US President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order as early as Tuesday creating a US Space Command that will better organise and advance the military's vast operations in space.
US officials said Vice-President Mike Pence will make the announcement later on Tuesday at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Trump's order is separate from his oft-stated goal of creating a "Space Force" as an independent armed service branch, but it is considered a step in that direction.
The move will launch a long and complicated process, requiring the Defence Department to pull together various space units and agencies from across the military services into a more coordinated, independent organisation.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Spaceflight SSO-A: SmallSat Express, launches from Space Launch Complex-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Source: Supplied
The US Air Force's existing Space Command would be a key component of the new joint entity, raising space to the same status as US Cyber Command.
US officials said the order will be signed by the end of the year, but could happen as early as Tuesday.
The move would actually recreate a US Space Command, which existed from 1985 to 2002. It was disbanded in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to focus on homeland defence.
The Space Command functions were absorbed by US Strategic Command, and the Air Force retained its lead role in space through Air Force Space Command.
The military has been trying for decades to re-organise and accelerate technological advances in space. The key goal is to find more effective ways to defend US interests in space, especially the constellations of satellites that ground, sea and air forces rely on for navigation, communications and surveillance.
President Donald Trump is a step closer to his Space Force. Source: AAP
These roles make them increasingly tempting military targets as China and Russia work on ways to disrupt, disable and even destroy American satellites.
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