Military forces have a long association with spaceflight, with modern rockets evolving from missiles developed during World War II. Today's armed forces rely on space-based assets for reconnaissance, weather tracking, communication, navigation and more. The U.S. Air Force regularly launches GPS and missile-defense tracking satellites, and operates two classified X-37B robotic space planes. Learn more about military satellites, space weapon, the Space Force and more here.
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Latest about military space
North Korean state media says the nation launched a new type of missile on Sunday (Sept. 20), one that's apparently topped with a hypersonic glide vehicle.
The battlefield that the U.S. military must prepare for and excel in now extends from the seafloor all the way out to the moon, according to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The U.S. Space Force is opening up about its operation of orbital weapons, "that can defend the joint force against space-enabled attacks."
United States Space Command just held its first-ever "Apollo Maneuvers" exercise, which saw spacecraft maneuvering in orbit through simulated contested environments.
SpaceX launched two of its Falcon 9 rockets just 38 minutes apart on Saturday evening (Aug. 15), setting a new spaceflight record.
The outgoing head of the U.S. Space Force had some stark words in his last public speech, stating that "none of us will be able to avoid the war zone" should conflict extend to space.
The Space Development Agency announced partnerships with two companies worth up to $1.75 billion total, to develop 36 satellites for the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile-defense initiative.
A U.S. Space Force mission pitting two satellites against each other has completed the organization's first tactical intercept of an orbital target.
