United States Space Force facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United States Space Force
Space Force Delta
Founded	20 December 2019; 4 years ago (2019-12-20)
Type	Space force
Size	9,400 military personnel
Part of	United States Armed Forces Department of the Air Force
Headquarters	The Pentagon Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Motto(s)	Semper Supra "Always above"
March	"Semper Supra"
Anniversaries	20 December
Equipment	See spacecraft and space systems
Engagements	As Air Force Space Command Grenada – Operation Urgent Fury Lebanese Civil War Libya – Operation El Dorado Canyon Persian Gulf – Operation Ernest Will Panama – Operation Just Cause Somalia – Operation United Shield Haiti – Operation Uphold Democracy Bosnia and Herzegovina & Croatia – Operation Joint Endeavor Bosnia and Herzegovina & Croatia – Operation Joint Guard Bosnia and Herzegovina & Croatia – Operation Joint Endeavor Bosnia and Herzegovina & Croatia – Operation Joint Forge Southwest Asia – Operation Vigilant Sentinel Southwest Asia – Maritime Intercept Operations Southwest Asia – Operation Southern Watch Southwest Asia – Operation Northern Watch Southwest Asia – Operation Desert Fox Haiti – Operation Secure Tomorrow Persian Gulf War Kosovo Air Campaign Kosovo Defense Campaign Iraq Campaign As U.S. Space Force Global War on Terrorism Afghanistan Campaign Inherent Resolve Campaign
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	President Joe Biden
Secretary of Defense	Lloyd Austin
Secretary of the Air Force	Frank Kendall III
Chief of Space Operations	Gen B. Chance Saltzman
Vice Chief of Space Operations	Gen Michael Guetlein
Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force	CMSSF John F. Bentivegna
Insignia
Flag
Seal
Emblem

The United States Space Force (USSF) is the United States Armed Forces' space service and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is one of two independent space forces in the world.

The United States Space Force traces its origins to the Air Force, Army, and Navy's military space programs created during the beginning of the Cold War. US military space forces first participated in combat operations during the Vietnam War and have participated in every U.S. military operation since, most notably in the Persian Gulf War, which has been referred to as the "first space war." The Strategic Defense Initiative and creation of Air Force Space Command in the 1980s marked a renaissance for military space operations.

Proposals for a U.S. Space Force were first seriously considered during the Reagan Administration as part of the Strategic Defense Initiative. Congress began exploring establishing a Space Corps or Space Force in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The idea of establishing a Space Force was resurrected in the late 2010s in response to Russian and Chinese military space developments, resulting in the Space Force's establishment on 20 December 2019 during the Trump Administration.

The Space Force is organized as part of the Department of the Air Force alongside the U.S. Air Force, its coequal sister service. The Department of the Air Force is headed by the civilian secretary of the Air Force, while the U.S. Space Force is led by the Chief of Space Operations. The U.S. Space Force's status as part of the Department of the Air Force is intended to be an interim measure towards a fully independent Department of the Space Force, led by a civilian secretary of the Space Force.

Mission

Secure our Nation's interests in, from, and to space.

The Space Force's statutory responsibilities are outlined in 10 U.S.C. § 9081 and originally introduced in the United States Space Force Act, the Space Force is organized, trained, and equipped to:

1. Provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space;
2. Conduct space operations; and
3. Protect the interests of the United States in space.

The Department of Defense further defines the specified functions of the Space Force to:

1. Provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space.
2. Provide prompt and sustained space operations.
3. Protect the interests of the United States in space.
4. Deter aggression in, from, and to space.
5. Conduct space operations.

The Space Force further breaks down its mission into three core functions, which align directly to its mission statement to "secure our Nation's interests in, from, and to space:"

1. Space Superiority (in space)
2. Global Mission Operations (from space)
3. Assured Space Access (to space)

Space Superiority

Space superiority defends against space and counterspace threats by protecting spacecraft in space or protecting against attacks enabled by adversary spacecraft, requiring that the Space Force establish control of the domain. The Space Force describes that at a time and place of the United States' choosing it must be able to assure continued use of spacecraft and deny adversaries use of their spacecraft or space-enabled capabilities.

Mission that support space superiority include orbital warfare, electromagnetic warfare, and space battle management.

Global Mission Operations

Global mission operations integrates joint functions across all domains (land, air, maritime, space, cyberspace) on a global space. Through space, the U.S. military and its allies can see, communicate, and navigate. Global mission operations also protect U.S. forces on Earth through early warning of incoming missiles and other types of attack. The Space Force describes global mission operations as allowing the rest of the U.S. military to defend the air, land, and sea.

Missions that support global mission operations include missile warning, satellite communications, and positioning, navigation, and timing.

Assured Space Access

Assured space access ensures that the Space Force can deploy and sustain equipment in outer space. This includes space launches as well as controlling and steering spacecraft out of the way of oncoming space debris to avoid collisions. The Space Force describes assured access to space as being able to make sure it can continue launching and conducting space operations 24/7.

Missions supporting space access include launch, range control, cyber, and space domain awareness.

Organization

The Space Force is organized into a headquarters staff that provides leadership and guidance for the force; field commands that are responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Guardians; deltas that support field commands and are specialized by mission area; and squadrons which specialize in acquisitions, cyberspace operations, engineering, intelligence, and space operations.

Headquarters Space Force

At the headquarters level, the Space Force is led by the Chief of Space Operations, a four-star general who reports to the Secretary of the Air Force and provides military advice to civilian leadership of the Department of Defense and the White House. Alongside the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force combine to form the Department of the Air Force, like how the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps combine to form the Department of the Navy.

Title		Current holder
	Chief of space operations (CSO)		Gen B. Chance Saltzman
	Vice chief of space operations (VCSO)		Gen Michael Guetlein
	Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force (CMSSF)		CMSSF John F. Bentivegna
	Director of staff (SF/DS)		Maj Gen Steven P. Whitney
	Deputy chief of space operations for human capital (SF/S1)		Katharine Kelley
	Deputy chief of space operations for intelligence (SF/S2)		Maj Gen Gregory Gagnon
	Deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber, and nuclear (SF/S3/6/10)		Lt Gen DeAnna M. Burt
	Deputy chief of space operations for strategy, plans, programs, requirements, and analysis (SF/S5/8)		Lt Gen Shawn Bratton
	Deputy chief of space operations for technology and innovation (SF/S9)		Vacant
	Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships		AM Paul Godfrey

Field commands, Space Force elements, and direct reporting units

The Space Force's three field commands (FLDCOM) are purpose-built for specific activities, aligning to the various institutional responsibilities to organize, train, and equip Guardians. Component field commands (C-FLDCOM) coordinate and integrate space forces into planning and current operations within unified combatant commands. Direct reporting units (DRU) are hubs of innovation and intelligence expertise within the Space Force, providing new ideas or deep knowledge about highly specialized issues.

Field command		Mission	Headquarters
	Space Operations Command (SpOC)	Generates, presents, and sustains space warfighting capability for combatant commanders	Peterson SFB, Colorado
	Space Systems Command (SSC)	Develops, acquires, equips, fields, and sustains lethal and resilient space capabilities	Los Angeles AFB, California
	Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM)	Increases Guardians' readiness to prevail in competition and conflict through education, training, doctrine, and test	Peterson SFB, Colorado
Component field command		Mission	Headquarters
	U.S. Space Forces – Space (SPACEFOR–SPACE)	The U.S. Space Force component to U.S. Space Command which plans, executes, and integrates military spacepower into multi-domain global operations for all U.S. military operations beginning at the Kármán line, 62 miles/100 kilometers above mean sea level	Vandenberg SFB, California
	U.S. Space Forces – Central (SPACEFOR–CENT)	The U.S. Space Force component to U.S. Central Command which plans, executes, and integrates military power across an area of responsibility that spans Northeast Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia	MacDill AFB, Florida
	U.S. Space Forces – Europe and Africa (SPACEFOR–EURAF)	The U.S. Space Force component to U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command which plans, executes, and integrates military spacepower across an area of responsibility that spans Europe, large portions of Asia, the Middle East, Arctic Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean and Africa	Ramstein AB, Germany
	U.S. Space Forces – Indo-Pacific (SPAFOR-INDOPAC)	The U.S. Space Force component to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command which plans, executes, and integrates military spacepower across an area of responsibility that spans the Asia-Pacific region	JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
Space Force Element		Mission	Headquarters
	Space Force Element National Reconnaissance Office (SFELM NRO)	Supports the design, development, launch, and maintenance of America's intelligence satellites	Chantilly, Virginia
Direct Reporting Unit		Mission	Headquarters
	Space Development Agency (SDA)	Develops, demonstrates, and transitions resilient military space-based sensing, tracking, and data transport capabilities into a proliferated multi-orbit architecture, encompassing government, commercial, and rapid acquisition architectures	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
	Space Rapid Capabilities Office (SpRCO)	Specializes in the expedited development and rapid production and deployment of space capabilities to fulfill short-term critical needs	Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Field Operating Agency		Mission	Headquarters
	National Space Intelligence Center (NSIC)	Delivers unparalleled technical expertise and game-changing intelligence – empowering national leaders, joint force warfighter and acquisition professionals to outwit, out-reach and win in the space domain	Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

Bases

While the Space Force's headquarters is in Washington, D.C., the rest of the service is spread across the United States and abroad, across 18 states and territories and 46 bases and installations as of 2024.

U.S. Space Force installations

Name	Location	Garrison
Buckley Space Force Base	Aurora, Colorado		Space Base Delta 2
Peterson Space Force Base	Colorado Springs, Colorado		Space Base Delta 1
Schriever Space Force Base	Falcon, Colorado		Space Base Delta 1
Los Angeles Air Force Base	El Segundo, California		Space Base Delta 3
Patrick Space Force Base	Satellite Beach, Florida		Space Launch Delta 45
Vandenberg Space Force Base	Lompoc, California		Space Launch Delta 30
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station	Cape Canaveral, Florida		Space Launch Delta 45
Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station	Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado		Space Base Delta 1
Cape Cod Space Force Station	Sagamore, Massachusetts		6th Space Warning Squadron
Cavalier Space Force Station	Cavalier, North Dakota		10th Space Warning Squadron
Clear Space Force Station	Clear, Alaska		13th Space Warning Squadron
Kaena Point Space Force Station	Kaena Point, Hawaii		21st Space Operations Squadron
New Boston Space Force Station	Hillsborough County, New Hampshire		23rd Space Operations Squadron
Maui Space Force Station	Maui, Hawaii		15th Space Surveillance Squadron
Pituffik Space Base	Qaanaaq, Greenland		821st Space Base Group

Department of the Space Force and Army space consolidation

Department of the Space Force

As the United States Space Force matures, and as national security requires, it will become necessary to create a separate military department, to be known as the Department of the Space Force.

The Space Force is currently organized as a service under the Department of the Air Force, more closely mirroring the concept of a Space Corps rather than a fully independent Space Force. Senator Bob Smith, the 2001 Rumsfeld Commission, and 2008 Allard Commission each envisioned that a Space Corps would first be created under the Department of the Air Force as an interim measure as it grew into a fully independent Space Force. In 2019, Space Policy Directive-4 directed the Space Force be initially established under the Department of the Air Force as the first step towards an independent Department of the Space Force, which would take over the entire space mission from the Department of the Air Force. It also directed the Secretary of Defense to conduct a periodic review to determine when to recommend the President seek legislation to establish the Department of the Space Force.

Following the Space Force's establishment there have been a number of calls to rename the Department of the Air Force to the Department of the Air and Space Forces to reflect its composition of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Congress previously explored renaming the Department of the Air Force to the Department of the Aerospace Force in 1981 and congressional efforts were made in the 2000s to rename the Department of the Navy to the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps, however both of these proposals failed under opposition from the Defense Department.

Space Force advocates have also called for the creation of an undersecretary of the Air Force for space. This provision was included in the Trump Administration's original legislative proposal to give the Space Force additional independence and autonomy but was removed by the Senate. There have also been numerous calls from inside and outside the Space Force for it to have its own public affairs and judge advocate generals, independent from Air Force.

Consolidating Army space activities

When the Space Force was established in 2019 it was intended to consolidate the existing military space forces across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. While the Navy and Air Force gave up all of their space forces, the greatest resistance to transferring space forces came from the Army.

While the Army transferred its satellite communications and missile warning assets, there are still calls for it to transfer 1st Space Brigade and 100th Missile Defense Brigade to the Space Force. The Heritage Foundation has called for the wholesale transfer of United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command, to include the 100th Missile Defense Brigade and the 1st Space Brigade. The 100th Missile Defense Brigade operates the Ground Based Interceptor system and is located at Schriever Space Force Base, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and Fort Greely. Former Air Force space officers have called to move the missile defense and intercontinental ballistic missile mission to the Space Force and the Center for Strategic and International Studies has also proposed moving missile defense into the Space Force. The Army also continues to maintain a cadre of Functional Area 40 space operations officers, although over 85% indicated they would transfer to the Space Force if able. The Army is also maintaining the 1st Space Brigade, however the RAND Corporation has conducted a study calling for its transfer to the Space Force.

Personnel and culture

Symbols

The Delta Symbol

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scientists derived the rocket equation, which made spaceflight possible. In this equation, represents the change in velocity. Since the 20th century, the Delta has been used to represent a stylized aircraft, missile, or arrow. In 1940, the United States Army Air Forces 36th Fighter Group used the delta on its shield, which is still used by the U.S. Air Force 36th Fighter Wing.

After World War II, the delta began to be used by the space program, appearing on the joint U.S. Air Force-NASA X-15. In 1962, the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division became the first of a long line of international military space organizations to use the delta, which, in the Air Force Space Command shield represented the Air Force's upward thrust into space and the launch vehicles used to place satellites into orbit. This delta later evolved into the U.S. Space Force's seal and its logo in 2020, becoming the basic shape for field command and delta emblems.

Guardians

Space Force service members have the title of Guardians, similar to how members of the U.S. Marine Corps are called Marines and members of the Air Force are called Airmen. The title of guardian traces its heritage to Air Force Space Command's 1983 motto Guardians of the High Frontier. Prior to the announcement of Guardian as the service title on 18 December 2020, members of the Space Force were referred to as space professionals.

Semper Supra

The Space Force's motto, Semper Supra – "Always Above". It mirrors the mottos of the Marine Corps (Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful) and Coast Guard (Semper Paratus – Always Ready). The Space Force's service song takes its name from the motto.

Specialties and badges

Space operators are the largest career field in the Space Force and comprise much of its senior leadership. Space operations officers are responsible for leading the Space Force's space operations forces. Space operations officers (13S) are responsible for planning and leading space combat operations across orbital warfare, space electromagnetic warfare, space battle management, and space access and sustainment spacepower disciplines. They also formulate space operations policy, coordinate space operations, and plan, organize, and direct space operations programs. Enlisted Space Systems Operators (5S) are responsible for conducting orbital warfare, space electromagnetic warfare, space battle management, and space access and sustainment operations. Space operations officers and enlisted space systems operators are awarded the Space Operations Badge after completing the 533rd Training Squadron's Undergraduate Space Training program at Vandenberg Space Force Base, with follow-on education provided by the 319th Combat Training Squadron and National Security Space Institute.

The Space Force currently has two astronauts (13A) who flew as Space Force officers on assignment to NASA. Space Force astronauts command, operate, and pilot crewed spacecraft, accomplish on-orbit duties on the International Space Station or other spacecraft, operate Department of Defense payloads, and provide spaceflight consultation to the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Space Force astronauts must complete NASA Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) training at Johnson Space Center. Once completing a spaceflight, Space Force astronauts are awarded the observer badge with astronaut rating.

Intelligence officers (14N) lead the Space Force's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance enterprise, performing intelligence activities and analysis. They lead enlisted All Source Intelligence Analysts (5I0), Geospatial Intelligence Analysts (5I1), Signals Intelligence Analysts (5I2), and Fusion Analysts (5I4), and Targeting Analysts (5I8). Intelligence officers and enlisted analysts are awarded their intelligence badge after completing intelligence training with the 533rd Training Squadron Detachment 1 at Goodfellow Air Force Base, with follow-on education provided by the 319th Combat Training Squadron and National Security Space Institute.

Cyberspace effects operations officers (17S) are responsible for operating cyberspace weapons systems, satellite communications systems, and commanding cyber crews. They lead enlisted Cyberspace Operations guardians. Cyberspace effects operations officers and enlisted cyberspace operators are awarded the cyberspace operator badge after completing Undergraduate Cyber Training with the Air Force's 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, with follow-on education provided by the 319th Combat Training Squadron and National Security Space Institute.

Acquisition and engineering are officer only career fields within the Space Force. Specific developmental engineers (62E) include aeronautical engineers (62EXA), astronautical engineers (62EXB), computer systems engineers (62EXC), electrical/electronic engineer (62EXE), mechanical engineer (62EXH) and the human factors engineer/human systems integration (62EXI). Space Force engineers graduate from the Defense Acquisition University and the U.S. Air Force Flight Test Engineer course, or a comparable program. Acquisition managers (63A) are responsible for the Space Force's acquisition process.

Spacepower disciplines

The U.S. Space Force has seven core spacepower disciplines which its personnel gain experience in:

1. Orbital Warfare: Knowledge of orbital maneuver as well as offensive and defensive fires to preserve freedom of access to the domain. Skill to ensure United States and coalition space forces can continue to provide capability to the Joint Force while denying that same advantage to the adversary.
2. Space Electromagnetic Warfare: Knowledge of spectrum awareness, maneuver within the spectrum, and non-kinetic fires within the spectrum to deny adversary use of vital links. Skill to manipulate physical access to communication pathways and awareness of how those pathways contribute to enemy advantage.
3. Space Battle Management: Knowledge of how to orient to the space domain and skill in making decisions to preserve mission, deny adversary access, and ultimately ensure mission accomplishment. Ability to identify hostile actions and entities, conduct combat identification, target, and direct action in response to an evolving threat environment.
4. Space Access and Sustainment: Knowledge of processes, support, and logistics required to maintain and prolong operations in the space domain. Ability to resource, apply, and leverage spacepower in, from, and to the space domain.
5. Military Intelligence: Knowledge to conduct intelligence-led, threat-focused operations based on the insights. Ability to leverage the broader Intelligence Community to ensure military spacepower has the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities needed to defend the space domain.
6. Engineering and Acquisition: Knowledge that ensures military spacepower has the best capabilities in the world to defend the space domain. Ability to form science, technology, and acquisition partnerships with other national security space organizations, commercial entities, Allies, and academia to ensure the warfighters are properly equipped.
7. Cyber Operations: Knowledge to defend the global networks upon which military spacepower is vitally dependent. Ability to employ cyber security and cyber defense of critical space networks and systems. Skill to employ future offensive capabilities.

Rank structure

Officers

Officers are the leaders of the U.S. Space Force and are responsible for planning operations and managing personnel. Space Force officers enter the service through three different paths: graduating from the United States Air Force Academy, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, or Air Force Officer Training School.

The premier commissioning route for Space Force officers is through the U.S. Air Force Academy, a public university and military academy. Approximately ~10% of each class commissions as U.S. Space Force officers, with the remainder entering into the U.S. Air Force. Space Delta 13, Detachment 1 is responsible for providing Space Force training, immersion, and mentorship to cadets. The Air Force Academy has a long history with Air Force space, establishing the world's first Department of Astronautics in 1958 and the Cadet Space Operations Squadron, which operates the FalconSAT satellites, in 1997. Additional space programs, such as the Azimuth program, i5 Squadron and Blue Horizon rocketry club have stood up and as of 2023, the Air Force Academy offers two space majors, a space warfighting minor, and 29 space courses across all its academic departments. On 18 April 2020, the Air Force Academy commissioned 86 officers into the Space Force, becoming the first group of individuals to enter the service after the first chief of space operations, General Jay Raymond, and the senior enlisted advisor of the Space Force, Chief Master Sergeant Roger Towberman.

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program is offered at 1,100 colleges and universities. Like the Air Force Academy, it commissions officers directly into either the Air Force or Space Force. The Air Force Officer Training School is the final path to commission into the Space Force, graduating its first two Space Force officers on 16 October 2020 and its first all-Space Force flight graduating on 17 March 2023.

The Space Force partners with Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies to provide Intermediate Developmental Education and Senior Developmental Education. Additional educational opportunities for officers include the 319th Combat Training Squadron, National Security Space Institute, Air Force Institute of Technology, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, the Acquisition Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, the Space Test Course, and Air University's School of Advanced Air and Space Studies.

Enlisted

Enlisted members participate in and support operations. Space Force enlisted members complete Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio. Space Force Basic Military Training is identical to Air Force Basic Military Training, with the addition of Space Force-specific curriculum. On 20 October 2020, the first four individuals enlisted into the Space Force and on 10 December 2020, the first seven enlisted members to enter the Space Force graduated from Basic Military Training. In May 2022, the Space Force started running its own all-Guardian Basic Military Training to reinforce Space Force culture.

Space Force enlisted members are enrolled in the Community College of the Air Force, earning an associate in applied science degree. Professional military education is conducted at Space Training and Readiness Command's Forrest L. Vosler Non-Commissioned Officer Academy. Other educational opportunities for enlisted members include the 319th Combat Training Squadron, National Security Space Institute, Advanced Instructor Course and the Space Test Course.

The Space Force's enlisted rank design is centered on a hexagon, representing the Space Force's status as the sixth military service in the Armed Forces. The horizontal stripes for Specialist 2, 3, and 4 were inspired by an early proposal for Air Force enlisted ranks known as "Vandenberg stripes". The delta represents the Space Force. The specialist stripes represent terra firma, the solid foundation of skills upon which the Space Force is built. Noncommissioned officer insignia feature traditional chevrons and the "Delta, Globe, and Orbit," representing the totality of the Space Force. Finally, senior noncommissioned officer insignia are topped with "orbital chevrons", representing low Earth orbit for master sergeants, medium Earth orbit for senior master sergeants, and geosynchronous orbit for chief master sergeants. These orbital chevrons signify the higher levels of responsibility and willingness to explore and innovate placed upon senior noncommissioned officers. Finally, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force is represented by a "Delta, Globe, and Orbit" in a hexagonal wreath.

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  Vice Chief of Space Operations General David D. Thompson swears in the first four enlisted Space Force recruits on 20 October 2020

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  The first seven enlisted guardians graduate from Basic Military Training on 10 December 2020

Uniforms

The Space Force is currently in the process of developing its unique mess dress, service dress, and physical training uniforms. In the interim period, guardians wear the Air Force Mess Dress, Air Force Service Dress, and Air Force Service uniforms with the following modifications:

• Space Force insignia on the coat/shirt
• Replaced "Hap Arnold Star & Wings" buttons with "Delta, Globe, & Orbit" buttons
• Replaced Air Force Great Seal of the United States service cap badges with Space Force Delta, Globe, and Orbit service cap badges
• Replaced Air Force nametag with Space Force hexagonal nametag
• Space Force enlisted rank worn in place of Air Force enlisted ranks (enlisted only)
• Replaced Circle U.S. lapel insignia with Hexagonal U.S. insignia (enlisted only)

The primary Space Force uniform is the OCP Uniform, adopted from the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. The Space Force uses unique "space blue" thread for ranks and badges, wears a full color flag on the left sleeve, and wears full color patches.

The Space Force's distinctive blue and gray service dress uniform was unveiled at the Air & Space Forces Association's 2021 Air, Space, and Cyber conference. The dark blue was taken from the Space Force's seal and represents the vastness of outer space, while the six buttons represent that the U.S. Space Force is the sixth armed service. The Space Force's Physical Training Uniform was unveiled in September 2021. As of April 2023, the Space Force stated that the Physical Training Uniform would be available by early 2024 and that the Service Dress Uniform would be available by late 2025.

Space Force cadets at the Air Force Academy wear the same uniform as Air Force cadets; however, in their distinctive blue and white parade dress uniforms they wear a platinum sash in place of the gold sash worn by Air Force cadets.

Awards and decorations

As part of the United States Department of the Air Force, the United States Space Force and United States Air Force share the same awards and decorations or same variations of awards and decorations.

On 16 November 2020, the Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall III renamed the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Recognition Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Ribbons, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award, and the Air Force Training Ribbon to replace "Air Force" with "Air and Space" to include the Space Force. He also eliminated Air Force from the Air Force Combat Action Medal and renamed the Air Force Special Duty Ribbon to the Developmental Special Duty Ribbon.

The Space Force is currently in the process of developing a Space Force Good Conduct Medal to replace the Air Force Good Conduct Medal for enlisted members which was approved on 30 August 2023. Congress has also debated changing the Airman's Medal, awarded for non-combat heroism, to the Air and Space Force Medal, mirroring the Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

Decorations

Unit awards

Presidential Unit Citation	Gallant Unit Citation	Meritorious Unit Award	Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award	Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award

Campaign, expeditionary, and service awards

Spacecraft and space systems

Spacecraft

Space systems

Space launch vehicles

Modernization and budget

While a new service, the U.S. Space Force is undergoing intensive modernization efforts. The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) is intended to track objects in geosynchronous orbit with three sites, one in the United States, one in the Indo-Pacific, and one in Europe.

Oracle, a spacecraft developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory for the Space Force, will demonstrate technologies that the space service needs for cislunar domain awareness – tracking objects outside of geosynchronous orbit and between Earth and the Moon. The spacecraft itself will launch to an area of gravitational stability between the Earth and the Moon to conduct operations, using a wide-field sensor and a more sensitive narrow field sensor to discover and maintain custody of objects operating in this region. Oracle will directly support NASA's Artemis program as it returns to the Moon and track potentially hazardous near-Earth objects in support of planetary defense operations.

Also an Air Force Research Laboratory program for the Space Force, Arachne is the keystone experiment in the Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research Project, which aims to prove and mature essential technologies for a prototype space-based solar power transmission system capable of powering a forward operating base. Arachne will specifically demonstrate and mature technologies related to more efficient energy generation, radio frequency forming, and radio frequency beam beaming. Current forward operation bases rely on significant logistics convoys to transport fuel for power – space-based solar power would move these supply lines to space, where they are unable to be easily attacked. Much how GPS started as a military program and was opened to civilian use, Space Force provided space-based solar power could transition to common use as well. Other space-based power beaming demonstrators include the Space Power InfraRed Regulation and Analysis of Lifetime (SPIRRAL) and Space Power INcremental DepLoyable Experiment (SPINDLE) experiments.

The Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), building on the Space Force's Global Positioning System constellation, is an Air Force Research Laboratory spacecraft that will operate in geosynchronous orbit to test advanced techniques and technologies to detect and mitigate interference to positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities and increase system resiliency for military, civil, and commercial users. NTS-3 is a Vanguard program, which mark potentially game changing technologies.

The Space Force's Rocket Cargo program is another Air Force Research Laboratory Vanguard program, which is focused on leasing space launch services to quickly transport military materiel to ports across the globe. If proven viable, the Space Force's Space Systems Command is responsible for transitioning it to a program of record. United States Transportation Command would be the primary user of this capability, rapidly launching up to 100 tons of cargo anywhere in the world.

See also

In Spanish: Fuerza Espacial de los Estados Unidos para niños

• National Security Space Launch
• Air & Space Forces Association
• Militarization of space
• Space Force Association
• Starlink in the Russo-Ukrainian War
• Strategic Defense Initiative
• Women in the United States Space Force