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.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The HASC bill supports the Air Force’s plan to select two providers in NSSL Phase 2 while accelerating the timeline to begin investing in technologies for Phase 3.
Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) directs the Air Force to create a $150,000,000 program for the development of space launch technologies in the chairman’s mark of the draft 2021 NDAA.
The HASC bill supports terminating Launch Service Agreements with companies that do not win Phase 2 procurement contracts while directing the Air Force to find a different way to continue investing in commercial launch vehicles.
Under the $150,000,000 program the Air Force will conduct a full and open competition to select up to three companies to use funds for vehicle certification, infrastructure requirements, and transformational technologies.
The bill increases development funding for the National Security Space Launch program from the Air Force request of $560,900,000 to $710,900,000.
Relativity Space obtained a right of entry for Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 16 in January 2019.
Relativity Space plans to carry out the six Iridium replacement satellite launches from a new launch site it proposes to develop at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
On 2020-06-24, Relativity Space secured a Right of Entry Agreement with the United States Air Force 30th Space Wing for development of rocket launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The B-330 site at Vandenberg currently hosts a storage and processing facility and is located south of existing launch pads at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Relativity Space received a right of entry from the U.S. Air Force for a site called B-330 at Vandenberg to use for missions to polar and sun-synchronous orbits.
Relativity Space executed a Right of Entry agreement with the United States Air Force 30th Space Wing on 2020-06-24 to develop rocket launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The 2021 NDAA bill requires the Secretary of the Air Force to establish a program to develop technologies and systems to enhance Phase 3 National Security Space Launch requirements and enable advances in launch capability associated with insertion of national security payloads into relevant classes of orbits.
York Space Systems and Metropolitan State University of Denver won a U.S. Air Force Small Business Technology Transfer study contract announced 2020-06-23 to investigate ways to reduce the cost and speed delivery of high-quality satellite imagery.
The 2021 NDAA bill sets a ceiling of $250,000,000 for Air Force partnerships through 2027.
The Senate Armed Services Committee requires the Air Force, after Phase 2 providers are selected, to fund three-year research and development partnerships with companies to help them prepare to meet the requirements of the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 competition in 2024.
The 2021 NDAA bill supports the Air Force’s plan to select two winners in the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 procurement during the summer of 2020.
The 2021 NDAA bill authorizes $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 for the Air Force partnerships program.
The Senate Armed Services Committee’s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 directs the Air Force to fund up to $250,000,000 in research and development projects to help launch providers prepare to meet future national security launch requirements.
Carbice has won more than $3,000,000 in Small Business Innovation Research grants from the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army, and the National Science Foundation.
Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett supports consolidating space programs under the U.S. Space Force and is pushing for the Space Development Agency to be realigned sooner than 2022.