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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As a captain, Douglas Schiess worked at Vandenberg Air Force Base launching Delta II rockets.
Douglas Schiess was sworn in on 2018-08-23 as commander of the 45th Space Wing and director of the Eastern Range headquartered at Patrick Air Force Base.
A Delta 2 variant launched five Iridium communications satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 1997-05-05.
The AEHF-4 satellite launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The Reagan Administration awarded McDonnell Douglas a contract in 1987 to upgrade its Delta rocket, a modified Air Force Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile, following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Advanced Technology International received a $100,000,000 contract from the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in November to establish and manage the Space Enterprise Consortium.
The Air Force planned to have between $150,000,000 and $200,000,000 awarded through the consortium by the end of the year.
The Missile Defense Agency, working through the Air Force-led Space Enterprise Consortium, awarded $1,000,000 study contracts this summer to nine firms to design concept prototypes for a space sensor layer.
The Launch Service Agreement (LSA) program was started in 2015 to nurture domestic launch providers as the Air Force faces a 2022 deadline to stop using Russian RD-180 engines that power ULA’s Atlas V rocket.
The Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman $792,000,000 in LSA funding to develop the OmegA rocket.
The Air Force awarded Blue Origin $500,000,000 in LSA funding to develop the New Glenn rocket.
The Air Force awarded United Launch Alliance $967,000,000 in LSA funding to develop the Vulcan Centaur rocket.
The Air Force is working on a draft solicitation for phase 2 that could be released later 2018 or early in 2019.
The Air Force has committed through 2024 a total of $967,000,000 in OTA funds for United Launch Alliance.
The U.S. Air Force awarded three contracts collectively worth about $2,000,000,000 to Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, and United Launch Alliance to develop launch system prototypes.
The Air Force has committed through 2024 a total of $500,000,000 in OTA funds for Blue Origin.
The U.S. Air Force selected Blue Origin for a Launch Services Agreement on 2018-10-10.
Of the three phase 1 awardees, the company that does not win phase 2 will not receive the full amount of OTA funding that the Air Force announced it would commit.
Shanahan is evaluating whether to allocate space funding to the Army, Air Force, or the proposed Space Development Agency.
The Air Force has committed through 2024 a total of $792,000,000 in OTA funds for Northrop Grumman.