U.S. Air Force officials met in February with SpaceX founder Elon Musk and President Gwynne Shotwell at the company’s headquarters. Among the topics discussed was future Air Force use of SpaceX’s Starlink broadband services. Credit: Air Force Air Combat Command

Air Force laying groundwork for future military use of commercial megaconstellations

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Low-cost internet access from LEO constellations is one of the products that the Air Force wants to be able to acquire and use as soon as possible.

Commercial Military Air Force Research LaboratoryLEO broadbandMegaconstellations
S5 Blue Canyon

Air Force smallsat to fly on upcoming Falcon 9 launch

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An experimental Air Force small satellite intended to test space situational awareness technologies will be a secondary payload on the upcoming Falcon 9 launch of a commercial communications satellite and lunar lander.

Launch Military Air Force Research LaboratoryApplied Defense SolutionsBlue Canyon TechnologiesFalcon 9SpaceX
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Air Force launches $100K challenge for ‘space awareness innovators’

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Air Force: “The need for timely and accurate object tracking is paramount to the defense of space."

Commercial Missions Air Force Research LaboratorySSA
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis at U.S. Northern Command headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Credit: DoD

Massive review of the defense industry nears completion; Air Force steps up rhetoric on China’s space challenge

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A deep-dive analysis of the defense industrial base will be submitted to the White House in mid-April.

SN Military.Space Air Force Research LaboratoryDepartment of DefenseU.S. Air Force