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.
The Space Force does not have a mandate to clean up space debris but emphasizes the importance of preventing the creation of new debris.
The Space Force aims to develop more sophisticated intelligence capabilities to identify potential threats such as disguised orbital weapons.
Congress established the U.S. Space Force in December 2019 as a new military branch.
President Trump’s final budget proposal seeks more than $15,000,000,000 for the Space Force, with about $12,000,000,000 set aside for research, development, and procurement of new systems.
The Space Force established in 2019 differs from the 2017 Space Corps proposal by only a single word.
The U.S. Space Force selected Northrop Grumman to design and develop two polar-orbiting space vehicles for the Next-Gen Overhead Persistent Infrared system.
United Launch Alliance and SpaceX were selected on 2020-08-07 as the Space Force’s primary launch providers for 2022 to 2027.
SpaceX will use the recovered boosters from the June and November GPS launches to fly two more GPS satellites in 2021 after renegotiating its contract with the Space Force.
The Space Force plans to make the entire SpaceX booster fleet reusable by 2022.
The Space Force has agreed to allow reused SpaceX boosters in two GPS launches scheduled in 2021.
Vulcan Centaur must fly at least twice before the U.S. Space Force will certify it to launch national security satellites starting in fiscal year 2022.
The memo labels the U.S. Space Force an "unnecessary bureaucracy that costs $16,000,000,000 in 2021" and says it is focused on "militarization rather than cooperation in space."
Congress enacted the U.S. Space Force in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and established its status as the sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces in law.
Rep. Doug Lamborn expressed willingness to align with legislative proposals regarding the Space Force's use of Navy ranks and insignia.
Rep. Doug Lamborn is more concerned about the Space Force having the necessary resources and authorities than organizational issues like ranks, names, and logos.
Rep. Doug Lamborn co-chairs the Space Force Caucus and is a candidate for a key subcommittee position.
The Senate Appropriations Committee questioned why it will take the U.S. Space Force 12 years to acquire new jam-resistant communications satellites to replace the existing Advanced Extremely High Frequency spacecraft made by Lockheed Martin.
Brig. Gen. Stephen Purdy was named commander of the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Space Wing and director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida on 2020-11-10.
The guidance calls for the Space Force to partner with civil and commercial organizations to expand its ability to sense, communicate, and act to protect and defend American interests in cislunar space and beyond.
Starting next year, the U.S. Space Force will allow SpaceX to use previously flown Falcon 9 boosters to launch military GPS satellites for the first time.