U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Space Brigade on Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colo., conduct a training exercise sweep of their assigned area on May 25, 2021. The training revolved around timely assembly of space related assets in unknown locations and the teams coordination, communication and combat training throughout the process. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Dennis Hoffman)
The Space Operations Branch will be “equipped to deliver specialized capabilities to enable successful Army and joint force operations,” the service said in a statement.
The Boeing Company signage is displayed above the company’s booth at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week at the Tampa Convention Center on May 19, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)
A Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle is readied for lift off from the company’s Launch Complex-1 (LC-1) in Mahia, New Zealand, as part of the U.S. Space Force Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) VICTUS HAZE mission, June 19, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Rocket Lab)
DARPA's new effort would build off of the Space Force's Tactically Responsive Space program aimed at improving the service's ability to quickly launch new systems.
View of Earth from space at night showing illuminated city lights and glowing data network lines connecting various points across continents, symbolizing global communication, technology, and interconnected digital infrastructure. The image highlights the curvature of the planet with a bright sunrise over the horizon and deep space background.
Maps from NASA: https://visibleearth.nasa.gov/images/144875/earth-at-night-black-marble-2012-color-maps-v2
Formerly known as MILNET, the Space Data Network Backbone constellation will provide backhaul communications to facilitate data transfer for the Pentagon.
The Space Force is planning to host two on-orbit demonstrations in 2027 to advance the technology and inform future plans to create a space-based logistics enterprise.
A Space X Falcon 9 rocket launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, Feb. 14, 2024. The rocket was launched as part of classified mission USSF-124, sending six satellites to orbit – two for the Missile Defense Agency and four for the Space Development Agency. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Spencer Contreras)
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in front of a map of Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)