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 Institute of Technology is conducting research to advance human spaceflight recovery policy and guidance.
DARPA has tested autonomy and artificial intelligence with the U.S. Air Force involving F-16 fighter jets.
David D. Thompson has held leadership positions at the National Reconnaissance Office, Air Force Warfare Center, and United States Strategic Command.
General David D. Thompson has a Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy.
There have been 44 Delta IV launches to date, all successful, for the Air Force, Space Force, National Reconnaissance Office, NASA, and commercial customers.
General David D. Thompson held senior positions at the National Reconnaissance Office, Air Force Warfare Center, and United States Strategic Command.
United Launch Alliance has conducted 44 Delta IV launches to date, all successful, for Air Force, Space Force, National Reconnaissance Office, NASA, and commercial customers.
The first payload delivered for the U.S. Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program was the DSCS A3 communications satellite on 2003-03-10.
The first payload delivered for the U.S. Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program was the DSCS A3 communications satellite on 2003-03-10.
Parry Labs was awarded a subcontract valued up to $13,000,000 to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. to deliver Edge Compute (EC) Hyper and Edge Compute Autonomy hardware systems for the U.S. Air Force MQ-9A multidomain configuration.
The Aerospace Corp. was established in June 1960 to serve the U.S. Air Force in the scientific and technical planning and management of missile-space programs.
The U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Space Force are working with the National Reconnaissance Office to develop a dedicated constellation of sensor satellites specifically designed for Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI).
Turion Space has received approximately $7,000,000 in contracts from NASA, the U.S. Space Force, and the U.S. Air Force to develop data-collecting and satellite-servicing technologies.
In the 1950s, the Air Force became interested in developing upper stages that used high-energy propellant combinations to increase range for ballistic missiles.
The Air Force is working with the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office to develop a classified constellation of satellites to monitor moving targets on the ground.
The Defense Innovation Unit partnered with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Weather Systems Branch to develop ground, air, and space-based prototypes for global weather sensing.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Weather Systems Branch awarded Muon Space an option to its contract in July 2023.
Rhea Space Activity received Small Business Innovation Research awards from the U.S. Air Force to develop a "lunar intelligence dashboard" for monitoring spacecraft activities in cislunar space.
The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a 2018 contract worth $7,200,000,000 for up to 22 GPS IIIF satellites.
The US Air Force awarded a $102 million contract to SpaceX in January 2022 for developing a point-to-point space transportation system.