That’s one small signature for President Trump, one giant leap for the “space force.”
President Trump on Tuesday signed a memorandum that officially established the United States’ interstellar armed forces. The news was announced by Vice President Mike Pence during a speech Tuesday morning at the SpaceX Rocket Launch event in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
“Under his leadership the United States is taking steps to ensure that American national security is as dominant in space as it is here on Earth,” Pence said. “It is my privilege to announce that today, President Trump will direct the Department of Defense to establish a combatant command that will oversee all our military activities in space.”
Pence added: “The U.S. Space Command will integrate space capabilities across all branches of the military. It will develop the space doctrine tactics, techniques and procedures that will enable our war fighters to defend our nation in this new era.”
Officially called the United States Space Command, the new command will fall short of becoming a new branch of the armed services – or “space force” as Trump has said previously – but Pence noted in his remarks on Tuesday that Trump is expected to soon sign a policy directive laying out plans and a timeline to make the “space force” the sixth branch of the military. – READ MORE