Space Force Explained: What Does the US Space Force Actually Do?

Short answer: the U.S. Space Force runs the military's satellites (GPS, missile warning and secure communications), tracks more than 47,000 objects in Earth orbit and warns operators of collisions, runs the Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg launch ranges, and is responsible for protecting U.S. satellites from attack. It does not run crewed spaceflight; that is NASA. It is the smallest branch, with fewer than 11,000 Guardians as of September 2026.

On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force (USSF) was established as the sixth and newest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, the first new military branch since the Air Force was created in 1947. But despite the name recognition and pop-culture attention (including a Netflix series), most people still ask the same question: What does the Space Force actually do?

The answer is both more mundane and more critical than you might think. Space Force doesn't fly astronauts or build Moon bases: it protects the space-based systems that underpin modern military operations, communications, navigation, and the broader economy.

The Core Mission

The Space Force's official mission is to "organize, train, and equip space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force."

In plain English, Space Force is responsible for:

• Space domain awareness: Tracking every object in Earth orbit (47,000+ tracked objects) and knowing what adversaries are doing in space
• Satellite operations: Operating military satellite constellations for GPS, missile warning, communications, weather, and intelligence
• Space control: Protecting U.S. space assets from attack and, if necessary, denying adversaries the use of their space capabilities
• Missile warning and tracking: Detecting and tracking ballistic missile launches worldwide using space-based infrared sensors
• Launch operations: Assured access to space for national security payloads
• Cyber operations: Protecting satellite ground systems and communications links from cyberattack

Why Was Space Force Created?

Space has been a military domain since the Cold War, but capabilities were scattered across the Air Force, Army, Navy, and intelligence agencies. The creation of Space Force consolidated these under unified command for several reasons:

• Space is contested: China and Russia have demonstrated anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, electronic warfare against GPS, and co-orbital inspection/attack satellites. Space is no longer a benign environment.
• Space is essential: GPS guides precision munitions, satellite communications enable global command and control, missile warning satellites provide the first alert of attack, and weather satellites support operational planning. Losing space capabilities would severely degrade military effectiveness.
• Organizational focus: Within the Air Force, space was often subordinate to air power priorities. A dedicated branch ensures space gets the attention, budgets, and career paths needed to attract talent and develop capabilities.

What Does Space Force Operate?

GPS (Global Positioning System)

Space Force operates the GPS constellation (31 operational satellites in GPS.gov's last published count, July 2023) in MEO that provide positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services used by billions of people and devices worldwide. GPS supports everything from smartphone navigation to precision agriculture to financial transaction timestamping. The military GPS signal provides higher accuracy and anti-jamming capabilities for DoD users.

Missile Warning Satellites

The SBIRS (Space Based Infrared System) constellation in GEO and HEO detects the infrared signature of missile launches worldwide, providing early warning to national command authority and combatant commanders. The next-generation system, NGG (Next-Gen Overhead Persistent Infrared), will provide enhanced tracking capability against advanced threats including hypersonic weapons.

Military Communications

Space Force operates several satellite communications constellations:

• AEHF (Advanced Extremely High Frequency): Jam-resistant, secure strategic communications for the President, combatant commanders, and nuclear forces
• WGS (Wideband Global SATCOM): High-capacity communications supporting tactical operations worldwide
• MUOS (Mobile User Objective System): UHF communications for dismounted troops and mobile forces

Space Domain Awareness

The 18th Space Defense Squadron at Vandenberg Space Force Base operates the Space Surveillance Network (SSN), tracking 47,000+ objects in orbit using a global network of radars, optical telescopes, and the advanced Space Fence radar on Kwajalein Atoll. They issue conjunction warnings (collision alerts) to satellite operators worldwide, commercial and military alike.

Launch Operations

Space Force manages the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral (Patrick Space Force Base) and the Western Range at Vandenberg, supporting both military and commercial launches. Space Launch Delta 45 and Space Launch Delta 30 provide range safety, tracking, and launch support services.

Structure and Organization

Space Force is organized under the Department of the Air Force (similar to how the Marine Corps is under the Department of the Navy). Key organizational elements:

• Chief of Space Operations (CSO): The senior uniformed leader, currently General Chance Saltzman. The CSO is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Space Operations Command (SpOC): The operational arm, headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. Responsible for day-to-day satellite operations and space domain awareness.
• Space Systems Command (SSC): The acquisition arm, headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base. Responsible for developing and acquiring space systems.
• Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM): Training and education, headquartered at Patrick SFB, Florida (it was temporarily based at Peterson).
• SpaceWERX: The innovation arm, modeled after AFWERX, connecting startups and non-traditional defense companies to Space Force requirements.

Personnel

Space Force is the smallest military branch, with fewer than 11,000 uniformed Guardians (the official title for Space Force members) as of September 2026, plus civilians and contractors. By comparison, the Air Force has roughly 320,000 active-duty members. In September 2026 service leaders laid out a five-year plan to grow to about 25,000 Guardians, subject to funding (our report on the plan).

Space Force Bases

• Peterson Space Force Base, CO: Headquarters of SpOC and U.S. Space Command
• Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA: Western launch range, Space Launch Delta 30, 18th Space Defense Squadron
• Patrick Space Force Base / Cape Canaveral, FL: Eastern launch range, Space Launch Delta 45
• Buckley Space Force Base, CO: Missile warning operations (SBIRS ground segment)
• Schriever Space Force Base, CO: GPS operations, satellite command and control
• Los Angeles AFB, CA: Space Systems Command headquarters (acquisition)
• Cavalier Space Force Station, ND: Missile warning radar
• Clear Space Force Station, AK: Missile warning and space surveillance radar

Budget and Spending

Space Force's budget has grown rapidly since its establishment:

• FY2026: $26.3 billion requested, or $40.1 billion including $13.8 billion of reconciliation money
• FY2027: $71.1 billion requested (about $59 billion through regular appropriations and $12 billion through a possible reconciliation bill, as reported in April 2026). Congress had funded the government only through December 11, 2026 as of late September.

Major budget priorities include:

• Next-generation missile warning (NGG/OPIR)
• Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), hundreds of small satellites in LEO for missile tracking and data transport
• GPS III and GPS IIIF follow-on satellites
• Commercial space integration and commercial augmentation
• Space domain awareness upgrades
• Offensive and defensive space control capabilities

Recent Activities and Priorities (2025-2026)

• Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA): The Space Development Agency (now part of Space Force) is deploying hundreds of small satellites in LEO for missile tracking and tactical data transport. Tranche 0 demonstration satellites are in orbit, Tranche 1 launches began in September 2025 and continue through 2026, and Tranche 2 is in development.
• Commercial integration: Space Force is increasingly buying commercial satellite communications, imagery, and space domain awareness services rather than building bespoke military systems. The Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) formalizes commercial partnerships.
• Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS): Developing the ability to rapidly launch replacement satellites within days of a loss, using commercial launch providers and standardized satellite buses.
• Golden Dome initiative: A space-based missile defense architecture under development that would use satellite constellations for tracking and potentially intercepting ballistic and hypersonic threats.
• International partnerships: Expanding space cooperation with allies including the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan through the Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC) and bilateral agreements.

Space Force vs. NASA

A common misconception: Space Force and NASA do very different things.

• NASA: Civilian agency focused on scientific exploration, aeronautics research, and expanding human presence in space (Artemis, ISS, planetary science). Budget: about $24.4B enacted for FY2026.
• Space Force: Military branch focused on protecting U.S. space assets, providing military space capabilities (GPS, missile warning, SATCOM), and deterring conflict in space. Budget: $26.3B requested for FY2026, or $40.1B with reconciliation money.

They collaborate where interests overlap (NASA uses Space Force launch ranges, and Space Force benefits from commercial space innovation that NASA has fostered) but their missions are fundamentally different.

Explore Space Defense on SpaceNexus

SpaceNexus's Space Defense module covers military space programs, budgets, ASAT capabilities, allied space operations, and the evolving threat landscape. Combined with our Government Budgets tracker and Procurement Intelligence, you can follow Space Force acquisitions, contract awards, and strategic priorities in real time.

Explore Space Defense on SpaceNexus