CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)Vowing to reclaim U.S. management in area, President Donald Trump introduced Monday he's directing the Pentagon to create a new "Space Force" as an unbiased service department geared toward making certain American supremacy in area.
Trump envisioned a brilliant future for the U.S. area program, pledging to revive the nation's flagging efforts, return to the moon and ultimately ship a manned mission that may attain Mars. The president framed area as a nationwide safety situation, saying he doesn't need "China and Russia and other countries leading us."
"My administration is reclaiming America's heritage as the world's greatest spacefaring nation," Trump mentioned within the East Room, joined by members of his area council. "The essence of the American character is to explore new horizons and to tame new frontiers."
Trump had beforehand steered the potential of creating a area unit that would come with parts equal to components of the Air Force, Army and Navy. But his directive will job the Defense Department to start the method of creating the 'Space Force' as the sixth department of the U.S. armed forces. He mentioned the brand new department's creation can be overseen by Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"When it comes to defending America, it is not enough to merely have an American presence in space. We must have American domice in space," Trump mentioned. He added: "We are going to have the Air Force and we are going to have the Space Force, separate but equal."
The president additionally used the White House occasion to set up a new coverage for decreasing satellite tv for pc muddle in area. The coverage requires offering a protected and safe surroundings up in orbit, as satellite tv for pc site visitors will increase. It additionally units up new tips for satellite tv for pc design and operation, to keep away from collisions and spacecraft breakups.
Trump was joined by Vice President Mike Pence, who leads the just lately revived area council, as properly as a number of Cabinet members, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, retired astronauts and scientists.
The council's government secretary, Scott Pace, advised reporters earlier than the assembly that area is changing into more and more congested and present tips are insufficient to tackle the problem.