strategic moves to position the United States military to address the emerging threats of the future."—Stephen Kitay, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Policy and former Professional Staff Member, House Armed Services Committee “Most Americans use space hundreds of times a day without ever knowing it. For the first time, in Standing Up Space Force, Forrest Marion reveals why the creation of the U.S. Space Force won bipartisan support from Congress and the Trump Administration. Marion exposes the challenges and triumphs of a military service charged with the duty to protect national security interests.”—Barbara Barrett, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force (2019-2021) and U.S. Ambassador to Finland (2008-2009). "An inside story of how the stars aligned for the creation of America's newest armed service. The creation of the U.S. Space Force was a team effort spanning decades, reflecting the growing importance of space as well as the urgency created by new threats. Forrest Marion describes the bureaucratic struggles and bipartisan political leadership that translated vision into reality. Must reading for anyone interested in the role of space in national security."—Dr. Scott Pace, Former Executive Secretary, National Space Council (2017-2020)