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 U.S. Air Force and Boeing are negotiating the terms of a $605,000,000 deal awarded in April for production of the 11th Wideband Global Satellite Communications (WGS-11) satellite.
Congress appropriated $600,000,000 above the Air Force’s fiscal year 2018 budget request to procure WGS-11 and WGS-12.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center is reviewing Boeing’s WGS-11 proposal along with potential hosted-payload options.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center is actively negotiating contract terms with Boeing for WGS-11 production.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center is exploring adding new international partners to WGS through investment in WGS-11 but cannot release details until international agreements are completed.
SpaceX pitched Starship point-to-point transportation as a way to deliver cargo in minutes to locations halfway around the world to the U.S. Air Force.
Preparations to create a space service under the Department of the Air Force continue despite an uncertain political climate and no assurances from Congress that it will enact a Space Force in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander will be launched on a Vulcan Centaur rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise Small Launch and Targets Division at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico manages the OSP-4 program.
The Air Force released the solicitation for OSP-4 on 2019-08-14 and received nine proposals that were due on 2019-08-29.
SpaceX launched the AMOS-17 telecommunications satellite on a Falcon 9 and 34 hours later United Launch Alliance launched an Air Force communications satellite from a different pad in August.
Boosters equipped with AFSS have had a total of 38 operational launches from the Eastern Range and the Western Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
The Wide Field of View (WFOV) is a 1,000-kilogram geosynchronous satellite being developed by Millennium Space Systems for the U.S. Air Force.
William Shelton is a retired Air Force general who led Air Force Space Command and is a member of Voyager Space Holdings' board of directors.
The 2019-10-01 contract allows the Air Force to launch the AEHF-6, AFSPC-7, and NROL-101 missions on previously ordered Atlas 5 rockets.
The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act directed the Air Force to end the EELV Launch Capability contract in 2019 and phase out use of the Russian RD-180 engine that powers Atlas 5.
The Air Force plans in 2020 to select two companies to split 60/40 all national security launch missions from 2022 to 2026.
Combined, the nine Atlas 5 launches referenced are likely the final Atlas 5 missions the Air Force will fly before transitioning to vehicles selected under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement.
Air Force budget documents for 2017 show per-unit costs of EELV launch vehicles ranged from $117,000,000 to about $159,000,000 depending on configuration.
The 2019-10-01 sole-source contract follows the Air Force awarding ULA its final contract for five Delta 4 Heavy missions one day earlier.