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

People watch a TV at the Seoul Railway Station showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch on March 24, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's military said, a move sharply escalating tensions in the region.

North Korea launches most powerful missile yet in 1st ICBM test since 2017: reports

By Mike Wall published

North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday (March 24), its first test of a long-range weapon-delivery system since 2017, according to media reports.

Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.

Russia launches military communications satellite: reports

By Mike Wall published

A Soyuz rocket topped with the Meridian-M satellite launched today (March 22) from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northwestern Russia.

Mikoyan MiG-31K fighter jets with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles fly over Moscow's Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, on May 09, 2018. Russia has claimed it used these missiles for the first time in combat with Ukraine.

Russia strikes Ukraine with new hypersonic missiles: Here's how they work.

By Tom Metcalfe published

Russia claims to have used its Kinzhal hypersonic missiles for the first time, in its invasion of Ukraine. Here's why these super-fast weapons are so concerning.

Russian defense officials say the country has fired a Kinzhal hypersonic missile, seen here in a 2018 photo on a MiG 31k fighter jet, into Ukraine in an attack on March 18, 2022. It's the first time the missile has been used in combat.

Russia says it used a hypersonic missile in Ukraine for first time: report

By Tariq Malik published

Russia says it used its new Kinzhal hypersonic missile in an attack on Ukraine on Friday, marking its first use in combat.

This photo, taken by Maxar Technologies’ WorldView-2 satellite on March 14, 2022, shows the world "children" written in front of and behind a theater in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. According to news reports, the theater was bombed by Russian forces on March 16, 2022.

Satellite photo shows word 'children' in front of now-destroyed Ukrainian theater

By Elizabeth Howell published

Satellite images also show extensive damage in the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol, Sumy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv.

Apartment blocks burn in a bombed residential district.

Satellite images show fires and rubble in Mariupol after devastating Russian attack

By Ben Turner published

Over 2,500 civilians have been killed in the 10 days of the city's siege, Ukrainian officials say.

A multispectral satellite image of Russian artillery battalion actively firing in a southeasterly direction in Ozera, Ukraine on March 11, 2022 as seen by the WorldView-2 satellite for Maxar Technologies.

Satellite images spot Russian artillery firing on Kyiv, Ukraine

By Elizabeth Howell published

New satellite views from space show the Russian military moving towards Kyiv, Ukraine on Friday (March 11).

A fleet of SpaceX Starlink internet satellites is seen poised for deployment in orbit in this file image from a May 24, 2019 launch.

Elon Musk says SpaceX focusing on cyber defense after Starlink signals jammed near Ukraine conflict areas

By Tariq Malik published

Elon Musk says SpaceX is focusing on cyber defense after Starlink signals were jammed amid Russia's Ukraine invasion.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to deliver a batch of more than 100 cubesats into orbit.

The History of Rockets

By Elizabeth Howell published

The principles of rockets go back thousands of years, but rockets have come quite a long way since ancient times.

The problem of "space junk" continues to grow.

US Space Force's 'Orbital Prime' project aims to attack space debris by recycling or removing junk

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new U.S. Space Force video "demands action" on space debris and asks the private sector for their help cleaning up the growing space mess.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the NROL-87 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Feb. 2, 2022.

SpaceX launches classified spy satellite for US military, lands rocket

By Mike Wall last updated

SpaceX sent a U.S. spy satellite to orbit today (Feb. 2) in the second of three planned launches over a four-day stretch.

A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the classified NROL-87 satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office stands atop Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California head of a planned Feb. 2, 2022 launch.

SpaceX will launch a classified spy satellite on a new Falcon 9 rocket today and you can watch it live

By Tariq Malik last updated

A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a classified spy satellite for the United States today (Feb. 2). Watch it online here.

Onlookers in Seoul Station, South Korea watch TV coverage of a North Korea Hwasong 12 intermediate range ballistic missile test on Jan. 31, 2022. The missile test launched on Jan. 30 and captured images of Earth from space.

North Korean missile test captures photos of Earth from space: report

By Mike Wall published

North Korea launched its biggest missile test since 2017 on Sunday (Jan. 30) and apparently captured photos of Earth from space during the flight.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites for the U.S. Space Force on Jan. 21, 2022.

Atlas V rocket launches 2 surveillance satellites for US Space Force

By Mike Wall published

An Atlas V rocket topped with two "neighborhood watch" satellites lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Friday (Jan. 21) at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT).

People watch a North Korean missile launch on a television at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 5, 2022.

North Korea tests another new hypersonic weapon: reports

By Mike Wall published

North Korea claims that it conducted a successful test of a new hypersonic vehicle on Wednesday (Jan. 5).

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Laser Communication Relay Demonstration instrument launches on the

Atlas V rocket launches NASA laser communications prototype and Space Force experiments into orbit

By Amy Thompson published

An Atlas V rocket lit up the predawn sky over Florida early Tuesday (Dec. 7) to launch a novel NASA laser space communications satellite into orbit.

A United Launch Alliance rocket carrying the STP-3 mission for the U.S. military, including a NASA laser space communications experiment, stands atop its pad at Space Launch Copmlex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Launch is scheduled for Dec. 7, 2021.

Fuel leak delays Atlas V rocket launch to early Tuesday morning: Watch it live

By Mike Wall last updated

A U.S. military mission will get off the ground Tuesday morning (Dec. 7) after a two-day delay, and you can watch the liftoff live.

The near side of the moon, as seen by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. How do military powers view Earth's natural satellite?

Military interest in the moon is ramping up

By Leonard David published

There is growing interest in protecting strategic assets in cislunar space, the realm between Earth and the moon.

A United Launch Alliance rocket carrying the STP-3 mission for the U.S. military, including a NASA laser space communications experiment, stands atop its pad at Space Launch Copmlex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a Dec. 5, 2021 launch.

Atlas V rocket launch of US military space mission delayed to Tuesday. How to watch live.

By Amy Thompson last updated

An Atlas V is scheduled to blast off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 4:04 a.m. EDT (0904 GMT) on Dec. 7 for the U.S. Space Force.

An artist's impression of NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration mission.

How NASA's new laser communications mission will work in space

By Elizabeth Howell published

The goal is to speed up solar system communications.