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 is expected to select two companies in 2020 to share up to 34 national security launches from 2022 through 2026.
The subcommittee fully funded the Air Force request for the next-generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites and added an additional $536,000,000 to accelerate the program.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded a $4,900,000 contract to Aevum to lift experimental satellites to low Earth orbit.
The Air Force issued a request for information for the Agile Small Launch Operational Normalizer (ASLON) on 2018-12-14, with responses due 2019-01-18.
The Air Force awarded Aevum a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I contract on 2019-08-19 for its autonomous launch and space logistics service.
The ASLON-45 mission will be Aevum’s first Air Force mission and will launch from Cecil Air and Space Port in Jacksonville, Florida.
Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matt Donovan called for Congress to modify Title 10 and provide funding and manpower to empower the United States Space Force to organize, train, and equip ready forces on an equal basis with the other five services.
The Air Force contends that breaking up the acquisition office and creating a separate space acquisition organization could create a separate bureaucracy and likely increase inefficiency and cost.
Xenesis plans to conduct a feasibility study for a space-based Global Optical Multi-layered Mesh Network System for the U.S. Air Force, with the study announced on 2019-08-08.
Aerojet Rocketdyne is continuing AR1 development under an Air Force partnership and plans to have an AR1 ready for testing in the first quarter of 2020.
The Senate version of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act creates a Space Force within the Department of the Air Force.
The Senate version of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act proposes a reorganization of the office that manages acquisition of Air Force weapons systems.
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center posted a Request for Information on 2019-08-20 to conduct market research for recompeting management of the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC).
The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center aims to select a new contractor next year to manage SpEC.
SpEC’s current funds available for projects total $500,000,000 and the Air Force is considering increasing that to $12,000,000,000 over the next decade.
Refined data from the U.S. Air Force increased the probability of collision to within 1 in 1,000.
ESA's conjunction assessment team noticed the potential close approach about five days in advance using data from the U.S. Air Force's 18th Space Control Squadron.
Acting Air Force Secretary Matt Donovan took office on 2019-06-01 and has been vocal in support of establishing a Space Force.
Acting Air Force Secretary Matt Donovan and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein are committed to establishing a Space Force.
Former Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson opposed creating a separate military service before 2018-06-01 but left the Air Force on 2019-06-01.