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 USSF expects the first batch of dedicated MILNET satellites to begin deployment in mid-2026.
The U.S. Space Force confirmed the deployment of a military satellite communications architecture called 'MILNET' in partnership with SpaceX on December 27, 2025.
The arrangement with the NRO allows the Space Force to leverage the Starshield contract framework for rapid procurement of satellites and launch services.
The Space Force funds the MILNET program to meet specific Department of Defense connectivity requirements.
The US Space Force is currently launching satellites to build a new infrared early warning constellation known as SBIRS-GEO (Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit).
In August 2024, Tory Bruno expressed optimism that Vulcan would reach a launch cadence of twice per month by the end of 2025, but the August launch for the U.S. Space Force was the only Vulcan launch that year.
Amazon and the U.S. Space Force have booked about 60 launches on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.
The CSG-FM3 satellite is ready for launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The choice of Vandenberg Space Force Base aligns with the orbital profile typical of COSMO-SkyMed satellites, designed for global coverage.
The addition of ARKA provides CACI direct access to optical instrumentation and sensor payloads used by the U.S. Space Force and intelligence agencies.
ULA operationalized the Vulcan vehicle with the USSF-106 mission on August 12, 2025.
The U.S. Space Force awarded a $2.8 billion contract to Boeing for Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications to support integrated military architecture.
Task orders were awarded to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions for ground system sustainment by the U.S. Space Force.
The Electron rocket deployed four DiskSat satellites into orbit for the U.S. Space Force's Space Test Program-S30 mission.
The launch of DiskSat was advanced from April 2026 at the request of the U.S. Space Force.
Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab USA, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies are to build 72 satellites for Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Force's Space Development Agency's Tracking Layer under more than $3.5 billion in Other Transaction Authority rapid prototyping contracts.
The United States Space Force and the United States Space Force Space Systems Command are involved in the STP-S30 mission.
Rocket Lab launched the STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force on Thursday.
The Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) is the U.S. Space Force's program for rapid launches of small, experimental satellites.
Thursday’s launch was conducted under the U.S. Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP).