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President Trump had blinked earlier this year in announcing his intention to create a "space force", which would become the sixth branch of the army.
Vice President Mike Pence then announced in a speech that the branch was needed for the United States to maintain its military dominance in space. The proposed space force will cost $ 13 billion over the first five years.
And despite some snickering among political observers, the famous astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson does not think the Space Force is a crazy idea. But Tyson, one of the authors of "Accessory to War: The Unexpressed Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Army," is cautious.
"It's not because it comes out of Trump's mouth that it's crazy," he told Midday Movers this week (video above). "But if, in doing so, you do not continue to invest in scientific and technological innovations, you are making a fatal mistake that will jeopardize the future health, wealth and security of the country."
What Tyson means is that a lack of investment in other forms of space innovation could mean that the United States "would begin to fade. ".
"And we will continue – it's not a cliff," he said. "It's a fade. One day you get up and say, "Nobody asks us to sit at the table. Japan, China and Russia are preparing this mission on Mars, and they have not even invited us. "
While detailing the plans of the administration for the space force, Mr. Pence cited the threats of Russia and China among the reasons for which the new military branch is necessary.
RELATED: Space launches over the years
27 PICTURES
SpaceX technology and its launches through history
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket takes off on a refueling mission to the International Space Station from the historic 39A launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States, on February 19, 2017. REUTERS / Joe Skipper TPX: IMAGES OF THE DAY
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket takes off on a refueling mission to the International Space Station from the historic 39A launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States, on February 19, 2017. REUTERS / Mike Brown
SOLVANG, CA – DECEMBER 22: The drag of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at Vandenberg Air Force Base illuminates the early evening sky on December 22, 2017, seen from Solvang, California. The spectacular event, which was seen by millions of people in parts of Arizona and in central and southern California, was the result of the sun's clarity that hit the trail while ten Communication satellites have been put into orbit by the private space company. (Photo by George Rose / Getty Images)
SOLVANG, CA – DECEMBER 22: The drag of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at Vandenberg Air Force Base illuminates the early evening sky on December 22, 2017, seen from Solvang, California. The spectacular event, which was seen by millions of people in parts of Arizona and in central and southern California, was the result of the sun's clarity that hit the trail while ten Communication satellites have been put into orbit by the private space company. (Photo by George Rose / Getty Images)
SOLVANG, CA – DECEMBER 22: The drag of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at Vandenberg Air Force Base illuminates the early evening sky on December 22, 2017, seen from Solvang, California. The spectacular event, which was seen by millions of people in parts of Arizona and in central and southern California, was the result of the sun's clarity that hit the trail while ten Communication satellites have been put into orbit by the private space company. (Photo by George Rose / Getty Images)
The billionaire entrepreneur and SpaceX founder Elon Musk speaks below of a computer-generated illustration of his new rocket at the 68th 2017 International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide on September 29, 2017.
Musk said his company SpaceX had begun serious work on the BFR rocket while planning an interplanetary transport system. / AFP PHOTO / PETER PARKS (Photo credit must match PETER PARKS / AFP / Getty Images)
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is preparing to take off from Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base at Lompoc Air Force Base in California on December 22, 2017.
SpaceX has launched a reused Falcon 9 rocket with 10 satellites in orbit, its fourth launch toward a $ 3 billion upgrade of Iridium's mobile voice, voice and data network in Virginia. / AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck (Photo credit must match ROBYN BECK / AFP / Getty Images)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (bottom center, in a horizontal position) is ready for launch on a supply mission to the International Space Station on Historic Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States February 17, 2017. The launch is scheduled for February 18. REUTERS / Joe Skipper
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, in a horizontal position, is ready for launch on a supply mission for the International Space Station on Historic Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States, on the 17th February 2017. scheduled for 18 February. REUTERS / Joe Skipper
Ellon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, sits in a pod showcased at the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition in Hawthorne, Los Angeles, California, USA, on January 29, 2017. REUTERS / Monica Almeida
Members of the WARR Hyderloop Technical University Team place their pods on the track in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod contest in Hawthorne, Los Angeles, California, USA, on January 29, 2017. REUTERS / Monica Almeida
The first step retrieved from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is hauled into the SpaceX hangar at 39A launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 14, 2016. The vehicle was launched on May 6 and returned to land soon after. on board a houseboat in the Atlantic Ocean. REUTERS / Joe Skipper TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The first steps recovered from three SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets are presented during a photo shoot in the SpaceX hangar on Launch Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 14, 2016. The steps are undergoing renovation for a new launch. REUTERS / Joe Skipper TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule approaches the International Space Station before its installation in this photo taken by NASA on April 10, 2016. REUTERS / NASA via social media / the document distributed via Reuters THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY BY REUTER, AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, voicing after the unveiling of the Dragon V2 spacecraft in Hawthorne, Calif., May 29, 2014. Space Exploration Technologies announced on April 27, 2016 that it would be sending the spacecraft not yet built on Mars since 2018, a first step in the company Elon Musk, founder of the company. goal of transporting people to another planet. REUTERS / Mario Anzuoni / Photo File
The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landed at the base of the launcher's first mission since the failure of June, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida on December 21, 2015. The rocket carried a payload of eleven satellites belonging to Orbcomm, a communications company based in New Jersey. REUTERS / Joe Skipper TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The SpaceX Crew Dragon, an unmanned crew, lands after taking off Launch Pad 40 during a Pad Abort test at the Cape Canaveral Air Control Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 6, 2015. REUTERS / Scott Audette
The unmanned SpaceX Crew Dragon takes off from Launch Pad 40 during a Pad Abort test at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida on May 6, 2015. REUTERS / Scott Audette
The unmanned Falcon 9 rocket, launched by SpaceX and carrying the NOAA deep space observation satellite, takes off from Launch Pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Base in Cape Canaveral, Fla. , February 11, 2015. The rocket took off on Wednesday American Satellite in deep space, where it will keep an eye on solar storms and imitate the Earth at nearly 1.6 million kilometers. REUTERS / Scott Audette (USA – Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORT ENVIRONMENT)
The unmanned Falcon 9 rocket launched by SpaceX during a cargo replenishment mission to the International Space Station takes off from the Cape Canaveral checkpoint in Cape Canaveral, Florida on January 10, 2015. REUTERS / Scott Audette (UNITED STATES – Tags: SCIENCE TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIQUE)
SpaceX employees examine the unmanned Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Observer Satellite of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Deep Space Observatory while it is seated Horizontally on Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 9, 2015. The SpaceX rocket with a US space weather satellite was canceled minutes before take-off on Sunday. because of a technical problem, officials said. The launch was targeted for 18:10. EAST (2310 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, Florida. But about 2.5 minutes before takeoff, a problem with an Air Force radar system had to follow the rocket in flight. REUTERS / Scott Audette (USA – Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY TRANSPORT)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk poses near the Dragon V2 spacecraft after its unveiling in Hawthorne, California on May 29, 2014. Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, unveiled on Thursday an upgraded version of the Dragon cargo ship, which NASA buys for replenishment orders up to the International. Space station. REUTERS / Mario Anzuoni (USA – Tags: SOCIETY OF POLICY TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen on the launch site in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in this NASA photo released on January 9, 2015. SpaceX plans to launch the rocket on Saturday and then try to put the abandoned booster on a platform in the ocean, according to officials. REUTERS / NASA / Document via Reuters (USA)
A modernized SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is in preparation for launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on September 27, 2013. A private company Space Exploration Technologies plans to test an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket on a California site as part of the satellite launch . market. The Canadian science satellite Cassiope will be perched at the top of the 22-story reinforced Falcon 9. Takeoff is scheduled for 9:00 am (16:00 GMT).
"It's basically a development robbery for the rocket" The company's founder and head, Elon Musk, told Reuters. REUTERS / Gene Blevins (UNITED STATES – Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS)
The SpaceX Dragon capsule is captured by the crew of the International Space Station with the help of its robotic arm in this screen capture of the NASA video released on March 3, 2013. L & # 39; ISS captured the capsule at 5:31 am EST, about 253 miles inland north of Ukraine. REUTERS / NASA / Handout (EXTRA-SPACE – Tags: TRANSPORT OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES) THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY BY REUTER, AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
NASA Director Charles Bolden (left) and SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk look at the historic Dragon capsule that returned to Earth on May 31 following the first mission Successful private company responsible for transporting supplies to the International Space Station at SpaceX's facilities in McGregor, Texas, on June 13, 2012. Bolden and Musk also thanked the more than 150 SpaceX employees working in McGregor's facilities for their role in the historic mission. REUTERS / Bill Ingalls / NASA (UNITED STATES – Tags: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) ONLY TO THE EDITOR. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY BY REUTERS, AS A CLIENT SERVICE
This photo provided by NASA shows a "fisheye" view of the SpaceX Dragon cargo interior. She was photographed by a member of the Expedition 31 team aboard the International Space Station on May 26, 2012. Dragon became the first commercially developed spacecraft launched at the station to join Russian, European and Russian replenishment ships. that serve the complex while restoring the United States' ability to deliver goods to the orbital laboratory. REUTERS / NASA / Handout (SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) ONLY FOR EDITORIAL USAGE. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY BY REUTERS, AS A CLIENT SERVICE
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A different state of mind
Tyson does not think the US has the capacity to follow, at least for now, despite the fact that NASA's budget for 2018 is about $ 19.1 billion.
"We do not have a spaceship that can take anyone into space today," he said. "We are getting into the Russian Soyuz capsule to install ourselves in our own space station."
And that's how fade starts, Tyson says, when you wake up and realize that the US is no longer relevant on the world stage.
"It's a state of mind very different from the one I had when I was growing up, and we did what we wanted, it's America in the 20th century," he said. -he declares. "No one has denied the objective truths of science. They used science to develop policies, not science to fight.
"And then?" Asked he. "We will say: I took three books last week. I want to repeal the law of gravity? 'You do not have these options for scientific results. So, my biggest fear is that American civilization will collapse, simply because people do not listen to the advice of informed scientists. "
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<p content = "Adriana is a writer for Yahoo Finance. To follow her Twitter."data-reactid =" 68 "type =" text ">RELATED: Neil deGrasse Tyson over the years
24 PICTURES
Neil deGrasse Tyson through the years
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Neil deGrasse Tyson (picture by Deborah Feingold / Corbis via Getty Images)
NEW YORK CITY, NY – MAY 8: Neil deGrasse Tyson attends TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People 2007 at the Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 8, 2007 in New York. (Photo by PATRICK MCMULLAN / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson poses for a portrait at the Rose Planet Center of the Earth and Space Center in Hayden on February 28, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Myrna Suarez / Getty Images)
COSMOS: A SPATIAL ODYSSEY: Host Neil deGrasse Tyson travels to Carboniferous Earth during the episode "The Lost Worlds of Planet Earth" aired Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 9:00 pm ET by FOX and Monday, May 5, 2014 (9:00 am to 10:00 pm ET / PT) on Nat Geo. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)
Washington, DC – November 12: Neil deGrasse Tyson made some remarks at a Carl Sagan celebration at the Library of Congress on November 12, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi / Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 13: Neil DeGrasse Tyson (left) and executive producer Seth MacFarlane speak at the FOX portion of the 2014 Television Critics Association's press tour at the Langham Hotel on January 13, 2014 in Pasadena , in California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)
COSMOS: A SPATIAL ODYSSEY: More than three decades after Carl Sagan's emblematic and revolutionary series, "Cosmos: a personal journey", the time has come to sail for the stars. Neil deGrasse Tyson, astronomer and astrophysicist, embarks on the Ship of Imagination to discover the cosmic address of the Earth and its spatial and temporal coordinates in the series "Standing in the Milky Way", first episode of COSMOS : ODYSSÉY SPACE broadcast Sunday, March 9, 2014 (9:00 to 22:00 ET / PT) on FOX. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)
COSMOS: A SPATIAL ODYSSEY: Animator Neil deGrasse Tyson travels to northern Italy to learn how Albert Einstein developed his famous theories of relativity in the broadcast episode & # 39; A sky filled with ghosts & # 39; from Sunday, March 30, 2014 (9am to 10am). 00 PM ET / PT) on FOX and Monday, March 31, 2014 (21:00 to 22:00 ET / PT) on Nat Geo. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 08: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson speaks at the Neil DeGrasse Tyson Lecture at the 2014 Music, Film + Interactive SXSW at the Austin Convention Center on March 8, 2014 in Austin, Texas. Texas. (Photo by Earl Mcgehee / Getty Images for SXSW)
COSMOS: A SPATIAL ODYSSEY: Neil deGrasse Tyson in the episode & # 39; COSMOS: AN ODYSSE SPACE ESPACE & # 39; aired Sunday, March 30, 2014 (9am to 10am ET / PT) March 31st, 2014 (10am – 11am ET / PT) on Nat Geo. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)
LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS – Episode 0015 – Pictured: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and Seth Reiss as Pluto in an interview with host Seth Meyers on March 14, 2014 – ( Photo by: Peter Kramer / NBC / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
COSMOS: A SPATIAL ODYSSEY: Facilitator Neil deGrasse Tyson explores the ideas of death and immortality in the cosmos in the brand new episode of "The Immortals" aired on Sunday, May 18, 2014 (from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm ET) ). on FOX and Monday, May 19, 2014 (9:00 am to 10:00 pm ET / PT) on Nat Geo. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)
COSMOS: A SPATIAL ODYSSEY: Host Neil deGrasse Tyson participates in the episode Finale of the season without fear of darkness aired Sunday, June 8, 2014 (from 9:00 to 22:00 ET / PT) on FOX and Monday 9 June 2014. (9am – 10am ET / PT) on Nat Geo. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 4: Neil deGrasse Tyson and Ann Druyan attend the cosmos: a SpaceTime Odyssey: the final episode of the screening is screened at the Paley Center for Media on June 4, 2014 in New York. (Photo by Jenny Anderson / WireImage)
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 07: Neil deGrasse Tyson, author, astrophysicist, lecturer and director of the Hayden Planetarium of the American Museum of Natural History, speaks at the National Geographic Channel's special programming announcement of the Winter Television Critics Association 2015 Press Tour the Langham Huntington Hotel & Spa on January 7, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 31: Astrophysicist and "COSMOS" host Neil deGrasse Tyson poses with prizes at the 74th Peabody Awards ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on May 31, 2015 in New York City. (Photo of Mike Coppola / Getty Images for Peabody Awards)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 31: (From left to right): Ann Druyan, Peabody Award Recipient, and Neil deGrasse Tyson Speak on Stage at the 74th Peabody Awards Ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street on May 31, 2015 in New York York. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok / Getty Images for Peabody Awards)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 28: Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson speaks at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative 2015, September 28, 2015 in New York. (Photo by Taylor Hill / FilmMagic)
Richard Branson, president and founder of Virgin Group Ltd., right, speaks as Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York , United States, Monday, September 28, 2015. CGI's annual meetings bring together Chiefs of State, CEOs, philanthropists, and members of the media to facilitate discussion and initiatives. avant-garde who challenge our impact on the future. Photographer: Michael Nagle / Bloomberg via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 3: Neil deGrasse Tyson Visits' Sway in the Morning & # 39; with Sway Calloway on Eminem's Shade 45 at SiriusXM Studios on February 3, 2016 in New York. (Photo by Matthew Eisman / Getty Images)
New York, NY – April 18: Neil deGrasse Tyson goes to the SiriusXM studio on April 18, 2016 in New York. (Photo by Robin Marchant / Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 11: Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson participate in the Creative Arts Emmy Awards Day 2016 at the Microsoft Theater on September 11, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston / Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 23: Neil deGrasse Tyson visits SiriusXM studio on September 23, 2016 in New York. (Photo by Robin Marchant / Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 25: Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and educator Bill Nye attend the screening of "The Space Between Us" organized by STX Entertainment with the Cinema Society at Sunshine Cinema's Landmark on January 25, 2017 in New York. (Photo by Jim Spellman / WireImage)
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