space force

Latest about space force

An Atlas V rocket carrying a missile-warning satellite lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 18, 2021.

US Space Force blasts missile-warning satellite into orbit around Earth

By Jeanna Bryner published

The U.S. Space Force launched a giant rocket Tuesday (May 18) carrying a satellite that will circle Earth's equator and alert the ground of any incoming missiles, according to news reports.

Space Exploration
NASA and the Space Force have teamed up to sign a memorandum of understanding.

NASA and US Space Force team up for planetary defense, moon trips and more

By Chelsea Gohd published

Planets
As multiple nations have exploration crosshairs on Earth's moon, including private sector interests, there's also increasing discussion of the military utility of cislunar space and lunar territory, too.

Is Earth-moon space the US military's new high ground?

By Leonard David published

U.S. military officials have increasingly flagged a new role in guarding American assets and interests in Earth-moon space.

Space
The U.S. Space Force isn't the only military space branch popping up around the world.

Countries around the world want a Space Force — but why?

By Chelsea Gohd published

Countries around the world are following the U.S. in creating their own version of the Space Force.

Space
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket takes off on an Air Force mission on Aug. 8, 2019. SpaceX and ULA will share the job of carrying "national security" cargo for the military going forward, as the Pentagon rushes to retire the Atlas V and its Russian-made rocket engines.

SpaceX wins Pentagon rocket contract to send spy satellites into orbit

By Rafi Letzter published

SpaceX and United Launch Alliance will share the job of launching the Pentagon's most important military equipment from 2022 to 2026.

Space Exploration
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches an X-37B space plane on a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on May 17, 2020.

Space Force launches robotic X-37B space plane on new mystery mission

By Amy Thompson published

The U.S. Space Force's mysterious X-37B space plane successfully launched on its sixth mystery mission from Florida today (May 17).

Space Exploration
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the X-37B space plane for the U.S. Space Force's OTV-6/USSF-7 mission stands atop a rainy launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, Florida on May 16, 2020.

Launch of secret X-37B space plane delayed by bad weather

By Tariq Malik published

The U.S. Space Force's next secret mission of a robotic X-37B space plane has been delayed at least 24 hours after bad weather thwarted a launch attempt today (May 16).

Space Exploration
A Boeing image shows the X-37B in its capsule before launch.

Why a microwave-beam experiment will launch aboard the Air Force’s secretive X-37B space plane

By Rafi Letzter published

There's a microwave power experiment heading to space Saturday (May 16) aboard the Air Force's secretive X-37B spaceplane. Researchers hope it could lead to a new global power source.

Space Exploration
A U.S. Air Force X-37B space plane, encapsulated ahead of a planned May 16, 2020, launch. That liftoff will kick off the sixth mission for the X-37B program.

US Space Force to launch the next X-37B space plane mystery mission on May 16

By Mike Wall published

The sixth X-37B mission is scheduled to lift off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station May 16, Space Force officials announced Wednesday (May 6).

Space Exploration
A Russian Soyuz 2.1v rocket launches a classified military satellite into orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russian on Nov. 25, 2019. The satellite can apparently track other satellites in orbit.

2 Russian satellites are stalking a US spysat in orbit. The Space Force is watching.

By Chelsea Gohd published

A U.S. satellite that's used to spy on other countries is being trailed by two Russian satellites, according to the commander of the U.S. Space Force.

Space Exploration
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