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 Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches during an operational test at 1:13 A.M. PDT, Sept. 7 at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

US launches unarmed ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base

By Brett Tingley published

The U.S. Air Force conducted an early-morning suborbital test of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, on Wednesday (Sept. 7).

dream chaser shuttle landing on a runway, surrounded by desert

Dream Chaser spaceplane will carry 'ScienceTaxi' lab to space station

By Elizabeth Howell published

Sierra Nevada Corporation and its space subsidiary racked up several aerospace deals in August.

A composite image of a satellite firing an energy weapon at a target on Earth.

The Pentagon is worried about space weapons from Russia and China. Here's why.

By Brett Tingley published

Pentagon leadership will meet next week to discuss the growing threat from new types of space weapons being developed by Russia and China.

rocket launching through clouds and making them glow orange

These Atlas V rocket Space Force launch photos and videos are simply epic

By Elizabeth Howell published

Fresh footage flowed in from the U.S. Space Force launch of a military satellite earlier this month, which is part of a constellation aiming to track missiles from orbit.

Flight crews help the Zephyr drone take off.

So close! Zephyr drone lands just hours before setting flight-duration record

By Brett Tingley published

An experimental high-altitude drone being tested in conjunction with the United States Army has ended its epic flight just hours before breaking the world record for longest flight duration.

Private companies have launched dozens of imaging satellites — like the two small boxes in the middle of the photo — into orbit in recent years.

War in Ukraine highlights the growing strategic importance of private satellite companies — especially in times of conflict

By Mariel Borowitz published

Satellites owned by private companies have played an unexpectedly important role in the war in Ukraine.

The official Space Training and Readiness Command emblem, which depicts a delta-shaped spacecraft lifting off in front of a field of stars.

US Space Force conducts 'simulated on-orbit combat' training

By Brett Tingley published

The U.S. Space Force just completed a major joint training exercise that saw participants engage in "simulated on-orbit combat engagements."

An ICEYE synthetic aperture radar satellite image of the Kerch Strait Bridge, or Kerch Bridge, which connects mainland Russia with Crimea.

Ukrainian charity buys radar satellite services to help fight Russian invasion

By Mike Wall published

The Ukrainian government will get access to imagery collected by a commercial constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites, as well as the full, dedicated services of one of those spacecraft.

Parachute with rocket underneath

Rocket Lab plans another helicopter catch later this year

By Elizabeth Howell published

The company says data so far from May's first epic helicopter snatch shows a lot of success, even though they let it go into the water.

A smoke plume billows on the horizon behind sunflower fields, in the Donbass region on August 11, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Damaged Russian airfield in Crimea spied by satellites (photos)

By Brett Tingley published

Satellite images have revealed the extent of damage at Russia's Saki Air Base on Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, currently occupied by Russian military forces.

satellite in orbit around earth

Maxar will build 14 missile-tracking satellites for new warning system

By Elizabeth Howell published

L3Harris Technologies asked Maxar to produce the satellites for the second stage of the Space Development Agency's missile-tracking constellation.

A Russian Soyuz rocket takes off at night, its exhaust plume glowing bright red.

Pentagon space chief condemns 'irresponsible' launch of Russian inspector satellite

By Brett Tingley last updated

The Pentagon is speaking out against Russia's launch of a spy satellite believed to be shadowing one of its American counterparts closely in the same orbit.

People watch a TV at the Seoul Railway Station in South Korea showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch on March 24, 2022.

Did North Korea lie about its big ICBM test launch?

By Mike Wall last updated

The first launch of North Korea's powerful new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this spring apparently didn't go well after all.

Anti-satellite weapons targeted at satellite as the pair orbit above Earth.

Anti-satellite weapons: History, types and purpose

By Mark Smith last updated

Reference With the satellite network being a key component of modern life on Earth, space is now a major battleground for countries looking to get ahead of their competitors.

rocket launching

Russia launches sharp-eyed spy satellite for Iran

By Mike Wall published

Iran will soon have access to sharp orbital imagery, thanks to a newly launched Russian-built spy satellite.

Two Ghost Robotics Vision 60 Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicles (Q-UGVs) pose for a picture at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on July 28, 2022.

US Space Force tests robot dogs to patrol Cape Canaveral

By Brett Tingley last updated

The Space Force has conducted a demonstration using "robot dogs" for security patrols and other repetitive tasks.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched the sixth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (SBIRS GEO-6) satellite this morning (Aug. 4)

Atlas V rocket launches missile-detecting satellite for U.S. Space Force

By Josh Dinner published

The sixth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite lifted off this morning (Aug. 4), completing the SBIRS GEO constellation for the U.S. Space Force.

A Rocket Lab Electron booster seen at sunset in orange light.

You can watch 4 different rocket launches in free webcasts today

By Tariq Malik last updated

If you're a fan of spaceflight, then Thursday will be a banner day with no less than four different rockets launching missions off planet Earth.

A Rocket Lab Electron booster launches the classified NROL-199 spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula on Aug. 4, 2022.

Rocket Lab launches US spy satellite on mystery mission

By Mike Wall last updated

The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-199 mission launched early this morning (Aug. 4) atop a Rocket Lab Electron booster from New Zealand.

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket sits on Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) at Cape Canaveral at sunset for the United States Space Force's Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (SBIRS GEO 6) mission.

Watch an Atlas V rocket launch a missile warning satellite for US Space Force on Thursday

By Brett Tingley last updated

The rocket will carry the Space-Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Flight 6 (SBIRS Geo-6) satellite into orbit.