U.S. military operations in space are back under a single unified command after President Trump ordered the Defense Department on Tuesday to revive the once-retired U.S. Space Command. Vice President Pence outlined the plan during a visit to Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
"Today, there are more than 18,000 military and civilian personnel working in space operations for our national security all across the Department of Defense," Pence said.
The vice president added that under Trump's directive, 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 warfighters to defend our nation in this new era."
"A new era of American national security in space begins today," he said.
As Pence began his remarks in Florida, the White House made the move official by releasing an executive memorandum from Trump to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis establishing the Space Command. The same entity was first created in 1985, but it was merged into Strategic Command in 2002.
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05.04.2025