Military Space - Spacecraft, Weapons and Tech

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Latest about military space

a man in a black military dress uniform speaks on a stage in front of an image of earth seen from space

US needs 'orbital interceptors' to win a war in space, Space Command chief says

By Brett Tingley published

Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting says the United States military needs orbital weapons in order to be successful if war ever comes to space.

Launches & Spacecraft
Artist's illustration of a U.S. GPS satellite, an increasingly frequent target for jamming, in orbit around Earth.

Satellite jamming is a real and growing threat. How can we protect our space infrastructure?

By Tereza Pultarova published

Jamming and spoofing attacks on space-based services have increased by greatly over the past few years, and technologists are racing to find ways to keep the onslaught at bay.

Satellites
Artist's illustration of True Anomaly's autonomous Jackal satellites in space.

True Anomaly to launch 1st deep-space security missions with autonomous Jackal satellites in 2026

By Mike Wall published

Colorado-based startup True Anomaly plans to begin launching its autonomous Jackal satellites to geosynchronous orbit and Earth-moon space in 2026.

Satellites
A Russian Angara 1.2 rocket launches the Kosmos 2560 classified satellite, thought to be called EMKA-3, into orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia on Oct. 15, 2022.

Secretive Russian military satellites release mystery object into orbit

By Andrew Jones published

A trio of secretive Russian satellites launched earlier this year has released a mysterious object into orbit, sparking interest among space trackers and analysts.

Satellites
clouds can be seen beneath the curvature of earth under a dark blue sky at the edge of space

DARPA accidentally detects SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket reentry by listening to Earth's atmosphere

By Brett Tingley published

Researchers with the U.S. military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have successfully used Earth's atmosphere as a sensor to detect a distant disturbance.

Technology
Maj. David Reifenberg, combat rescue officer drop zone controller, 308th Rescue Squadron, Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, free falls from a Joint Base Charleston C-17 Globemaster III, as Senior Master Sgt. George Reed, pararescueman, 308 RQS prepares to jump, during a Human Space Flight Support airdrop search and rescue exercise Jan 15, 2025, near Patrick SFB, Fla.

US military practices rescuing astronauts from the sea (photos)

By Julian Dossett published

A U.S. military joint task force did some training recently off the Florida coast, preparing to help rescue astronauts from the ocean if need be.

Missions
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Steven E. Vera, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard non-commissioned officer in charge of technical training, trains 45 augmentees on marching in preparation for the Jan. 20 Presidential Inauguration at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., on Jan. 8, 2025. This marks the first time the Space Force will participate in a presidential inauguration, a significant milestone for the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Space Force to march in Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration, a 1st for the new military branch

By Julian Dossett published

On Jan. 20, the U.S. Space Force will participate in the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, a first for the nation's newest military branch.

Missions
Chief of Space Operations U.S. Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman and distinguished guests stand in front of a radar dome belonging to the 23rd Space Operations Squadron Detachment 1 at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland on April 5, 2023. Det. 1's mission is to provide telemetry, tracking and commanding operations to the U.S. and allied government satellite programs.

What is the US Space Force doing in Greenland?

By Julian Dossett published

The United States' northernmost military installation is critical for national security, Space Force officials say.

Missions
a spacecraft with two stubby wings flies above a blue-and-white planet with an orange glow surrounding it

Space Force's secretive X-37B space plane soars past 1 year in orbit

By Leonard David published

The U.S. Space Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-7) has silently slipped past one-year of flight time.

Technology

What is DARPA?

By Julian Dossett last updated

Reference Everything you need to know about the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Reference
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