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U.S. Space Force

US
gov defenseFounded 2019
Washington, D.C., United States
www.spaceforce.mil/
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Verified facts grounded in source documentation.

The U.S. Space Force compressed the Next-Gen OPIR program schedule by 42 months and plans to launch the first satellite by 2025.

NARRATIVE GROWTH9/22/2021GAO steps up criticism of Space Force’s missile-warning satellite procurement

In April of 2021, the U.S. Space Force removed Lockheed Martin from the PTS program and selected Boeing and Northrop Grumman to develop PTS prototypes.

NARRATIVE PLAN9/16/2021Raytheon announces to acquire SEAKR Engineering

The U.S. Space Force’s Commercial Satellite Communications Office manages $4,600,000,000 worth of contracts, with most contracts for satellite bandwidth rather than for managed services.

NARRATIVE GENERAL9/8/2021U.S. military has growing appetite for satellite communications but its needs are complex

Phase Four won a contract on 2021-08-18 at the U.S. Space Force’s first SpaceWERX Pitch Day to fuel its Maxwell engine with the green propellant ASCENT developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.

ORG RELATIONSHIP8/25/2021Phase Four Maxwell to test green propellant

Under a Defense Innovation Unit contract, Astra Space plans to launch a test payload for the U.S. Space Force on its next attempt to reach orbit in August.

NARRATIVE GROWTH8/9/2021ABL, Astra, Relativity selected to compete for U.S. Space Force responsive launch contracts

Astra is under contract to perform a second launch later in 2021 following the first commercial orbital launch with the United States Space Force.

NARRATIVE GENERAL8/8/2021Astra Sets Their First USSF Smallsat Launch From The Pacific Spaceport Complex In Kodiak, Alaska

The U.S. Space Force plans to develop a sensor network called the Deep Space Advanced Radar Concept (DARC) to track active satellites and debris beyond geostationary orbit at 35,786 km above the Earth.

NARRATIVE PLAN7/22/2021United Kingdom a potential site for future U.S. space surveillance radar

The U.S. Space Force launched a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on 2021-06-15 aboard a Minotaur I rocket at 9:35 a.m. EDT from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

NARRATIVE GROWTH6/15/2021The USSF’s NROL-111 Launch Via Minotaur From NASA’s Wallops Heads To Orbit

Northrop Grumman successfully launched the Tactically Responsive Launch-2 (TacRL-2) payload into orbit for the U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center using the company’s Pegasus XL rocket.

TECHNICAL PRODUCT6/13/2021Northrop Grumman Successfully Launches USSF / SMC’s TacRL-2 Payload

A U.S. Space Force mission named TacRL-2 is scheduled to launch on 2021-06-13 as a monitoring satellite intended to provide space domain awareness.

NARRATIVE PLAN6/10/2021U.S. Space Force to launch ‘space domain awareness’ satellite on Pegasus rocket

The largest share of the $2,200,000,000 increase requested for the Space Force is for operations and maintenance.

NARRATIVE GENERAL5/28/2021Biden seeks $2 billion funding boost for U.S. Space Force

The Space Force is developing Next Generation OPIR Block 0 missile warning and infrared ISR satellites with an estimated cost of $8,400,000,000.

NARRATIVE PLAN5/24/2021Space Force warned to avoid past mistakes as it pursues new satellite acquisitions

DoD consolidated some organizations under the Space Force while creating the Space Development Agency and the Space Rapid Capabilities Office to quickly develop new systems.

NARRATIVE PLAN5/24/2021Space Force warned to avoid past mistakes as it pursues new satellite acquisitions

The U.S. Space Force expects to invest from $140,000,000 to $200,000,000 per year on DARC prototyping and testing in the near term.

NARRATIVE GROWTH5/23/2021Space Force looking to build new radar sites to track objects in high orbits

Tom McCormick advocates partnering with the U.S. Space Force and fostering innovative startups to help ensure the OPIR mission stays ahead of evolving threats.

ORG RELATIONSHIP4/21/2021Lockheed Martin Hosts Startups for First Innovation Partners Pitch Day

The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center is located at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California and serves as the center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems.

ORG RELATIONSHIP3/24/2021USSF’s SBIRS GEO-5 Satellite Ships To Cape Canaveral AFS

The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center is located at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California and serves as the center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems.

ORG RELATIONSHIP3/24/2021USSF’s SBIRS GEO-5 Satellite Ships To Cape Canaveral AFS

The Space Force decided on 2021-01-29 to adopt most of the U.S. Air Force ranks for officers and enlisted personnel.

NARRATIVE GENERAL2/25/2021Space Force sees itself as a startup trying to launch a new product

In a 2021-02-17 update, the U.S. Space Force will start a program for expanded space access, mobility, and logistics needs to further strengthen U.S. space dominance.

NARRATIVE PLAN2/18/2021U.S. Space Command to recommend investments in space infrastructure

On 2021-02-17, BAE Systems won the largest share of a $552,000,000 Space Force contract awarded in November to three companies to design and manufacture advanced GPS receivers that provide positioning, navigation, and timing to U.S. military forces.

NARRATIVE GENERAL2/17/2021BAE Systems positioning for growth in military GPS following Collins acquisition
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