Skip to main content

Space Force

See All Stories

[Update: Launched] Rocket Lab planning its return to flight Electron mission

After a failure in the second stage during their “Running Out Of Toes” mission earlier this year. Rocket Lab is planning to return with a now improved system this week. The mission will carry a test satellite for the United States Space Force to evaluate new sensor technology. In tradition with Rocket Lab’s fun naming style, this launch will be named “It’s A Little Chile Up Here”. This is in honor of the green chile of New Mexico where the Space Force’s Space Test Program is based.

Date: Thursday, July 29th at 4:00 a.m. EDT (2-hour window)

Expand Expanding Close

[Update: Payload deployed] SpaceX to launch the Space Force’s 5th GPS III satellite

The United States Space Force operates the GPS constellation that we use every day to know where we are. Tomorrow, SpaceX will launch a new GPS III satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, into orbit to expand and upgrade the constellation that was been active since 1978. The launch window opens at 12:09 p.m. and lasts 15 minutes.

Date: Thursday, June 17th, 12:09 p.m. EDT

Expand Expanding Close

[Update: Payload separation] Next Launch: ULA plans to launch first Atlas V rocket of the year

May 18th, 2:19 PM EDT: The SBIRS GEO 5 satellite has been deployed from the Centaur upper stage.


A few weeks ago, ULA conducted their first launch for 2021 with a launch of a Delta IV Heavy for the National Reconnaissance Office. Next week, ULA plans to launch the first Atlas V rocket of the year carrying a payload for the US Space Force.

Date: Monday, May 18th, 1:37 PM EDT

Expand Expanding Close

Final booster for first SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch of this year completes testing in McGregor, Texas

While the Falcon 9 continues to smash launch cadence records with already 9 flights this year, its bigger sibling the Falcon Heavy still hasn’t been seen since 2019. SpaceX plans to launch 1 maybe even 2 this year if schedules can hold, the first of which is getting closer to being ready for flight.

Expand Expanding Close

Space Force pushing ‘innovation and experimentation’ in new acquisitions command

Space Force has had the goal of building up a branch that is different than the rest of the military. A branch that is more agile and faster than the rest, something needed to be successful in the space domain. Space Force is continuing with that ideology with the new acquisitions command, bringing a fresh look to how contracts are awarded.

Expand Expanding Close

Space Force general shares goals for national space security

Today is the final day of the ASCEND conference, and one of the starting sessions was with General Jay Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, US Space Force. Raymond was joined by Lt. General John Thompson from the Space and Missile Systems Center and Mike Roberts from the Space Rapid Capabilities Office to talk about what they are doing to increase the US’ national security in space.

Expand Expanding Close

Space Force selects ULA and SpaceX for phase 2 launch service contracts

In a widely anticipated announcement, U.S. Space Force and Air Force officials awarded Phase II of U.S. national security missions launch contracts to ULA and SpaceX as the primary launch providers through 2027. The NSSL (National Security Space Launch) Contract is a firm-fixed-price that will support launches planned from fiscal 2022 – fiscal 2027.

These contracts include early integration studies, launch service support, fleet surveillance, launch vehicle production, mission integration, mission launch operations, mission assurance, spaceflight worthiness, and mission unique activities for each mission.

Expand Expanding Close

Watch: First Minotaur IV rocket launch from Virginia Space Coast for Space Force

Northrop Grumman’s 78-foot-tall Minotaur IV expendable launch system is lifting off from NASA’s Wallops Island flight facility in Virginia. The launch is the first Minotaur IV launch from Virginia’s Space Coast and the first National Reconnaissance Office launch using the Minotaur IV system.

Today’s Minotaur IV launch is also the first use of the expendable launch system since August 2017. The system has been used for a total of seven launches since April 2010, and one to two additional launches are already planned. NASA says the next launch from Wallops Flight Facility will be sometime in mid-August.

Minotaur rockets are created using decommissioned MX Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles created in the late 80s and early 90s.

Expand Expanding Close

‘Space Force’ Netflix trailer returns Steve Carell to a familiar place: totally out of his element

What do you when you’ve binged every season of “The Office” during quarantine and you’re not sure a fifth binge session is healthy? There’s only one correct answer. Well, after you take a walk and consider a shower, that is. Watch the new “Space Force” series from the creators of “The Office” on Netflix.

The full trailer for the new comedy series starring Steve Carell landed today, and fans of “The Office” will appreciate echoes of Michael Scott being in way over his head.

Only this time Michael Scott is Mark Naird, a civil servant tasked with leading a new branch of the military called Space Force. Sound familiar? Check out the new trailer released today:

Expand Expanding Close