US President Donald Trump has kicked off the process of creating a "Space Force", a new branch of the military dedicated to handling threats in space.
Trump on Tuesday signed Space Policy Directive 4, which establishes the foundation for a legislative initiative that could establish a Space Force as a new military service comparable to the US Marines.
In an Oval Office signing ceremony, he said it was a national security priority.
The memo directs the Department of Defense "to marshal its space resources to deter and counter threats in space" through the establishment of a Space Force that would be part of the Air Force, according to a draft.
Establishing the Space Force will require Congressional approval.
In August, the Trump Administration announced an ambitious plan to usher in the force as the sixth branch of the military by 2020.
Space Force would be an armed branch of the military and "include both combat and combat support functions to enable prompt and sustained offensive and defensive space operations," according to the memo.
The US Air Force currently holds responsibility for space operations.
On Tuesday, a Pentagon official speaking on condition of anonymity said initial start up costs for the Space Force were estimated to be about $72 million.
A US Air Force cost estimate from earlier last year said Space force would be around $13 billion in the first five years.
Australian Associated Press