Vice president outlines plans to launch Space Force as the sixth branch of U.S. military

WASHINGTON — Pointing to growing threats and competition from Russia and China, the White House on Thursday announced ambitious plans to create the U.S. Space Force as a sixth, separate military-war-fighting service by 2020.

The proposal taps into the American public’s long fascination with space but with a military focus, and it faces daunting hurdles. But the administration cannot just create a Space Force on its own; it requires congressional approval, and has been met with skepticism from military leaders, lawmakers and experts who question the wisdom of launching an expensive, bureaucratic new service branch.

Vice President Mike Pence announced the new force during a Pentagon speech, fleshing out an idea that President Donald Trump has flagged in recent months as he vowed to ensure American dominance in space. Mr. Pence described space as a domain that was once peaceful and uncontested but has now become crowded and adversarial.

“Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America’s best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation,” said Mr. Pence.

Mr. Trump marked Mr. Pence’s announcement with a tweet: “Space Force all the way!”