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.
Slingshot Aerospace won a $1,500,000 U.S. Air Force contract and received $1,500,000 in matching private funds to expedite deployment of artificial intelligence-driven data analytics to Air Force Special Operations Command on 2020-03-26.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off on 2020-03-26 at 4:18 PM EST from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying the AEHF-6 communications satellite.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded contracts to Applied Technology Associates of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Teledyne Brown Engineering of Huntsville, Alabama, to build prototype Energetic Charged Particle sensors.
Energetic Charged Particle sensors are designed to improve Air Force space weather models and help distinguish anomalies caused by adversary actions versus space weather.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket carrying a U.S. Space Force communications satellite is set to lift off 2020-03-26 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
John "J.R." Riordan retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2011 after a 23-year career.
The U.S. Air Force selected Advanced Technology International, based in Charleston, South Carolina, in November 2017 to manage the consortium.
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V mission carrying the Advanced Extremely High Frequency AEHF-6 satellite remained scheduled for 2020-03-26 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act requires the Air Force to nominate an assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration to oversee all space acquisitions.
The office of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration is working with the Pentagon’s Space Development Agency on a separate report due to Congress in September 2020 explaining how multiple organizations that currently oversee missile-warning satellite programs plan to synchronize efforts.
The U.S. Air Force continued to conduct global missions including deployed fighters and bombers, deployed maintainers, global mobility missions, and global space operations.
The RAND study was delivered to the Air Force in September 2019, about three months before the Space Force was officially established in the National Defense Authorization Act.
The RAND study recommends that some Air Force career fields develop a 'space track' to provide the additional training and development necessary for Air Force officers who will serve in the Space Force.
The Space and Missile Systems Center transferred the Counter Communications System Block 10.2 to the 4th Space Control Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, on 2020-03-12 after testing it over the past year.
The U.S. Air Force first deployed the Counter Communications System in 2004 in response to foreign electronic warfare systems disrupting American satellites.
The Pentagon’s 2020 budget includes $182,000,000 for a new NASIC headquarters building at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
NASA’s Infrared Astronomical Satellite, launched in 1983, came within meters of colliding with Gravity Gradient Stabilization Experiment-4, a U.S. Air Force satellite launched in 1967, in January.
The Joint Polar Satellite System 2 spacecraft will launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2022.
Susan Mashiko retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2014.
The Falcon 9 launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 11:50 p.m. Eastern.