Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, and
Pentagon officials have announced that a key step in creating the newest branch
of the military would happen next week.
Pence stated this while speaking at Tuesday's meeting
of the National Space Council.
The U.S. Space Command officially starts August 29,
serving as the precursor to the Space Force, they said. Air Force general John
Raymond has been tapped and confirmed by the Senate as its first leader.
"The United States Space Force will ensure that
our nation is prepared to defend our people, defend our interests, and to
defend our values in the vast expanse of space and here on Earth with the
technologies that will support our common defense for the vast reaches of outer
space," Pence said.
Establishment of the Space Force still requires
congressional funding and authority, a step Pence said Tuesday would happen
"soon.
The Trump administration has cited potential threats
from China and Russia as part of the reasoning behind creating a space force.
Last month, France announced the creation of its own space force as well.
For years, Pentagon officials scoffed at the idea. The
Air Force, which operates the Space Command, said creating a new branch would
be costly and disruptive.
But the concept has gradually won converts over the
years, including from President Donald Trump who signed a directive in February
creating the Space Force.
During a signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump
said he views the new military branch as part of his responsibility to protect
the nation.
"I was put here for security, whether it's Space
Force, which I'm doing today, or whether it's borders," the president
said.
Eventually, an undersecretary of defense for space
will be named, and the program – which would start as a division of the U.S.
Air Force – would become the sixth armed service, joining the Air Force, Army,
Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard.
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