https://spacewatch.global/tag/u-s-space-force/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Wed, 13 May 2026 10:09:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/u-s-space-force/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/nro-launches-thirteenth-proliferated-architecture-mission-with-nrol-172/ Wed, 13 May 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73847 The NRO has successfully launched its thirteenth proliferated architecture mission, NROL-172, in partnership with Space Force and SpaceX.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/quantum-space-appoints-former-nasa-administrator-jim-bridenstine-as-chief-executive-officer/ Thu, 07 May 2026 06:51:38 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73697 Quantum Space has appointed Jim Bridenstine as Chief Executive Officer. Bridenstine, NASA's 13th Administrator, a former member of Congress and naval aviator, takes the helm at a pivotal moment for the company, accelerating Quantum Space's position at the forefront of national security space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/president-trump-nominates-lt-gen-douglas-a-schiess-as-next-us-space-force-chief-of-space-operations/ Mon, 04 May 2026 07:04:12 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73532 U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced the nomination of Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess to serve as the Space Force’s next Chief of Space Operations. If confirmed by the Senate, Schiess will become the service’s highest-ranking officer and the third Chief of Space Operations since the Space Force was established in December 2019.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/spacewatchgl-opinion-colorado-springs-2026-american-supremacy-the-moon-and-the-future-of-the-outer-space-treaty/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:30:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73274
Written by Torsten Kriening
When the Chief of Space Operations told the Broadmoor press corps that the U.S. Space Force will follow national interests to the Moon, he did more than describe a strategy. He stress-tested Article II of the Outer Space Treaty. A publisher's reading of the 41st Space Symposium and what it means for Europe. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/lockheed-martin-launches-tenth-and-final-gps-iii-satellite-strengthening-the-gps-constellation/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73213 Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Space Force have successfully launched the final GPS III satellite, completing the series and strengthening the constellation to its highest capability ever.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/slingshot-aerospace-wins-space-force-contract-for-space-warfare-ai-driven-training-environment/ Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70570 Slingshot Aerospace has won a $27 million contract to advance the U.S. Space Force’s Operational Test and Training Infrastructure program by integrating existing training enterprise capabilities with AI-native technology that realistically mirrors today’s orbital threat landscape. For this, Slingshot is building TALOS, an autonomous, AI-powered agent that realistically imitates satellite behavior for training and simulation, and its supporting infrastructure to seamlessly integrate with complementary training systems, data sources, and AI capabilities across the Space Force.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/former-ula-ceo-tory-bruno-has-been-appointed-to-head-blue-origins-new-national-security-unit/ Tue, 30 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70071 Blue Origin has announced the appointment of Tory Bruno, former United Launch Alliance (ULA) CEO, as president of the company's newly-formed National Security Group. This comes days after Bruno stepped down from his CEO position at ULA after nearly a decade. Bruno's appointment demonstrates Blue Origin's desire to expands its role in U.S. defense and intelligence space missions. In his new role, he will subsequently report directly to Blue Origin's CEO, Dave Limp. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/astrobotic-secures-17-5m-to-advance-its-next-generation-of-reusable-rockets/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70014 Astrobotic has been awarded three contracts totaling $17.5 million to advance the next generation of its reusable rocket systems, the Xodiac and Xogdor platforms. With three distinct vehicles in development, they will strengthen the company's suborbital flight test capabilities and expand access to high-frequency, low-cost, reusable rocket testing.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/rocket-lab-launches-stp-s30-mission-for-the-u-s-department-of-wars-space-test-program/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69916 Rocket Lab has launched the STP-S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command towards advancing technologies that ensure U.S. superiority in space. The ‘Don’t Be Such A Square’ mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia, today, December 18 to deploy four DiskSat spacecraft to a 550km low Earth orbit for Department of War’s (DoW) Space Test Program (STP). ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/blue-origins-new-glenn-vehicle-launches-rocket-labs-explorer-satellites-on-nasas-escapade-mission/ Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68976 The New Glenn orbital launch vehicle has completed its second mission, successfully deploying NASA's ESCAPADE twin-spacecraft. The launch took place from Launch Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The NASA and University of California Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory ESCAPADE mission will use the pair of identical spacecraft to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ magnetic environment and how this interaction drives the Red Planet’s atmospheric escape. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/melanie-stricklan-wins-women-in-milsatcom-innovation-award-2025/ Thu, 06 Nov 2025 07:00:40 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68800 Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) and SAE Media Group have announced Melanie Stricklan as the winner of the second Women in MilSatCom Innovation Award. Melanie is the co-founder of Slingshot Aerospace, Executive in Residence at Space Foundation, and Executive Director at Space Workforce for Tomorrow, a highly deserving winner of the award which recognizes women who are innovators across the military satellite communication industry.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/stoke-raises-510-million-to-scale-manufacturing-of-fully-reusable-nova-launch-vehicle/ Mon, 13 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68299 Stoke Space Technologies has raised $510 million in Series D funding led by Thomas Tull’s US Innovative Technology Fund (USIT) in conjunction with a $100 million debt facility led by Silicon Valley Bank. This new financing, which more than doubles the company's total capital raised to $990 million, will accelerate Stoke's product development and expansion.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/08/dcubed-selected-for-catalyst-accelerators-directed-energy-and-electromagnetic-warfare-cohort/ Tue, 26 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67323 The Catalyst Accelerator has selected DCubed and five other small businesses for its 15th cohort focused on Directed Energy and Electromagnetic Warfare. The other small businesses include Aptos Orbital, Millennial Software, Overwatch OT, Quadsat, and RedTail Technology. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/08/u-s-space-force-and-u-s-air-force-successfully-launch-x-37b-orbital-test-vehicle/ Mon, 25 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67310 The U.S. Space Force’s NSSL program and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket have launched the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle into orbit on August 21 from Launch Complex (LC)-39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The mission, carrying the U.S. Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) spacecraft, lifted off on schedule at 11:50 p.m. EST (4:50 a.m. GMT). ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/08/the-u-s-space-force-is-hosting-the-2025-schriever-wargame-to-explore-future-space-strategy/ Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67097 The U.S. Space Force is hosting the Schriever Wargame Capstone 2025 at the LeMay Center’s Wargame Institute. The event will bring together more than 350 participants from the United States Department of Defense, industry and partner nations to explore strategic challenges in a future conflict scenario.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/07/astroscale-u-s-signs-space-act-agreement-with-nasa-for-refueler-spacecraft-rpod-testing/ Fri, 18 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=66329 Astroscale U.S. has signed an Agreement with NASA’s GSFC to test rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD) capabilities of the Astroscale U.S. Refueler spacecraft. Astroscale U.S. will subsequently test its Refueler at GSFC in preparation for its two refueling operations of U.S. DOD satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) for the United States Space Force (USSF]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/07/u-s-space-force-to-organize-resolute-space-military-demonstration-exercise/ Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=66217 The U.S. Space Force is organizing Resolute Space 2025 to demonstrate its preparedness for complex, large-scale military operations. The exercise will be conducted in partnership with joint and international forces, with more than 700 "Guardians" participating from around the world.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/07/boeing-secures-2-8b-contract-to-enhance-u-s-strategic-satcom-capabilities/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=66141 Boeing has won a $2.8 billion contract for the Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) program, the space-based component of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture. The initial contract is for two satellites, with options for two more in the future.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/05/york-wins-ussf-smallsat-contract-for-a-range-of-national-security-missions/ Tue, 27 May 2025 06:00:03 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65492 The U.S. Space Force has selected York for a $237 million IDIQ contract to procure small satellites supporting national security missions. The contract award aims to enable faster and more flexible acquisition of spacecraft, integration, and launch support.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/05/u-s-space-force-signs-memorandum-of-agreement-with-nga-for-tacsrt-program/ Thu, 22 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65428 The U.S.S.F and NGA have signed a memorandum regarding the Space Force’s Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking (TacSRT) program. Signed by the U.S. Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, and Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, the MoU outlines a governance framework for partnership and cooperation between the two organizations.]]>