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.
Congress will decide whether to establish an independent Space Force under the U.S. Air Force as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
A Sept. 2018 Air Force public affairs memo titled 'Space Force Messaging' directed that the Air Force's proposal for a sixth branch should only be communicated by Air Force civilian leadership and was not a discussion point for general officers.
The original Smallsat Rideshare Program included a limited number of dedicated Falcon 9 launches to sun-synchronous orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base with the first launch scheduled between November 2020 and March 2021.
The Air Force awarded $2,200,000,000 in Launch Service Agreement funding to Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, and United Launch Alliance in 2018.
The Air Force awarded the 2018 Launch Service Agreement funds to help companies defray the costs of meeting the government’s launch requirements for the upcoming Phase 2 competition.
Mark Esper requested that the Senate Armed Services Committee provide the technical legislative authority to establish the Space Force as the sixth branch of the Armed Forces within the Department of the Air Force and requested the necessary resources to ensure its success.
The U.S. Air Force’s Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) flew in 2011 as part of the SES-2 communications satellite on an Ariane 5 launch vehicle.
The Air Force created the Hosted Payload Solutions (HoPS) contract vehicle in 2014 and selected 14 companies to participate in the program.
The NSSL program is run by the U.S. Air Force and receives additional oversight from the Pentagon.
The Air Force raised the ceiling for Space Enterprise Consortium Other Transaction Authority contracts to $500,000,000.
The Air Force selected Advanced Technology International of Charleston, South Carolina in November 2017 to manage the Space Enterprise Consortium.
After opening subsequent GPS-3 satellites to competition, the Air Force selected Lockheed Martin again in 2018 for up to 22 follow-on satellites valued at $7,200,000,000 after Boeing and Northrop Grumman declined to bid.
The U.S. Air Force selected Lockheed Martin in 2008 to build the first 10 GPS-3 satellites.
The Delta 4 Medium lifted off at 9:06 a.m. from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
The Delta 4 Medium carried its GPS-3 payload to a transfer orbit from which the satellite will use onboard propulsion to join the Air Force’s other 31 GPS satellites in a 20,200-kilometer medium Earth orbit.
United Launch Alliance completed the final launch of a Delta 4 Medium on 2019-08-22, sending a GPS-3 satellite into medium Earth orbit for the U.S. Air Force.
The GPS-3 satellite launched on ULA’s final Delta 4 Medium was the U.S. Air Force’s second GPS-3 spacecraft.
All future Delta 4 Heavy missions will support United States Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office customers.
United Launch Alliance’s Delta 4 Medium has launched 28 times and its 29th and final mission will carry the Air Force’s second GPS-3 satellite on 2020-08-22.
The National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-82 mission is planned to launch on a Delta 4 Heavy from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California in 2020.