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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Technicians work with the recently landed robotic X-37B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 12, 2022.

What was the US military's secret space plane doing on its record-breaking mission?

By Ben Turner published

The uncrewed X-37B space plane touched down at NASA’s Kennedy Space Station on Nov. 12 having spent a record 908 days in orbit

The U.S. Space Force's X-37B space plane is seen shortly after landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 12, 2022, bringing an end to its OTV-6 mission.

US military's X-37B space plane lands, ending record-breaking mystery mission

By Mike Wall published

The space plane touched down at NASA's Kennedy Space Center today (Nov. 12) after 908 days in orbit — more than four months longer than any previous X-37B flight.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 54 of the company's Starlink internet satellites lifts off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sept. 18, 2022.

1,300 SpaceX Starlink terminals with Ukraine's military went offline due to funding shortfall: report

By Mike Wall published

Ukraine's space-based communications infrastructure took a serious hit recently due to funding problems, according to a media report.

The Iran national flag.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard launches successful rocket test: report

By Tariq Malik published

Iran's Revolutionary Guard successfully launched a new rocket capable of sending satellites into orbit on Saturday (Nov. 5).

The X-37B recently broke its own mission-duration record.

US military's X-37B space plane zooms past 900 days in orbit

By Leonard David published

The U.S. military's X-37B robotic space plane just passed 900 days in orbit on its latest hush-hush mission, adding to the program's flight-duration record.

A government employee photographed a UFO that hovered for 15 minutes near Holloman Air Development Center in New Mexico, on Dec.16, 1957.

Most UFOs are 'Chinese surveillance' drones and 'airborne clutter,' Pentagon officials reveal

By Brandon Specktor published

The U.S. government has officially started to explain some of the most infamous UFO encounters of the last decade, with China and weather balloons as top offenders.

missile blasting off on television with korean text captioning. a passerby watches nearby the television

Launch of North Korea's most powerful ballistic missile fails: reports

By Elizabeth Howell published

North Korea continued its barrage of missiles Thursday (Nov. 4) with an apparently failed launch of its most powerful ICBM.

An image of the new B-21 Raider hidden under a shroud.

US Air Force will unveil its advanced new B-21 Raider stealth bomber on Dec. 2.

By Brett Tingley published

On Dec. 2, the world will finally get a glimpse at the B-21 Raider, a new stealth bomber that has been described as "the most advanced military aircraft ever built."

Commuters sit on a train under a television showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, on the outskirts of Seoul on Nov. 2, 2022.

North Korea launches record 23-missile barrage

By Mike Wall published

North Korea launched 23 short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday (Nov. 2), a record-breaking fusillade that spurred a response from its neighbor to the south.

China's mysterious orbital space plane may be similar to the U.S. Space Force's robotic X-37B, seen here in a 2009 photo.

Is China's mysterious space plane about to return to Earth?

By Mike Wall published

China's mysterious space plane ejected an object on Oct. 31, perhaps signaling that its time in orbit is nearly up.

rocket lifting off in between two launch towers with blue sky in behind

Russia launches possible missile-tracking satellite amid continuing threats

By Elizabeth Howell published

The country has been threatening to act against U.S. commercial satellites looking at Ukraine, which Russia invaded in February.

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launches the USSF-44 mission for the U.S. Space Force on Nov. 1, 2022.

Amazing photos from SpaceX's Falcon Heavy USSF-44 mission

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launched classified payloads for the U.S. Space Force on its fourth-ever mission on Nov. 1, 2022. Relive the highlights.

Stratolaunch's giant carrier plane Roc and its Talon-A testbed above the runway with dust behind

Stratolaunch's Roc, the world's largest plane, aces 1st flight carrying hypersonic prototype

By Tariq Malik published

Stratolaunch flew a prototype of its planned air-launched Talon hypersonic vehicle for the first time on Friday (Oct. 28).

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre listens as National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby speaks during a daily news briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House on Oct. 26, 2022.

White House says US would respond if Russia targets commercial satellites

By Brett Tingley published

The White House has responded to Russia's assertion that commercial satellites are legitimate targets by stating that a U.S. response would follow any such attacks.

SpaceX posted this photo on Twitter on Oct. 23, 2022. It shows the three boosters that make up the first stage of the Falcon Heavy rocket that will fly the USSF-44 mission for the U.S. Space Force. That mission could launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as soon as Oct. 31.

SpaceX gearing up for 1st Falcon Heavy launch since 2019 (photo)

By Mike Wall published

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, the most powerful rocket in the world, is getting ready to take flight for the first time in more than three years.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 54 of the company's Starlink internet satellites lifts off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sept. 18, 2022.

What's going on with Elon Musk, SpaceX's Starlink and Ukraine? Here's what we know.

By Mike Wall published

It's understandable if you're a bit confused about the funding situation with SpaceX's Starlink satellite-internet service in Ukraine.

Cosmic Girl releases LauncherOne mid-air during Virgin Orbit's first test flight in July 2019.

Virgin Orbit may aid NATO in Europe with 'responsive launch infrastructure'

By Mike Wall published

Virgin Orbit will work with Luxembourg's Directorate of Defense to map out a possible way for the company to "strengthen the resiliency of NATO and other Allies."

the triangle-shaped u.s. space force logo

US Space Force awards 'rapid launch' contracts to Firefly, Millennium Space Systems

By Elizabeth Howell published

The U.S. Space Force seeks to ramp up its 'rapid launch' capabilities with a pair of task orders supporting a 2023 mission devoted to assessing orbital threats.

A spaceX Starlink antenna surrounding by camouflage netting in Ukraine

Elon Musk says SpaceX will keep paying for Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine

By Tariq Malik published

Billionaire Elon Musk said SpaceX will keep funding Starlink internet service in Ukraine, backtracking from a previous push to ask the Pentagon to foot the bill.

This photograph taken on Sept. 25, 2022, shows an antenna of the Starlink satellite-based broadband system donated by the US tech billionaire Elon Musk in Izyum, Kharkiv region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Elon Musk says SpaceX won't keep funding Starlink in Ukraine, asks Pentagon to take over

By Brett Tingley published

Elon Musk has informed the Pentagon that SpaceX can no longer afford to fund Starlink service or donate terminals to Ukraine after providing vital services to the besieged country for months.