Rep. Doug Lamborn announces operations will be located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. 

On August 29, the Pentagon's new U.S. Space Command program will officially launch. Information from Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn says that the program will initially be headquartered at Peterson, but it has yet to be confirmed by the Defense Department.

Space Command was formally launched in December under growing concerns that Russia and China are targeting U.S. satellites. The previous program was disabled after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to allow the creation of the Northern Command, which focused on homeland defense. This new program will start as a division of the U.S. Air Force and will eventually be assigned an undersecretary. The overall goal is that it will become another armed service, joining the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. 

Air Force Gen. John Raymond has been confirmed by the Senate as its first leader.

"When General Raymond assumes command, he’s going to bring together capabilities that include missile warning, satellite operations, space control, and space support," Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a National Space Council meeting on August 20.

Peterson Air Force Base is poised to be confirmed as headquarters for several reasons. Importantly, the Air Force continued its own Space Command at the base after the national program was disbanded. It also hosts Northern Command at Peterson Air Force base. In addition, Colorado Springs is home to several space-related entities, including NORAD and the 50th Space Wing, which has made it more attractive. The infrastructure is in place to establish the headquarters of Space Command, which will serve as the launching pad for the Space Force, which still requires congressional funding and authority.

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