U.S. Space Force – Spaceflight Now

Blue Origin halfway through 4-flight certification to allow launch of national security missions

December 13, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos launched two successful missions in 2025, including landing its first booster on its landing barge.

U.S. Space Force picks Blue Origin bid for expanding satellite processing at Cape Canaveral

October 9, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This is the second award from the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Space Vehicle (SV) Processing Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) contract. Blue Origin will receive $78.25 million for the work.

SpaceX to launch 4 Falcon Heavy rockets as part of newest U.S. national security missions award

October 4, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command announced that SpaceX and ULA would launch five and two missions respectively as part of the latest round of National Security Space Launch contract assignments.

Department of the Air Force, FAA clear SpaceX to launch up to 120 Falcon 9 rockets annually from Cape Canaveral

September 12, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The move not only allows SpaceX to increase its allowed launches at pad 40 from 50 to 120, but it also permits the Texas-based company to construct a new landing site adjacent to the launch pad.

New U.S. military satellite constellation takes shape with first launch from Vandenberg SFB

September 12, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation is expected to deliver global coverage beginning in 2027. Launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base occurred at 7:12 a.m. PDT (10:12 a.m. EDT / 1412 UTC).

Launch preview: Space Development Agency, SpaceX to launch next-gen national security satellites

September 10, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The 21 satellites from York Space Systems are the first in the SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellite constellation. SpaceX launched from pad 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base at 7:12 a.m. PDT (10:12 a.m. EDT / 1412 UTC).

SpaceX launches Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane to demo laser communications, quantum navigation

August 22, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The uncrewed spacecraft will operate in low Earth orbit for an unspecified amount of time. This is the eighth launch of an X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle since its first flight in 2010.

Launch preview: SpaceX to launch X-37B military spaceplane on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center

August 20, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

This will be the eighth flight of the X-37B and the third time that it will be launched by SpaceX. The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at 11:50 p.m. EDT (0350 UTC).

ULA launches Vulcan rocket on first Space Force mission

August 13, 2025 William Harwood

Equipped with four solid-fuel strap-on boosters for additional takeoff power, the 198-foot-tall Vulcan’s two methane-fueled BE-4 engines thundered to life at 8:56p.m. EDT, instantly propelling the rocket away from pad 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

ULA’s Tory Bruno lays out plans for ramping up launch cadence

August 7, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

United Launch Alliance will launch the USSF-106 mission as its first flight for the U.S. Space Force using a Vulcan rocket. The vehicle will carry two satellite missions onboard.