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.
U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Ron Lerch identified China as the United States’ primary competitor in space.
GPS III SV-09 is the ninth satellite in the U.S. Space Force’s Block III Global Positioning System.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will launch the accelerated GPS III-7 mission for the U.S. Space Force no earlier than the end of next month.
The Space Force plans to decommission the Space Defense Operations Center by the end of 2026.
A $90 million contract awarded to L3Harris in March 2025 covers follow-on astrometric tools for the Space Force.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will launch the U.S. Space Force’s GPS III-8 mission.
The Space Force restructured the broader Space C2 program in May 2025.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 will launch the U.S. Space Force’s GPS III-8 mission.
USSF-70 was reassigned from Falcon Heavy to Vulcan.
L3Harris Technologies refurbished the U.S. Space Force’s Space Surveillance Telescope in Western Australia with Australian partners.
The U.S. Space Force assigned Vulcan to launch the USSF-70 mission no earlier than summer 2028.
United Launch Alliance is accelerating upgrades to Vulcan solid rocket booster nozzles after the USSF-87 solid rocket booster anomaly.
USSF-70 will launch on ULA's Vulcan instead of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy.
The U.S. Space Force moved GPS III SV-10 "Hedy Lamarr" to SpaceX Falcon 9 for a launch no earlier than late April 2026.
United Launch Alliance was already planning the Vulcan modifications before the February Space Force mission anomaly.
On March 17, 2026, the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command awarded Kratos Technology & Training Solutions, Inc. a $446.8 million Ground Management and Integration agreement.
United Launch Alliance began planning the Vulcan modifications before a February Space Force mission anomaly involving the Vulcan booster.
The U.S. Space Force’s Integration Portfolio Acquisition Executive will mature specialized sensors and high-endurance propulsion for transit to the lunar vicinity.
The U.S. Space Force has designated a second tranche of Portfolio Acquisition Executives and is moving away from the traditional Program Executive Officer structure.
By 2028, the U.S. Space Force aims to deploy initial cislunar Space Domain Awareness sensors.