Left, Air Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, Gen. John Hyten, outgoing commander of Air Force Space Command, and Gen. John Raymond salute during the National Anthem, at Peterson Air Force Base,  (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. David Salanitri)

A new U.S. Space Command that will serve as the Trump Administration’s transition to a full-fledged “Space Force,” officially commences operations Aug. 29. The launch date was confirmed by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Pentagon officials at last week’s meeting of the National Space Council.

U.S. Air Force Gen. John Raymond was confirmed by U.S. Senate to lead the new organization. Space Force, which is designed to act as a new, somewhat independent branch of the U.S. Armed Services, requires congressional approval to be officially installed as an organization. The U.S. Space Command, meanwhile, will work to pull resources from other military divisions in order to create Space Force.

President Trump hopes to launch the Space Force division by the  year 2020. He will deliver remarks on the U.S. Space Command opening late Thursday afternoon at the White House.