U.S. Space Force officials say they want more live orbital training in space, as the newest military branch activates its training and readiness command.

"I think we need to move space training specifically to more live operations on orbit," said Brig. Gen. Shawn Bratton, who serves as planning lead for the new command.

Bratton spoke on a panel Tuesday at the non-profit Space Foundation's annual Space Symposium in Colorado, one of the biggest annual events for the space industry.

Simulated spaceflight has improved dramatically in recent years, but Bratton said the Space Force must not rely only on simulation. Officials provided no details for how such orbital missions would occur.

"We need to get into realistic training or lifelike opportunities ... to actually have experience with how long it takes for maneuvers to unfold on orbit -- more realistic live training," Bratton said.

Space Force warfighters will "focus education and training 100% on the space domain ... and the very tough tactical problems that Space Command faces every day."

Maj. Gen. DeAnna M. Burt, a Space Force commander based in California, said she agreed.

Part of the solution is "providing real-time Intel, investing in those real-time lifelike arenas ... We are doing better than where we were. And we still have a long way to go," Burt said.

The Space Force, founded in 2019, has about 16,000 personnel, by far the smallest military branch.

Bratton and Burt said the Space Force will encourage science and technology education in schools, especially in those aimed at military careers.

"We'll go after a population that's reflective of the nation and that's exactly what we're after. It makes us a stronger force, people with different backgrounds bring different thoughts," Bratton said.

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