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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Fred Kennedy served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired with the rank of colonel.
Firefly Aerospace reached an agreement with Space Florida to help fund development of a launch site at Space Launch Complex 20 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and a launch vehicle factory just outside the gates of the Kennedy Space Center.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on 2019-02-21 carrying an Indonesian communications satellite, an Israeli lunar lander, and a U.S. Air Force smallsat.
Starting in 2021, as many as 10,000 people could be moved to the Space Force along with $8,000,000,000 worth of space programs, most of which are currently owned by the Air Force.
SBIRS GEO-5, SBIRS GEO-6, and AFSPC-44 are Air Force Space-Based Infrared System geosynchronous Earth orbit satellites.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center plans a solicitation for a "combat bus" that must be modular, scalable, and work with non-proprietary payloads.
NROL-87 will launch in fiscal year 2021 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
The U.S. Air Force divided $739,000,000 in launch contracts between United Launch Alliance and SpaceX for six national security missions slated for 2021-2022.
Applied Defense Solutions received a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 2 award from the Air Force in 2017 for a project called Small Satellite System for Space Surveillance.
The Falcon 9 launch carrying PSN-6, Beresheet, and S5 is scheduled for no earlier than 2019-02-21 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Relativity is starting environmental work needed to construct its launch facilities at Launch Complex 16, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The U.S. Air Force is investing $3,200,000,000 in public-private partnerships with every major launch company except SpaceX.
The Air Force, Army and Navy are expected to transfer between $10,000,000,000 and $12,000,000,000 worth of space programs and personnel to the Space Force between 2021 and 2024.
The National Reconnaissance Office operates ground stations at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado; Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
The Air Force recommended in a September memo that the next director of the National Reconnaissance Office also serve as the director of the Air Force Space Rapid Capabilities Office to establish unity of command and reduce duplication in space programs.
The National Reconnaissance Office launches satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
The U.S. Air Force established the Space Rapid Capabilities Office at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico to take the lead in mostly classified critical space programs.
Troubles and delays to the GPS ground control system prevent the Air Force from adequately testing the full capabilities of GPS 3 satellites before they are procured and incorporated into the operational constellation.
The FAA announced in November that Wayne Monteith, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general who previously commanded the 45th Space Wing, would take over as associate administrator for commercial space transportation on 2019-01-20.
United Launch Alliance received a NASA contract in October 2017 to launch Landsat-9 on an Atlas V 401 from Vandenberg Air Force Base with a total cost to NASA of $153,800,000.