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

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an illustration showing four pairs of satellites attacking one another with different methods including lasers, microwaves, chemical sprayers and robotic arms

DARPA wants new ideas for space weapons

By Brett Tingley published

The U.S. Department of Defense wants fresh ideas on how to maintain military superiority in space.

a white and black rocket launches at night.

New record! Firefly Aerospace launches Space Force mission 27 hours after receiving order

By Mike Wall published

Firefly Aerospace launched the Victus Nox mission for the U.S. Space Force on Thursday night (Sept. 14), just 27 hours after receiving the liftoff order.

a man in a black military uniform gives a speech on a podium

Space is 'more contested' than ever by world's militaries, US Space Force chief says

By Brett Tingley published

The Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force gave an ominous warning about how contested space is becoming as world superpowers continue to militarize Earth orbit.

eight men in dark suits stand in front of a rocket inside a spaceport facility.

Vladimir Putin meets North Korea's Kim Jong-un at Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport for 5-hour summit

By Andrew Jones published

Vladimir Putin met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a Russian spaceport on Wednesday (Sept. 13), likely discussing a range of possibilities for space-related cooperation.

a small missile streaks through the sky above the clouds

Boeing to test DARPA's upcoming 'Glide Breaker' hypersonic interceptor

By Brett Tingley published

DARPA has chosen Boeing to develop a prototype and conduct flight testing of its upcoming Glide Breaker hypersonic interceptor.

The emblem of the United States Space Force.

The US Space Force has a new mission statement to secure everything 'in, from and to space'

By Brett Tingley published

The United States Space Force has unveiled a concise new mission statement after the service's top officer criticized the previous statement as 'long and cumbersome.'

a white rocket is rolled toward a launch pad with greenery along the sides and the ocean in the background.

Atlas V rocket rolled to pad for 2nd time for 'Silent Barker' spysat launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

United Launch Alliance has rolled out an Atlas V rocket ahead of a planned spysat launch on Saturday (Sept. 9). It was the second rollout for this particular mission.

a large missile launcher on the back of a military truck

US military scrubs hypersonic missile test launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

By Brett Tingley published

A suspected test launch of a new hypersonic missile system from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was cancelled on Wednesday (Sept. 6).

a rocket launches at night

US test launches unarmed ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base

By Brett Tingley published

The United States Space and Air Forces launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile 4,200 miles (6,760 km) on Sept. 6 from Vandenberg Space Force in California.

A white and black SpaceX rocket launches on the Tranche 0 mission for Space Force

SpaceX launches 13 satellites for US Space Force, lands rocket  —  and ties its own record (video)

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX launched an advanced new set of military satellites into orbit for the U.S. Space Force on Sept. 2 and tied its own launch rate record.

a seal on a marble floor that reads "Central Intelligence Agency"

The CIA knows a lot about other nations' space programs. You can too with its new 'World Factbook' update

By Brett Tingley published

The United States Central Intelligence Agency, better known as the CIA, has released a new entry in its World Factbook that catalogues the programs and milestones of space agencies around the world.

A white rocket with side boosters lifts off from a seaside launch pad

Atlas V rocket launches the Space Force's Silent Barker 'watchdog' satellites in dazzling morning liftoff (video)

By Brett Tingley last updated

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched the multi-payload Silent Barker mission for the Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office Sunday, Sept. 10.

a brown and white rocket rolls toward its launch pad with a blue sky in the background

Atlas V rocket rolled to pad for 'Silent Barker' spysat launch (photos)

By Mike Wall published

United Launch Alliance rolled its Atlas V rocket to the launch pad today (Aug. 25), ahead of the planned Aug. 29 liftoff of the 'Silent Barker' reconnaissance mission.

a satellite photo of a plane crash site surrounding by grassy fields and trees, with 20 or so vehicles nearby.

Wreckage of Russian warlord's plane spotted from space (satellite photo)

By Mike Wall published

A satellite has spotted the wreckage of the plane that went down in northwestern Russia on Aug. 23, apparently with Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on board.

a white rocket launches with forested hills and blue sky in the background.

0 for 2: North Korea suffers 2nd satellite launch failure this year

By Brett Tingley published

North Korea's second attempt to launch a spy satellite this year ended in failure, after the rocket carrying the satellite encountered a stage-separation issue on Aug. 23.

An unidentified rocket is displayed during a military parade marking the 105th anniversary of the birth of late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang on April 15, 2017.

North Korea planning to launch a satellite this week amid military tensions

By Brett Tingley published

The North Korean government has announced it will attempt to launch a satellite between Aug. 24 and Aug. 31. Its previous attempt in May 2023 failed and landed in the Yellow Sea.

a satellite above Earth

Spies and hackers are targeting the US space industry: report

By Brett Tingley published

The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a warning to private space companies about the threat of foreign cyberattacks and disruptions to U.S. satellites.

a team of people hold a trophy and a flag that reads "hack-a-sat"

These 3 teams just hacked a US Air Force satellite in space ... and won big cash prizes

By Brett Tingley published

The U.S. Air Force has announced the winners of its first-of-its-kind satellite hacking competition, which saw teams attempt to take control of a cubesat in orbit.

earth can be seen behind a patch bearing a skull in a cloak above the number 75

US Space Force creates 1st unit dedicated to targeting adversary satellites

By Brett Tingley published

The United States Space Force has activated its first and only unit dedicated to targeting other nations' satellites and the ground stations that support them.

a satellite above earth

SpaceX's private control of satellite internet concerns military leaders: report

By Andrew Jones published

Military leaders around the world have expressed concerns over the dominance of SpaceX founder Elon Musk when it comes to satellite-based internet services.