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U.S. Air Force News

  • Thinking ahead: Agility Prime kicks off

    The objective of this week’s event is to reinforce the Air Force’s commitment in partnering with industry, investors and the interagency to help ensure there is a robust domestic capability in the aerospace sector.

  • AFRL completes initial Ultra LEAP flight tests

    The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Center for Rapid Innovation has successfully completed initial flight tests for the revolutionary unmanned aerial system with a customizable suite of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tools that supports extended missions.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • First GPS III satellite successfully launched

    The Air Force and its mission partners successfully launched the first Global Positioning Systems III satellite Dec. 23 from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The Lockheed Martin-built satellitewas carried to orbit aboard a Space Exploration Technologies

  • AFSPC assumes COMSATCOM procurement responsibility for DoD

    The Air Force Space Command commander assumed responsibility for procurement of commercial satellite communications services for the Department of Defense from the Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency December 12. The move is in accordance with Section 1601(a) of the Fiscal Year 2018

  • 188th Wing activates UPAD for Hurricane Florence Response

    The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Wing activated its Unclassified Processing, Assessment and Dissemination capability in response to Hurricane Florence September 13, providing imagery, geospatial, and assessment support to incident commanders in affected areas.

  • Around the Air Force: Sept. 6

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- On this look Around the Air Force, U.S. Air Forces Central Command held their change of command ceremony at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and the Air Force is launching the newest generation of GPS satellites. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Koetz.For previous episodes,

  • Yesterday's Air Force: Airman Astronauts

    The U.S. Air Force helped propel America to the moon. Across several decades, Airmen have participated in the training, planning and flying of rockets and shuttles and even the International Space Station. The Air Force has played a vital role in the NASA's astronaut mission.

  • SBIRS GEO Flight-4 Successfully Launched

    The Air Force successfully launched the fourth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Evolved Expendable launch Vehicle from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida at 7:48 p.m. EST, Jan 19, 2018.

  • Around the Air Force: Jan. 18

    On this look around the Air Force, Airmen at Edwards Air Force Base, California, developed a new way to reduce the cost of testing fire suppression systems, a satellite launched from Vandenberg AFB, California, and Civilian Health Promotion Services is helping people quit smoking.

  • Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg AFB

    Members of Vandenberg Air Force Base, alongside SpaceX and Iridium partners, recently launched the Iridium NEXT satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4, here, Jan. 14.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 23

    On this look around the Air Force the first Japanese F-35 arrives at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona; Edwards AFB in California is testing ways to save fueling cost for the C-17 Globemaster III; and the Air Force band performs at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 20

    On this look around the Air Force, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is crippled by airstrikes, the 45th Space Wing launches a satellite which will increase internet speed and other satellites that will measure ocean surface winds.

  • Around the Air Force: Nov. 25

    On this look around the Air Force, NASA launches a new weather satellite, Airmen train with Marines during Vigilant Ace 17-1, and Serbian support during World War II is commemorated.

  • Travis C-5M delivers SBIRS GEO Flight 3 satellite

    A C-5M Super Galaxy assisted in the completion of a major milestone for the Air Force’s Space Based Infrared Systems program, successfully delivering a geosynchronous Earth orbit Flight 3 satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, Aug. 2.

  • GPS registers most accurate signal yet

    On April 25, the Air Force’s GPS registered its most accurate signal yet, according to the Aerospace Corporation, which has been monitoring the data since 2002.

  • Airmen look ahead after historic GPS satellite mission

    Capt. Trung Nguyen was born the year the first of the latest series of GPS satellites was blasted into space. Twenty seven years later, the Airman helped process the final GPS IIF satellite, worth about $131 million, before it was launched on an Atlas V rocket in early February.

  • Final GPS IIF satellite moves to next processing phase toward launch

    All of the intricate processing steps from delivery of the satellite to launching into orbit are part of their standard operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. But, it’s a bitter sweet moment when the team reflects on the extensive years of history they have processing GPS systems

  • 45th Space Wing supports GPS satellite launch aboard Atlas V

    The 45th Space Wing supported the Air Force's 11th launch of a Boeing-built Global Positioning System IIF satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on Oct. 31.

  • Air Force set to launch next-to-last GPS IIF satellite

    Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center and its mission partners are scheduled to launch the 11th Boeing-built Global Positioning System IIF satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 launch vehicle Oct. 30 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force

  • C-5M scoops up in-flight data for NASA

    Lockheed Martin and Travis Air Force Base officials recently recorded in-flight noise and vibration data onboard a C-5M Super Galaxy, ensuring the newly upgraded airframe was still compliant with NASA requirements.

  • A little flare: Solar observatory monitors sun’s activity

    Ninety-three million miles away from the Earth sits a fiery sphere of hot gas.It’s 332,946 times the mass of Earth and has surface temperatures reaching 9,932 degrees, which is capable of disrupting satellites, power grids and even pilots flying at high altitudes. The sun launches these attacks

  • Airman author brings fictional, real heroes to life

    In stories, the hero is often called upon to accomplish a great task, to take on the weight of a burden they did not anticipate, even though they know that hardships may plague every step of their journey. For storytellers, joy often comes from seeing the hero overcome the many obstacles placed in

  • Marking 20 years of GPS

    The Air Force celebrated the Global Positioning System 20th anniversary during a ceremony at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., July 17.

  • AF will defend, boost space assets

    Space is absolutely vital to the American way of life and it is also vital to the protection of the nation, the commander of Air Force Space Command told the Defense Writers’ Group here April 28.

  • AFRL announces winners of student satellite competition

    Students representing 10 universities competed for the chance to send a satellite they designed and built into space. The competition was sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate University Nanosat Program.

  • PIKE nears end of service

    The 22nd Space Operations Squadron will decommission the Colorado Tracking Station Sept. 29, during a ceremony here, signaling the end of operations for one of the Air Force Satellite Control Network's most valued assets of the past two decades.

  • AF launches successful satellite mission

    The 45th Space Wing supported a successful United Launch Alliance Delta IV vehicle carrying Air Force Space Command mission assets for the Air Force July 28.

  • 45th Space Wing launches ORBCOMM satellites

    The 45th Space Wing supported Space Exploration Technologies’ successful launch of their Falcon 9 rocket carrying six second-generation ORBCOMM communications satellites July 14, from Space Launch Complex 40, here.

  • GPS IIF-5 successfully launched from Cape Canaveral

    The U. S. Air Force officials successfully launched the fifth Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite carried aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle at 8:59 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Feb. 20.

  • 45th Space Wing supports SpaceX Thaicom 6 mission

    The Air Force's 45th Space Wing provided Eastern Range support to the successful launch of the Thaicom 6 communications satellite from Space Launch Complex 40 at 5:06 p.m. Jan 6 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

  • Communications satellite turns 20

    The 3rd Space Operations Squadron celebrated the Defense Satellite Communications System B10 satellite's 20th anniversary on orbit Nov. 28. The anniversary held significant importance for the squadron and for the Air Force, in part because the satellite was designed to operate for only 10 years.

  • AF launches 3rd AEHF satellite

    The U.S. Air Force successfully launched the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency communication satellite at 4:10 a.m. EDT, Sept. 18, from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The satellite was carried to orbit aboard an United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle.

  • 45th Space Wing launches satellite

    The 45th Space Wing successfully launched a United Launch Alliance-built Delta IV rocket carrying the sixth Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite at 8:29 p.m., Aug. 7 from Space Launch Complex 37B here.A combined team of military, government civilians and contractors from across the 45th SW