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 fiscal year 2021 bill adds $15,000,000 for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration.
Descartes Labs was awarded a $1,500,000 contract on 2020-07-08 to help the U.S. Air Force draw intelligence from imagery and other data collected by satellites and autonomous aerial vehicles.
Descartes Labs’ tools create a single source of intelligence truth and are intended to provide the Air Force with actionable insights to improve decision-making.
L3Harris Technologies launched the first satellite of a remote sensing constellation it is developing for the U.S. Air Force.
The NTS-3 contract includes options for the U.S. Air Force to procure up to nine satellites.
The Department of the Air Force plans to choose a location for U.S. Space Command headquarters in January 2021.
On 2020-05-15, the Department of the Air Force opened an open bidding process to select the permanent location of U.S. Space Command headquarters.
The Department of the Air Force received nominations from 26 states to host U.S. Space Command headquarters as of 2020-07-05.
The Department of the Air Force did not disclose which 26 states submitted bids to host U.S. Space Command headquarters.
An experiment launched 2020-05-17 onboard the U.S. Air Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-6 is based on over a decade of work focused on a modular space solar satellite capable of beaming energy to Earth.
HASC Strategic Forces subcommittee Chairman Jim Cooper offered an amendment requesting an independent review of proposed space acquisition reforms that the Secretary of the Air Force submitted in a 2020-05-20 draft report.
Clint Crosier, a retired U.S. Air Force Major General who helped establish and provided early guidance to the U.S. Space Force, will lead AWS’s Aerospace and Satellite Solutions division.
The Air Force planned to begin investing in National Security Space Launch Phase 3 by 2023.
The Department of the Air Force will award two contracts in the summer of 2020 for the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 procurement.
Adam Smith’s bill supports the Air Force plan to select two providers for Phase 2 while accelerating the timeline for the Air Force to begin investing in Phase 3 technologies.
SpaceX’s first GPS launch in December 2018 used an expendable Falcon 9 without landing legs or grid fins because the Air Force determined the vehicle could not both perform the required mission trajectory and return the first stage.
The Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman multiple contracts since 2007 to sustain and update the Defense Support Program constellation.
In October 2018 the Air Force awarded Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance, and Northrop Grumman $2,300,000,000 in Launch Service Agreement development funding to be spread over six years.
The Department of the Air Force will award two contracts this summer for the NSSL Phase 2 procurement.
Smith’s mark sets a 2021-09-30 deadline for the Air Force to sign three agreements with National Security Space Launch providers for Phase 3 investments.