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Space Force would be by far the smallest military service

Details of the Pentagon's proposal released Friday show the new service would have about 15,000 personnel, including an unspecified number of civilians, but would begin in 2020 as only a headquarters of about 200. The proposal was submitted Wednesday to Congress, which must authorize the new service.

Space Force would be the first new military service since an independent Air Force was established in 1947 as part of a broad reorganization of the government's military and intelligence agencies.

Space Force would reside within the Department of the Air Force, similar to how the Marine Corps exists within the Department of the Navy.