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Earlier this week, Vice President Mike Pence announced that Trump would soon sign a new \"space policy directive\" to create the sixth branch of the armed forces that the administration hopes to stand up before the end of 2020. He held a meeting with Defense Secretary James Mattis at the Pentagon on Wednesday to discuss U.S. space operations.

\"PHOTO:
Steve Nesius/Reuters
PHOTO: Vice President Mike Pence talks with SpaceX employees during a tour of the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39-A in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Dec. 18, 2018.
>

On Tuesday, Trump signed a memorandum establishing U.S. Space Command as the military's 11th unified combatant command.

Distinct from a Space Force and the existing Air Force Space Command, the combatant command will change how the Department of Defense approaches war-fighting in space by centralizing its space operations from across the U.S. military into one place. A Space Force service, on the other hand, would likely focus on the recruiting, training and equipping of service members for the space mission.

Like the military's other combatant commands, the new Space Command -- which was announced by the administration earlier this year -- will be led by a four-star general and draw on capabilities and personnel from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy.

Tuesday's memorandum directed Mattis to recommend officers for nomination and Senate confirmation to serve as the commander and deputy commander. Unlike the creation of a Space Force military service, the establishment of Space Command won't require Congressional legislation.

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