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 task force consists of about 150 personnel and eight aircraft under the command of the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
Boeing brought a Starliner test vehicle to Patrick Air Force Base for open ocean rescue training.
Maj. Gen. John Shaw is the commander of the Combined Force Space Component of U.S. Space Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Detachment 3, led by Lt. Col. Michael Thompson, oversees training for rescue missions with about 30 full-time staff, augmented by Air Force combat search and rescue units.
Roccor plans to continue evolving its Link 16 antenna design to create a production-ready model under a $3,000,000 Small Business Innovation Research contract awarded after Air Force Space Pitch Day in November.
Congress directed Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act to propose alternative acquisition processes to speed development and lower the cost of space systems.
The Air Force sent the report to congressional committees on 2020-05-21 and notified them that the version they had received was not final.
The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act directed the Secretary of the Air Force to establish a separate Senior Acquisition Executive for space equal to the current Senior Acquisition Executive for the Air Force.
Launching from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam will allow Virgin Orbit to support launches to both equatorial and polar orbits.
When the U.S. Space Force was established in December 2019, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico was realigned under the Space Force.
Barry Behnken served a 20-year Air Force career that included work as a National Reconnaissance Office program director.
The systems engineering and integration contract supports the SMC launch enterprise at Los Angeles Air Force Base and supports the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base and the 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
The experiment flew to orbit on May 17 aboard the U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane.
The Air Force plans to terminate the October 2018 Launch Service Agreements except for those with companies that win a National Security Space Launch Phase 2 procurement contract.
United Launch Alliance launched an Atlas 5 rocket carrying the U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane to orbit on 2020-05-17.
The Air Force awarded Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance, and Northrop Grumman $2,300,000,000 in Launch Service Agreement funding in October 2018 to be spread over six years to help defray the cost of rocket certification for national security launch and of building launch pads on East and West coast ranges.
The Atlas 5 lifted off at 09:14 AM Eastern time from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
On 2020-05-15 the U.S. Air Force opened a bidding process to select the permanent location of U.S. Space Command headquarters.
The Air Force expects to select the permanent U.S. Space Command headquarters location in early 2021 and estimates it will take up to six years to build new facilities.
The ongoing National Security Space Launch Phase 2 competition by the U.S. Air Force plans to award contracts to two companies this summer.