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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Latest about military space
US military taps Rocket Lab’s new Neutron launcher for ‘point to point’ cargo test flight in 2026
Rocket Lab has signed a contract to launch its new Neutron rocket on a test flight that will advance the U.S. Air Force's point-to-point cargo transportation concept.
Stratolaunch's Talon-A2 prototype goes hypersonic after dropping from world's largest airplane (photos)
Stratolaunch Systems conducted its first hypersonic test flight with its Talon-A2 vehicle and Roc carrier plane in December, then repeated the feat in March.
DARPA wants a spacecraft to search for water on the moon
DARPA (the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is looking for a private company to build spacecraft to orbit the moon and search for water.
US Army launches hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
The U.S. Army launched its new hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force station last week, just days after naming it the "Dark Eagle."
US and UK militaries pick Rocket Lab's HASTE launcher to help test hypersonic tech
The militaries of the U.S. and the U.K. have selected Rocket Lab as a potential partner for their multibillion-dollar programs to develop hypersonic technology.
Keeping space safe is the 'ultimate team sport', and the US Space Force has a new playbook
The U.S. Space Force is leaning more heavily into its allies around the world and unveiling a new International Partnership Strategy, the service's chief said today.
US needs 'orbital interceptors' to win a war in space, Space Command chief says
Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting says the United States military needs orbital weapons in order to be successful if war ever comes to space.
Satellite jamming is a real and growing threat. How can we protect our space infrastructure?
Jamming and spoofing attacks on space-based services have increased by greatly over the past few years, and technologists are racing to find ways to keep the onslaught at bay.
