The US House Armed Services Committee has voted in favour of creating a new branch of the armed forces in the country, called ‘Space Corps’.

The committee voted 60 to 1 to approve the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The new US Space Corps command, which will be responsible for the US Air Force’s (USAF) space operations, will serve as a separate military service within the Department of the Air Force.

Expected to be established by 2019, the new military branch will ensure a senior military official can focus on and is responsible for training and equipping for operations in space and, likewise, for any future combats in this critical domain, the committee stated.

House Armed Services Committee chairman Mac Thornberry said: "Congress's most important constitutional duty is to 'provide for the common defence.' For 56 straight years now, this Committee has upheld that obligation by passing the National Defense Authorization Act with overwhelming bipartisan support.

"This year’s bill reforms, repairs, and rebuilds our military."

“This year’s bill reforms, repairs, and rebuilds our military. It provides for our troops and their families and helps ensure that our men and women in uniform are fully trained, equipped, and supported.

"It sets national security policy in a dangerous and complicated world.”

The NDAA would provide $640bn in support of national defence to help the US military restore readiness, rebuild capacity, and modernise the force for future challenges.

The FY18 proposal would fully resource and authorise counter-terrorism efforts and US Special Operations Forces, programmes, and activities. This would include ongoing operations in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, and elsewhere, according to the statement.