The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the space service branch of the U.S. Department of Defense, established in December 2019. Its primary role is to organize, train, and equip space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space by ensuring space superiority. The USSF manages space launch operations, satellite operations, space environment surveillance, and satellite defense, and partners with organizations like NASA on space domain awareness and planetary defense. Key areas of focus include missile warning, satellite communications, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Northrop Grumman provided hardware and software platforms on USSF-44 to deliver multiple missions for customers including highly complex payloads from multiple industry partners.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 4:25 a.m. Eastern on 2022-11-10.
On 2022-11-09, Rocket Lab USA won two contracts worth $14,000,000 to provide separation systems for U.S. Space Force Space Development Agency satellites.
Intelsat-40e and NASA’s TEMPO payload will launch in early 2023 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The RF thruster demonstration was performed under a U.S. Space Force contract awarded at the 2021 Space Force Pitch Day.
The RF thruster demonstration using ASCENT was conducted under a U.S. Space Force contract awarded at the 2021 Space Force Pitch Day.
Phase II will integrate RocketStar’s fusion-powered propulsion core with Rhea Space Activity’s Jervis Autonomy Module (JAM) to enable U.S. Space Force customers to operate beyond geostationary orbit.
Gen. B. Chance Saltzman assumed command of the U.S. Space Force by accepting the flag from Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall at a transition ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 2022-11-02.
Tetra-1 will help U.S. Space Force operators develop tactics, techniques, and procedures for Department of Defense missions.
DIU’s prototyping work and demonstrations will support Space Force plans to design and deploy a hybrid communications architecture with additional layers of satellites to increase network resilience.
The USSF-44 mission launched from Space Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle launched the USSF-14 mission with the Space Systems Command’s USSF-44 integrated payload aboard.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy lifted off 2022-11-01 at 9:41 a.m. Eastern from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida carrying the U.S. Space Force USSF-44 mission to geostationary Earth orbit.
RS21 won a U.S. Space Force Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract on 2022-10-26 worth $375,000 for two years with options for over $1,000,000 in additional work.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has called for the Space Force to innovate faster to counter China's advancements in space technology.
Frank Calvelli issued a list of do’s and don’ts for the Space Force procurement workforce on October 31.
USSF-44 was SpaceX’s first direct-to-GEO operational mission requiring the Falcon Heavy upper stage to perform a long-duration coast and engine restart.
LDPE-3A is scheduled to launch with the USSF-67 mission in January 2023.
USSF-44 was originally scheduled to launch in 2020 and was delayed multiple times before its 2022-11-01 launch.
USSF-44 was a direct-to-geostationary-orbit launch carrying two Space Force satellites and additional small rideshare payloads.