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

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-44 spy satellites stands atop Pad 37 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida ahead of a planned launch on Sept. 27, 2020.

You can watch a US spy satellite launch on a giant Delta IV Heavy rocket overnight tonight. Here's how.

By Amy Thompson

Liftoff is scheduled for 12:10 a.m. EDT (0410 GMT) on Sunday (Sept. 27).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the GPS III-SV03 mission for the U.S. Space Force on June 30, 2020.

Space Force OKs used SpaceX rockets for upcoming GPS satellite launches

By Mike Wall

It's a first for national-security missions.

NASA and the Space Force have teamed up to sign a memorandum of understanding.

NASA and US Space Force team up for planetary defense, moon trips and more

By Chelsea Gohd

NASA and the United States Space Force are banding together for the future of human spaceflight.

As multiple nations have exploration crosshairs on Earth's moon, including private sector interests, there's also increasing discussion of the military utility of cislunar space and lunar territory, too.

Is Earth-moon space the US military's new high ground?

By Leonard David

U.S. military officials have increasingly flagged a new role in guarding American assets and interests in Earth-moon space.

The U.S. Space Force isn't the only military space branch popping up around the world.

Everyone wants a Space Force — but why?

By Chelsea Gohd

Countries around the world are following the U.S. in creating their own version of the Space Force.

Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) introduces legislation changing a U.S. Space Force rank from colonel to captain.

William Shatner wants the US Space Force ranks to use captains, not colonels

By Elizabeth Howell

William Shatner wants U.S. Space Force to rename its colonels to captains.

A Chinese Long March 2F rocket launches the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in October 2016. On Sept. 4, 2020, a Long March 2F launched a mysterious reusable experiment spacecraft on a two-day orbital mission.

China's reusable experimental spacecraft returns to Earth after two-day mystery mission

By Elizabeth Howell

A Chinese reusable experimental spacecraft has safely landed after two days in orbit, according to state media, and may have deployed a satellite during its mysterious, brief journey in space.

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the classified NROL-71 spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office launches from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base on Jan. 19, 2019.

Trump signs Space Policy Directive-5 on space cybersecurity

By Mike Wall

Space Policy Directive-5 establishes a set of principles designed to protect the nation's valuable space assets from a burgeoning variety of cyber threats.

A Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the classified NROL-44 U.S. spy satellite is seen in a United Launch Alliance video during a launch abort at Space Launch Complex 37B of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Aug. 29, 2020.

US spy satellite launch delayed a week after abort in final seconds

By Tariq Malik

A U.S. spy satellite launch on a Delta IV Heavy rocket has been delayed a week after a last-minute abort Saturday (Aug. 29).

The official logo of the U.S. Space Force.

'Spacepower': US Space Force releases foundational doctrine

By Mike Wall

The new military branch, which President Donald Trump officially established in December 2019, just published its first doctrine, a 41-page document called "Spacepower."

The U.S. Department of Defense has picked SpaceX and United Launch Alliance as its primary national security payload launch providers. Left: A SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch. Right: ULA's planned Vulcan Centaur rocket.

Pentagon picks SpaceX, ULA to launch national security missions

By Amy Thompson

The Department of Defense is sticking with SpaceX and United Launch Alliance as its two primary launch services for U.S. national security missions.

The official logo of the U.S. Space Force.

Space Force unveils its official logo and motto: 'Always Above'

By Chelsea Gohd

The U.S. Space Force unveiled its official motto and logo Wednesday (July 22), along with the meaning behind its striking insignia.

The U.S. Space Command reports that Russia tested a space-based anti-satellite weapon in orbit on July 15, 2020. This image shows the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, the site of a Russian anti-satellite missile test in April 2020.

Russia has tested an anti-satellite weapon in space, US Space Command says

By Chelsea Gohd

The U.S. Space Command announced that they have evidence that Russia has tested a space-based anti-satellite weapon.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying the Anasis 2 satellite, on July 20, 2020.

SpaceX launches South Korea's 1st military satellite, nails rocket landing at sea

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX successfully launched South Korea's first military satellite Monday (July 20) and aced a rocket landing.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the South Korean military communications satellite Anasis-II stands atop Space Launch Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida for a July 20, 2020 launch.

Watch SpaceX launch a South Korean military satellite today

By Tariq Malik

SpaceX will launch a South Korean military satellite from Florida today, July 20. Here's how to watch it live.

A Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket carrying NROL-129, four classified payloads for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, stands atop Pad-0B of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility ahead of a July 15, 2020 launch.

The Space Force will launch 4 secret satellites from Virginia Wednesday and you can watch it live

By Tariq Malik

The U.S. Space Force will launch four top secret reconnaissance satellites into orbit from Virginia's Eastern Shore Thursday (July 15) and you can watch it live online.

The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Demo-2 mission on May 30, 2020, arrives in Florida's Port Canaveral on June 2, 2020. The same booster will launch the ANASIS-II military communications satellite for South Korea on July 14.

SpaceX test-fires rocket for South Korean military satellite launch this week

By Tariq Malik

SpaceX has test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket for South Korea's first military satellite launch on July 14.

An Israeli Shavit 2 rocket launches the Ofek 16 reconnaissance satellite into orbit from the Palmachim air base in central Israel on July 6, 2020.

Israel launches Ofek 16 reconnaissance satellite into orbit

By Samantha Mathewson

Israel has successfully launched a new reconnaissance satellite into orbit, the latest in a series of spy satellites for the country that date back to 1988.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the GPS III SV03 satellite for the U.S. Space Force on June 30, 2020.

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

By Amy Thompson

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched an advanced GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force Tuesday (June 30) then nailed a booster landing at sea.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the GPS III SV03 navigation satellite for the U.S. Space Force stands atop its launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station ahead of a planned June 30, 2020 launch.

SpaceX is launching an advanced GPS satellite for the US Space Force today. Here's how to watch.

By Amy Thompson

SpaceX is gearing up to launch a Falcon 9 rocket today, June 30, to deliver an upgraded global positioning satellite (GPS) into orbit for the U.S. Space Force and you can watch it live online.