The US Space Force will be the first new branch of US military created in over 70 years and will be subject to the USAF. According to available information, the allocation of funds for the creation of new branch has already been confirmed when the president signed the annual US military budget of 738 billion USD, of which the US Space Forces will receive about 40 million in its first year of operation.

The US Space Force will be based on the work of the already existing US Space Command (SpaceCom), which was created in August to support US military space operations, and their main purpose will not be to send soldiers into orbit, but to protect American assets in space, such as hundreds of satellites used for communication and surveillance.

Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett has confirmed that the Space Force will consist of approximately 16,000 soldiers and civilian personnel, headed by Air Force General Jay Raymond, who is currently commanding SpaceCom.

Sources: bbc.com, spacenews.com, nextbigfuture.com