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.
USSF-87 has a launch window at 3:30–5:30 a.m. EST.
SpaceWERX is the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force.
Vandenberg Space Force Base is investing more than $800 million over five years in infrastructure improvements.
Vandenberg Space Force Base hosted 71 launches in 2025, including both orbital launches and suborbital missile tests.
The Spaceport of the Future initiative at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station targets the ability to accommodate 500 or more launches per year as soon as 2030.
If Crew-12 launches as scheduled, United Launch Alliance must delay the USSF-87 launch.
In January 2026 the U.S. Space Force launched its Maneuverable GEO competition.
United Launch Alliance will launch the Vulcan rocket mission designated USSF-87.
The Vulcan USSF-87 mission will launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
In January 2026 the Space Force Vice Chief of Operations challenged industry to extend Space Domain Awareness and navigation capabilities to the lunar surface.
The $49.8 million contract tasks Northwood Space with modernizing the U.S. Space Force’s Satellite Control Network under Space Systems Command (SSC).
Northwood Space secured a $49.8 million contract from the U.S. Space Force on January 27, 2026.
The contract advances the Space Force’s Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) program toward integrating existing training enterprise capabilities with AI-native technology.
The U.S. Space Force awarded a $27 million contract to Slingshot Aerospace to modernize scenario training activities.
SpaceWERX and the U.S. Space Force made investments in 2022 under a $25 million STRATFI contract award that the current OTTI contract builds on.
Slingshot Aerospace is building TALOS and supporting infrastructure to integrate with complementary training systems, data sources, and AI capabilities across the Space Force.
Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) is a Space Force program focused on integrating training enterprise capabilities with advanced technologies.
The merged company aims to deliver agile and resilient systems for the U.S. Space Force, the Missile Defense Agency, and NASA.
Space Force service components are designed to deliver regionally tailored space effects to geographic and functional combatant commanders to increase joint force lethality, protect freedom of maneuver, enable deterrence, and support mission requirements across their areas of responsibility.
SPACEFOR-NORTH serves as the U.S. Space Force service component to U.S. Northern Command.