Trending

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.

Related Topics: NASA

Latest Updates

The U.S. Space Force's robotic X-37B space plane carries a power-beaming experiment on its latest mission to Earth orbit.

Space-based solar power getting key test aboard US military's mysterious X-37B space plane

By Leonard David

The X-37B space plane is being used to flight-validate the best ways to gather the sun's energy for power beaming from Earth orbit.

A B-52H Stratofortress undergoes pre-flight procedures at Edwards Air Force Base, California on Aug. 8, 2020, before a captive-carry flight test of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 off the Southern California coast. An ARRW prototype was supposed to conduct its first powered flight on April 5, 2021, but did not deploy from its B-52H as planned.

Air Force's new hypersonic missile fails to launch during key test flight

By Mike Wall

Some more work will be required to get the U.S. Air Force's new ARRW hypersonic missile up to speed.

Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. Two new reports detail the anti-satellite threats from Russia and other countries.

New reports detail ongoing space threats, and Russia is raising concerns

By Chelsea Gohd

Security experts say that when it comes to threats in space, Russia is raising more concerns than China.

deep space nine spaceship

The Space Force sounds like a joke thanks to pop culture. That could be a problem for an important military branch.

By Wendy Whitman Cobb

The U.S. Space Force has a serious role to play in the modern world. Its stated mission is to train and equip personnel to defend U.S. interests in space.

A small sounding rocket launches an experimental payload for the U.S. Space Force and Air Force Research Laboratory from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia on March 3, 2021.

See the Space Force's 1st small rocket launch of 2021 in these photos

By Elizabeth Howell

The Space Force launched its first small rocket of 2021 this month in an experiment that dumped water vapor into Earth's ionosphere.

Space junk created by a 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test hit a Russian satellite on Jan. 22, 2013.

US military to keep wary eye on Chinese and Russian space ambitions under President Biden

By Mike Wall

The space ambitions of Russia and China will likely stay front and center for the U.S. military during the administration of President Joe Biden.

A June 12, 2019 photo shows a B-52 carrying an ARRW prototype (in white, under the left wing) during a test where it was not launched.

US Air Force says it will test bizarre 'hypersonic' weapon this month

By Rafi Letzter

At some point in the next few weeks, the U.S. plans to fire an extreme, hypersonic weapon. The question remains: What's the point?

A Chinese Long March 4C rocket lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, carrying three Yaogan 31 Group 3 satellites to orbit.

China just launched three more Yaogan 31 reconnaissance satellites to orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

China successfully sent three reconnaissance satellites into orbit Tuesday (Feb. 23), according to media reports.

The Space Store is giving away an authentic U.S. Space Force silver coin!

We're giving away a commemorative US Space Force silver coin!

By Space.com Staff

One lucky winner will be walking away with a commemorative U.S. Space Force silver coin, courtesy of the Space Store!

The U.S. Space Force was officially established in December 2019.

Space Force has Biden's 'full support,' White House says

By Mike Wall

The nation's newest military branch just got a vote of confidence from the Biden administration.

Liftoff of the Long March 4C carrying the Yaogan-31 (02) satellites from Jiuquan.

China launches a trio of reconnaissance satellites from Gobi Desert

By Andrew Jones

China added to its space reconnaissance capabilities with the launch of a trio of satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center last week.

The U.S. Space Force was officially established in December 2019.

US Space Force announces its rank system

By Mike Wall

Though most of those terms are inherited from the U.S. Air Force, there are a few exceptions.

spaceX launch

'War in space' would be a catastrophe. A return to rules-based cooperation is the only way to keep space peaceful

By Steven Freeland, David Kuan-Wei Chen, Ram S. Jakhu

In 2019, US President Donald Trump declared “space is the new war-fighting domain”.

A Soyuz rocket carrying the French military spy satellite CSO-2 launches from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana on Dec. 29, 2020 in the final Arianespace flight of 2020.

Arianespace launches French military spy satellite on Soyuz rocket to cap 2020

By Tariq Malik

Arianespace launched a new reconnaissance satellite for the French military on Tuesday (Dec. 29), marking the launch provider's final mission of 2020.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the classified NROL-108 spy satellite into orbit from Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Dec. 19, 2020.

SpaceX launches classified US spy satellite, sticks rocket landing to cap record year

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX launched a clandestine U.S. spy satellite into space for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Thursday (Dec. 17), marking its 26th rocket of the year.

Col. Michael Hopkins, a NASA astronaut, recites the U.S. Space Force oath of enlistment while on the International Space Station on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. Hopkins voluntarily transferred to the Space Force after 27 years serving in the Air Force.

First 'Guardian' in space: NASA astronaut on ISS enters Space Force

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Col. Michael Hopkins, who has served for 27 years in the Air Force, voluntarily transferred to the Space Force while aboard the International Space Station on Dec. 18, 2020.

The U.S. Space Force was officially created in December 2019.

'Guardians' of the galaxy: Space Force personnel get a name

By Mike Wall

If you thought the U.S. Space Force sounded pretty sci-fi before, well, the ante has been upped.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch the NROL-108 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The mission is scheduled to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Dec. 17, 2020.

SpaceX will launch a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office Thursday. Watch it live!

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX is set to launch a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on Thursday (Dec. 17), during a three-hour launch window that opens at 9:45 a.m. EST (1400 GMT).

The U.S. Space Command reports that Russia tested a space-based anti-satellite weapon in orbit on Dec. 16, 2020. This image shows the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, the site of another Russian anti-satellite missile test in April 2020.

Russia has launched an anti-satellite missile test, US Space Command says

By Hanneke Weitering

Russia has launched a new anti-satellite missile test, its latest push to weaponize space, U.S. Space Command officials said Wednesday (Dec. 16).

Vice President Mike Pence, joined by leaders of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, helps reveal signs bearing the redesignated names of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base in Florida on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.

Cape Canaveral bases redesignated for Space Force, but in name only (for now)

By Robert Z. Pearlman

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base in Florida have been formally re-designated for the U.S. Space Force, though in name only.