Space Force

The State of the Space Force 2024

The young service is focusing on contested space—even as its budgets return to Earth.

Defense officials tease new commercial space strategies

The documents would detail how the Pentagon and Space Force want to use private space companies for military missions.

What is the Space Force’s new Futures Command?

Officials announced a fourth field command as part of the Air Force’s massive reoptimization effort.

House passes $825B defense bill, racing the clock to avoid shutdown

Bill includes new money for ships, planes, ground combat vehicles, and AI.

China’s moon plans worry Space Force

New orbits could open “potential attack vectors” on US satellites, general says.

Space Force seeks orbital-refueling tech in new budget

But spending caps will slow counterspace efforts, space chief says in interview.

Russian space nuke wouldn’t alter US orbital-network plans, Space Force says

The nascent Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture is built on the idea that lots of satellites offer plenty of redundancy.

Budget impasse freezes two Space Force efforts, leaders say

This year’s spending caps will boost future costs, acting Air Force undersecretary adds.

Rocket Lab won’t be ready to launch its new rocket by year’s end, documents suggest

This likely means a delay for the Pentagon’s effort to boost competition for rocket launches.

Space Force: We need a hotline to China

Direct communications could ward off miscalculation as space militarizes faster than norms develop, officials say.

What's at stake as Congress hashes out the 2024 defense budget

A guide to the biggest differences between proposals for the four-months-late defense appropriations bill.