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U.S. Air Force

US
gov defenseFounded 1947
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
www.airforce.com/
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All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.

Space Launch Complex 10 hosted Air Force weather satellite launches in the 1970s and Royal Air Force Thor missile practice launches in the early 1960s.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralJun 30, 2025Guardians on the West Coast: The Space and Missile Technology Center and Vandenberg museum

The Air Force Research Laboratory has successfully demonstrated key components of SBSP technology.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralJun 9, 2025Space-based solar power: A new frontier in US energy security

The United States Air Force launched the KH-11 KENNEN satellite in late 1976 from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralJun 9, 2025The long road to near-real-time satellite reconnaissance: a chronology

The second KENNEN was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 14 June 1978.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralJun 9, 2025The long road to near-real-time satellite reconnaissance: a chronology

The Air Force signed a contract in 1996 to develop the Space Based Infrared System-High (SBIRS-High).

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceOrg RelationshipJun 2, 2025The origins and evolution of the Defense Support Program (part 4): DSP forever?

The Air Force had no plans to retire the DSP program as of 2010.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative PlanJun 2, 2025The origins and evolution of the Defense Support Program (part 4): DSP forever?

The Air Force launched DSP satellite 5R on November 28, 1987, almost fourteen years after its initial delivery.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralMay 27, 2025The origins and evolution of the Defense Support Program (part 3): The hangar queens and DSP-1

The Air Force moved the Atlantic DSP satellite to position at 37 degrees west after concerns about the SS-20 threat.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralMay 27, 2025The origins and evolution of the Defense Support Program (part 3): The hangar queens and DSP-1

The Air Force conducted three test flights of Program 437AP, achieving one success before discontinuing the program.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralMay 5, 2025Dark territory: the National Reconnaissance Office, satellite inspection, and anti-satellite weapons in the early 1970s

Conor Johnson holds a PhD from Clemson and has a background in structural dynamics as a former Air Force officer.

Mentioned as: Air ForceTechnical ProductApr 21, 2025Anything but expendable (part 3)

In 2008, the Air Force Space Command made the ESPA a standardized service for small payloads.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralApr 21, 2025Anything but expendable (part 3)

The Air Force agreed to investigate secondary payload options due to the cost-saving potential during the late 1990s.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralApr 14, 2025Anything but expendable (part 2)

The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center consolidated four reporting units and established the Space Experimentation Program Office in 1993.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralApr 14, 2025Anything but expendable (part 2)

The Air Force Space Command was activated in September 1982, a year after the first Space Shuttle mission.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralApr 7, 2025Anything but expendable (part 1)

The US Air Force studied military lunar bases as part of their long-range plans.

Mentioned as: US Air ForceTechnical ProductMar 24, 2025Boeing’s early lunar base concept of 1959

In 1963, the Air Force launched the first ‘hitchhiker’ off the side of a larger satellite.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralMar 10, 2025Stars in the sky: The top secret URSALA, RAQUEL, and FARRAH satellites from the 1970s to the 21st century

The Secretary of the Air Force Special Projects office managed Mission 7300 in Los Angeles.

Mentioned as: the air forceTechnical ProductMar 10, 2025Stars in the sky: The top secret URSALA, RAQUEL, and FARRAH satellites from the 1970s to the 21st century

Tactical Exploitation of National CAPabilities (TENCAP) began with US Army and Air Force interest in direct access to electronic intelligence data.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralMar 10, 2025Stars in the sky: The top secret URSALA, RAQUEL, and FARRAH satellites from the 1970s to the 21st century

Starting in 1963, the Air Force deployed a series of suitcase-sized satellites off larger satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Mentioned as: air forceTechnical ProductMar 3, 2025Mystery solved! The CALSAT satellite

The P-11 satellite was removed from display after the Air Force Museum's expansion around 2010.

Mentioned as: U.S. Air ForceNarrative GeneralMar 3, 2025Mystery solved! The CALSAT satellite
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