Colorado Gov. Jared Polis Jared Schutz PolisMore than 1,000 gather at Colorado racetrack to protest governor's coronavirus orders Over 300 LGBT leaders endorse Biden for president : 'The most pro-equality ticket in US history' Colorado GOP lawmaker, Michelle Malkin sue governor over coronavirus orders MORE (D) and the state’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the Pentagon on Friday asking that the Defense Department reestablish U.S. Space Command in the state.

Polis and the delegation urged acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan Patrick Michael ShanahanHouse Armed Services chairman expresses confidence in Esper amid aircraft carrier coronavirus crisis Boeing pleads for bailout under weight of coronavirus, 737 fallout Esper's chief of staff to depart at end of January MORE to use Colorado's existing space missions and assets, and invited Shanahan to visit the state's existing space defense infrastructure.

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“As the epicenter of national security space, Colorado is the prime location to house national efforts to ensure continued U.S. technological superiority, global leadership, and capabilities in space. For these reasons, it is in the nation’s best interests to base U.S. Space Command in Colorado,” they wrote.

Colorado houses the Defense Department's center of gravity for space operations, U.S. Northern Command and the U.S. Air Force Space Command, including three of its five active-duty space wings.

Colorado will likely face stiff competition for the site, as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Ron DeSantisTrump may meet with potential Supreme Court pick in Miami Florida governor unveils legislation targeting protesters in 'violent or disorderly' demonstrations Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE (R), a close ally of President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE, courted the White House last month for the Space Command headquarters.

U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command are already based in Florida, as are U.S. Southern Command, the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The president directed the Pentagon in December to create Space Command to prepare for the formation of the Space Force. Space Command’s establishment helped bring each military branch’s space elements under one roof.

The Pentagon is crafting legislation to get congressional approval and funding for Space Force, which will be the military’s newest branch, though it is still expected to be housed under the Air Force.

Updated March 8, 7:53 a.m.