U.S. Space Command one giant leap for Colorado Springs

President Donald Trump has promised the Space Force for months, but Thursday he announced the U.S. Space Command will open for business.

Space Command’s history started long before it was officially put back in action Thursday afternoon.

“It existed here from 1985 to 2002,” said Reggie Ash, a military veteran.

Ash now works as the Chief Defense Development Officer for the Chamber of Commerce in Colorado Springs and says he’s not surprised Colorado has the best odds at keeping the U.S. Space Command.

Trump says Space Command will oversee the efforts of all armed services in defending American satellites, planning for war in space and providing space services for troops in combat.

Now Colorado Springs is hoping it’s here to stay, but it could prove difficult. Colorado Springs is competing with locations out of Aurora, California, Florida and Alabama.

“In Colorado Springs we are the epicenter of national security space. We’re already the home to Air Force Space Command, we’re the home to National Space Defense Center, We’re home to a lot of other space entities, and we’re home to over 250 defense and aerospace corporations,” Ash said.

The command will be headed by Peterson Air Force Base Gen. Jay Raymond, and Ash says the economic impact is enough to expand beyond the base.

“It’s a magnet for companies that want to move their headquarters to the area,” Raymond said.

He says that’s why there are many efforts in place to make sure it’s in Colorado Springs to stay.

“Over the last six months we have had some level of advocacy whether it’s the city council or the board of county commissioners issuing a proclamation,” Ash said.

Ultimately, the fate lies with those in Washington D.C. and while the decision was supposed to come down last month, we still don’t know where it will stay.