Air Force Research Laboratory
Startups and universities selected for Space Force prize competition
A business accelerator funded by the U.S. Space Force announced it has selected 13 startups and 11 university teams to compete for $100,000 awards.
On National Security | Small businesses doing big things in DoD space programs
Catalyst Campus is giving space startups early exposure to Department of Defense buyers.
Report: Space Force has to prepare for operations beyond Earth’s orbit
An AFRL report suggests the U.S. Space Force has to prepare for a day when the moon and the volume of space around it could become the next military frontier.
Air Force to build space environment research facility in New Mexico
The Air Force Research Laboratory on March 18 announced it plans to open a new facility focused on space environment research.
Air Force enlists Viasat to help integrate commercial and military satellite networks
AFRL will work with Viasat to figure out ways to integrate commercial satcom with government-owned satellites so they all operate as a seamless network.
SpaceX wins Air Force manufacturing research contract for hypersonic vehicle thermal shields
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded SpaceX an $8.5 million contract to investigate manufacturing techniques for heat shields that protect hypersonic vehicles in flight.
Viasat receives $50 million Air Force contract to develop space technology
Viasat on Feb. 2 received a $50.8 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a broad range of space systems.
Op-ed | DoD partnerships with startups drive innovation in space technology
The commercial market is now driving almost all innovation in space technology. The government can pivot its practices to more quickly adopt the best from the market.
Air Force opens new laboratory to test satellite components
The Air Force Research Laboratory is opening a $4 million facility focused on spacecraft component testing.
Space Force buyers make recruiting pitch to tech companies
The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate is looking for companies with which to partner.
Air Force Research Laboratory’s NTS-3 satellite to launch on ULA’s Vulcan
The 1,250-kilogram NTS-3 satellite is being built by L3Harris under an $84 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Air Force Research Laboratory announces new space experiments
AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate will study the physics of very low Earth orbit, and will pursue sensor technologies for cislunar space
Small launch startup ABL secures over $90 million in new funding and Air Force contracts
ABL says the funding will accelerate the development of its two-stage launch vehicle and mobile infrastructure.
L3Harris cleared to begin production of Air Force NTS-3 navigation satellite
The Air Force said the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 has passed a critical design review.
Report proposes actions to strengthen U.S. space industry and military capabilities
One of the narratives in the report is that the United States is at risk of being displaced by China as the world's space superpower.
Planting the seeds of technology for the future Space Force
A conversation with Col. Eric Felt, director of AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate in which he discusses how the U.S. Space Force is small in size but big on technology.
Space Force thinking about NASA-style partnerships with private companies
Felt said NASA’s commercial crew program is “super exciting” and one that the Space Force can learn from.
Roccor completes key tests of Link 16 satellite antenna
Roccor has completed radio frequency testing of the antenna scheduled for launch later this year on the satellite housing Viasat’s Link 16 military communications terminal.
National security space conference to propose plan to boost industrial base
A group with more than 150 government and industry officials will recommend greater investments in space technology and education.
On National Security | Latest reorganization gives Space Force a big R&D boost
The leaders of the Space Force have insisted that technological innovation that can be quickly adapted into military programs is central to staying ahead of adversaries. Projects like those developed by AFRL could get more attention and resources under the Space Force.
