The U.S. Air Force (USAF) plays a significant role in the space industry, historically serving as the Department of Defense's executive agent for space, and developing early military space programs and launch vehicles. Although the U.S. Space Force was established as an independent branch in 2019, the Air Force continues to contribute to space operations, including training personnel, research and development, and maintaining partnerships. The USAF's space-related activities encompass satellite operations, missile warning, communication support, and collaboration with allies to ensure regional stability. Key partners include the U.S. Space Force, other branches of the military, and international allies.
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The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center negotiated with United Launch Alliance savings of approximately $27,500,000 per launch for the three Delta 4 Heavy missions.
The Air Force is buying the three Delta 4 Heavy missions to ensure the NRO can place very large satellites on orbit before 2024 while transitioning to new vehicles under the National Security Space Launch program starting in 2022.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded United Launch Alliance a $156,700,000 contract modification on 2019-08-07 for a Delta 4 Heavy launch of the National Reconnaissance Office mission NROL-70.
Vector Launch received a $3,400,000 contract from the Air Force Rocket Systems Launch Program office to lift experimental satellites to low Earth orbit.
DoD officials testified that the Senate bill does not provide the authorities and resources the Pentagon believes are needed to create a separate military branch for space under the Department of the Air Force.
The Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 7:23 p.m. Eastern.
SpaceX plans to carry out a series of Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base starting in late 2020 or early 2021 and continuing annually through at least 2023.
SpaceX ruled out launching Starship/Super Heavy from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral and Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base because those sites would require more modifications and the Vandenberg site did not support trajectories for the vast majority of missions.
NASA conducted its single in-flight test of Orion’s abort system on 2019-07-02 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
The National Security Space Launch program is one of four Air Force major acquisition programs that have cost increases greater than $1,000,000,000 or 10% since December 2018.
The Air Force submitted a reprogramming request on 2019-07-19 that would shift $93,200,000 from programs funded in fiscal year 2019 and $67,500,000 from programs funded in fiscal year 2018 to next-gen OPIR.
The $160,000,000 reprogramming request is smaller than an earlier $632,000,000 reprogramming that Air Force officials identified as needed to deliver next-gen OPIR by 2025.
The Air Force requested $1,400,000,000 for research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E) and $200,000,000 for procurement for next-gen OPIR in its fiscal year 2020 budget request.
The Air Force would move an additional $67,500,000 from fiscal year 2018 program lines including $52,000,000 from Operationally Responsive Space, $10,000,000 from the Space Based Infrared System High EMD, and $5,500,000 from classified programs.
The Air Force is seeking congressional approval to transfer $160,000,000 from other accounts to fund the next-generation Overhead Persistent Infrared system, or next-gen OPIR.
Up until late 2017, the Air Force was planning a new system to replace SBIRS that would have been ready to launch by 2029.
The Air Force designed next-gen OPIR to use Section 804 authorities to accelerate satellite development toward a 2023 launch timeline.
The Air Force would move $93,200,000 from fiscal year 2019 RDT&E program lines including $20,000,000 from Space Control Technology, $37,900,000 from Future Advanced Weapon Analysis and Programs, $25,300,000 from B-52 squadrons, and $10,000,000 from the Space and Missile Test and Evaluation Center.
House appropriators questioned the Air Force strategy for next-gen OPIR and cut the Department of Defense’s request by $201,000,000 in their report accompanying the 2020 defense markup.
Under the previous RSGS effort, DARPA had agreed to arrange the launch through the Air Force in 2021.