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Military Space

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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An artist's depiction of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Demonstration and Science Experiments (DSX) spacecraft with its antenna booms extended.

US Air Force celebrates end of the world's largest uncrewed satellite, which studied Earth's radiation belts

By Samantha Mathewson

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's mission to study Earth's Van Allen radiation belts ended on May 31, after exceeding its original planned lifetime of one year in orbit.

The near side of the moon, as seen by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.

US Space Force has new guidelines for working at and around the moon

By Elizabeth Howell

The U.S. Space Force has a new primer for activities beyond Earth orbit amid increased NASA and international interest in lunar activities.

Missile defence satellite Next Gen OPIR GEO.

Lockheed Martin wins $4.9 billion contract to build advanced missile-warning satellites

By Samantha Mathewson

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $4.9 billion contract to build a triad of missile-warning satellites for the U.S. Space Force.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the GPS III SV05 satellite for the U.S. Space Force launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on June 17, 2021.

SpaceX launches advanced GPS satellite for US Space Force, sticks rocket landing at sea

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX successfully launched an advanced GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force and nailed a rocket landing at sea on Thursday (June 17).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the GPS III SV04 satellite for the U.S. Space Force stands atop Space Launch Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida for an October 2020 launch.

You can watch SpaceX launch a new GPS satellite for the US Space Force today. Here's how.

By Amy Thompson

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a new GPS navigation satellite for the U.S. military today (June 17) and you can watch it live online.

A Northrop Grumman Minotaur 1 rocket carrying three classified payloads for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office launches from Pad 0B of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Virginia on June 16, 2021.

Minotaur 1 rocket launches 3 classified spy satellites for National Reconnaissance Office

By Amy Thompson

A Minotaur 1 rocket blasted off from the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tuesday morning (June 15), heading to orbit with three secret spacecraft for the U.S. government's spy satellite agency.

A Minotaur 1 rocket stands ready to launch the NROL-111 mission on Pad 0B at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Virginia.

Watch a Minotaur 1 rocket launch a classified US spy satellite today

By Amy Thompson

Northrop Grumman is set to launch a Minotaur 1 rocket early Tuesday morning (June 15), and you can watch the action live online.

This still from a Vandenberg Space Force Base video shows a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket carrying the TacRL-2 satellite being loaded onto a Stargazer carrier plane for a June 13, 2021 launch.

Pegasus XL rocket launches secretive 'space domain awareness' satellite for US Space Force

By Elizabeth Howell

A Northrop Grumman rocket successfully launched a secretive Space Force satellite for "space domain awareness" on Sunday (June 13).

United Launch Alliance delayed the launch of its STP 3 mission.

United Launch Alliance delays Atlas V rocket launch for US Space Force

By Amy Thompson

United Launch Alliance (ULA)'s next Atlas V launch will have to wait a little longer as the liftoff has been delayed, the company announced Friday (June 5).

An artist's concept of the U.S. Air Force's Rocket Cargo Vanguard program, which is studying the use of reusable commercial rockets to deliver cargo and supplies anywhere on Earth.

US Air Force wants a commercial Rocket Cargo Vanguard to fly stuff anywhere on Earth

By Elizabeth Howell

The U.S. Air Force has launched a Rocket Cargo program to study the use of commercial spacecraft to ship supplies around the world.

The footage was allegedly filmed in the Combat Information Center of the USS Omaha on July 15, 2019.

Spherical UFO plunges into the ocean in US Navy footage

By Mindy Weisberger

A clip of a mysterious spherical object hovers over the horizon, in footage released by a filmmaker who produces UFO documentaries.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the SBIRS GEO Flight 5 missile-warning satellite for the U.S. Space Force lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on May 18, 2021.

Atlas V rocket launches SBIRS Geo-5 missile warning satellite for US Space Force

By Amy Thompson

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched a missile-warning satellite for the U.S. Space Force into orbit today (May 18), marking the first launch of the year for the company.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the SBIRS Geo-5 missile detection satellite for the U.S. Space Force stands atop Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a May 17, 2021 launch.

Watch an Atlas V rocket launch US Space Force missile-warning satellite today

By Amy Thompson

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) will launch an Atlas V rocket into space today (May 18), and you can watch the action live online.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the SBIRS Geo-5 missile detection satellite for the U.S. Space Force stands atop Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Atlas V rocket launch carrying Space Force missile-warning satellite delayed to Tuesday

By Amy Thompson

United Launch Alliance scrubbed the launch of an Atlas V rocket today (May 17) due to an issue with the rocket's liquid oxygen system.

Liftoff of the Long March 2C from Xichang carrying three Yaogan-30 (08) satellites and Tianqi-12.

China launches more classified Yaogan satellites into orbit

By Andrew Jones

China conducted two launches of classified Yaogan satellites in the last week while much of the world waited to see where and when the Long March 5B would fall.

Earth is a paranoid planet, one that has endured a history of land, air and ocean warfare. Is outer space next?

Is war in space inevitable?

By Leonard David

What conditions could lead to clashes in space? Is such a situation a given, or can conflicts be short-circuited ahead of time? Space.com asked experts for their thoughts.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with NASA astronaut Victor Glover to celebrate his mission to the International Space Station in a February 2021 video call.

Vice President Kamala Harris to lead National Space Council under Biden administration

By Tariq Malik

The National Space Council will continue in a new form under the Biden White House with Vice President Kamala Harris at the helm.

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket launches the NROL-82 satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, on April 26, 2021.

Huge Delta IV Heavy rocket launches US spy satellite to orbit

By Amy Thompson

A new U.S. spy satellite launched into space Monday afternoon (April 26) on the mightiest rocket built by the United Launch Alliance.

A depiction of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Solar Power Incremental and Demonstrations Research (SSPIDR) project, which aims to beam solar power from space to Earth. SSPIDR consists of several small-scale flight experiments that will mature technology needed to build a prototype solar power distribution system.

The US Air Force wants to beam solar power to Earth from space (video)

By Mike Wall

Space-based solar power won't be just a sci-fi dream forever, if things go according to the U.S. Air Force's plans.

General Atomics, Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin each received contracts for the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) program's first phase.

US military picks 3 companies to test nuclear propulsion in cislunar space

By Elizabeth Howell

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has picked three big space companies for the first phase of a larger project to test nuclear propulsion above low Earth orbit by 2025.