Pence says Space Force will 'soon' be reality

"We're opening the doors for private space enterprise to develop the means and technology for low earth orbit, and with the President's vision for NASA's renewed moon to Mars mission... we will once again inspire the world by the heights we reach," Pence said. "We will lead mankind into the vast expanse of space."

Republican U.S. President Donald Trump in February signed a directive to start the lengthy process of creating a new branch of the military dedicated to handling threats in space, the U.S. Space Force.