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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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Rocket Lab test fires the Electron rocket first stage for the "Birds of a Feather" launch of the NROL-151 satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office at Launch Complex 1 head of a January 2020 launch from Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island.

Rocket Lab's 1st launch of 2020 is for the National Reconnaissance Office, the US spysat agency

By Tariq Malik

The company's also building a new launchpad and expanding its headquarters.

The new emblem of the U.S. Space Force. President Donald Trump unveiled the seal on Twitter Friday, Jan. 24.

Trump unveils new Space Force logo (yes, it looks like something from 'Star Trek')

By Tariq Malik

But there's more to the story.

Boeing's Phantom Express XS-1 space plane design is shown in launch position in this artist's concept. The autonomous spacecraft is designed to launch vertically, deploy a second stage payload into orbit and return to Earth for a runway landing.

DARPA scraps XS-1 military space plane project after Boeing drops out

By Mike Wall

Boeing has withdrawn from Experimental Spaceplane, a U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program designed to increase the nation's access to space.

The final Rockot launch vehicle, built from an old Russian RS-18 intercontinental missile, launched three Gonets-M communications satellites and a military payload into orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on Dec. 27, 2019.

Final Rockot Booster Launches Russian Satellites Into Orbit

By Tariq Malik

The final Rockot booster converted from an intercontinental ballistic missile launched into space Friday (Dec. 27) carrying a trio Russian satellites and a military payload into orbit.

President Donald Trump signs S.1790, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 on, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 at Joint Base Andrews. The act directed the establishment of the U.S. Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.

Trump Officially Establishes US Space Force with 2020 Defense Bill Signing

By Leonard David

President Trump has signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and with it directed the establishment of the U.S. Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.

A Russian Soyuz 2.1v rocket launches a classified military satellite into orbit from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russian on Nov. 25, 2019. The satellite can apparently track other satellites in orbit.

Russian Military Launches Secret Surveillance Satellite Into Orbit

By Elizabeth Howell

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched a top-secret military satellite designed to scope out other satellites in space on Monday (Nov. 25), according to government reports.

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

US Must Adapt to Fight Growing Space-Based Threats, Air Force Officials Say

By Mike Wall

The U.S. Air Force must change the way it does business to fight the growing threat to the nation's dominance of the final frontier, military officials say.

When not seeking UFOs, To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science will be partnering with the U.S. Army on projects involving energy propulsion, quantum physics and space-time engineering.

Rock Star's Company Seeks UFOs, Finds Military Contract

By Mindy Weisberger

A private company that researches UFOs has a new contract with the U.S. government.

A U.S. Air Force X-37B space plane, an unpiloted miniature space shuttle, is seen after landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on Oct. 27, 2019 to end its record 780-day OTV-5 mission.

US Air Force's X-37B Space Plane Lands After Record 780-Day Mystery Mission

By Tariq Malik

What was it doing up there?

Image of on-orbit functions for NASA’s X-37 space plane.

X-37B: The Air Force's Mysterious Space Plane

By Mike Wall

A look at the U.S. Air Force's unmanned X-37B space plane, which has flown four secret, long-duration missions in Earth orbit to date.

satellite hit by rocket

Space May Soon Become a War Zone — Here's How That Would Work

By Gareth Dorrian, Ian Whittaker

At an upcoming summit in early December, NATO is expected to declare space as a "warfighting domain," partly in response to new developments in technology.

An artist's depiction of NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope.

NASA's WFIRST Space Telescope, a Refurbished Spysat Eye, Passes Early Review

By Elizabeth Howell

NASA's repurposed spy telescope is ready for the next stage of development.

The U.S. Air Force's 2019 Schriever Wargame kicked off Sept. 4 in Alabama.

US Air Force Begins 2019 Space Wargame

By Leonard David

The United States Air Force Space Command began conducting the 13th Schriever Wargame at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama yesterday (Sept. 4).

iran missile disaster

Sleuths Find the Top-Secret (and Classified) Satellite Behind Trump's Tweeted Photo

By Stephanie Pappas

It was only a matter of time: Amateur sleuths think they've tracked down the satellite that took a high-resolution image of the aftermath of an Iranian missile disaster.

President Donald Trump and U.S. General John W. Raymond mark the formal establishment of the U.S. Space Command on Aug. 29, 2019.

Trump Launches US Space Command to Control the 'Next Warfighting Domain'

By Elizabeth Howell

The United States Space Command is officially here. And U.S. President Donald Trump says that before long, the U.S. will establish a Space Force for space defense.

A potential framework for the use of lunar water ice and asteroid resources.

US Military Eyes Strategic Value of Earth-Moon Space

By Leonard David

The protection of trade routes and lines of communication are traditional military responsibilities, and this will continue to be true as cislunar space becomes "high ground."

Artist's illustration of the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane in orbit.

X-37B Military Space Plane Breaks Record on Latest Mystery Mission

By Mike Wall

The robotic X-37B has been circling Earth for nearly 719 days on its latest mystery mission, which is known as Orbital Test Vehicle 5 (OTV-5).

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium rocket, the last of its kind, launches the GPS III Magellan navigation satellite for the U.S. Air Force from Space Launch Complex 37 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Aug. 22, 2019.

Delta IV Medium Rocket, the Last Of Its Kind, Launches GPS Satellite for US Air Force

By Amy Thompson

The last Delta IV Medium rocket ever to fly successfully launched the second GPS III Magellan navigation satellite for the U.S. Air Force Thursday (Aug. 22).

The last Delta IV Medium rocket stands atop Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to launch the second GPS III navigation satellite for the U.S. Air Force on Aug. 22, 2019.

A Last-of-Its-Kind Rocket Will Launch a GPS Satellite for the US Military Thursday. How to Watch

By Elizabeth Howell

It's time for United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Medium rocket to retire. Luckily, you have one last chance to watch the rocket launch live.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the sixth meeting of the National Space Council at the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Va., on Aug. 20, 2019.

New US Space Command Will Launch Next Week, VP Pence Says

By Hanneke Weitering

The United States Space Command will officially be up and running by the end of the month, Vice President Mike Pence said today (Aug. 20) at a meeting of the National Space Council.