What kind of disaster would get the Space force culturally converted from Air Force to Navy?

[Byeman]

I have this sneaking suspicion that USAF wasn't alone in stalling Space Force.

The other branches...seeing how much money was lost to them the last time a new branch was calved off (USAF itself)---also made life difficult.

Thus space duties were divvyed up among the branches...space advocates safely under their respective thumbs.
.

That would be wrong again.
a. Space Force is still part of the Air Force. Space Force bases are still supported by Air Force civil engineering, security, medical, and logistics.
b. The other branches are giving up their space systems and operators. Wideband comm (Army) and tactical comm (Navy) are now Space Force.
c. The Air Force didn't stall. It was suggested long ago.

 

[Byeman]

Essentially we have a 'space force', tt's called NASA. If anyone is qualified to deal with setting up any kind of military in space, it's those guys.

NASA is nothing like a Space Force. It is only the US gov't civilian space agency. It has little to do with defense. It doesn't even launch its own spacecraft.

 

[Byeman]

To answer the OP, there is nothing external that will. It can't be forced. It will gradual and have to come from within.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Sounds like the ISS to me. But what do those darn civilians know...

Max ISS crew is 6. You need more than a dozen before someone will start slacking (without having been caught during the selection process).

 

[Scott Kenny]

To answer the OP, there is nothing external that will. It can't be forced. It will gradual and have to come from within.

I was assuming some catastrophic event that the Navy has had identified since about 1600AD and the USAF has never dealt with before due to a lack of sufficiently large crews and long enough missions.