President Trump announces formation of Space Force

NEW YORK (FOX5NY) - During an address to a Space Council meeting, President Trump announced the formation of a Space Force to become a new branch of the United States military.

He said that he is directing the Pentagon to create the space force as an independent service branch to join the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

"When it comes to defending America, it is not enough to merely have an American presence in space.  We must have an American dominance in space.," the president said in making the announcement.

President Trump ordered the Department of Defense to "immediately begin the process." 

No other details were immediately released on what the exact mission of the service branch would be given.

The president also vowed to soon return the United States to the moon and to reach Mars through either public or private means.

It was the first time that President Trump attended a public meeting of the National Space Council.  He was joined by Vice President Mike Pence.