Space Force

El Segundo, Calif. (AFNS) --  From processing space-based data faster to enlisting commercial partners in new ways, this year’s annual Fight Tonight competition sponsored by Space Systems Command elicited an impressive array of novel ideas designed to deliver space capability at the speed of need. Seven teams made the final round and presented their concepts to U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command leaders Oct. 7. Winners will be announced Nov. 15, at the Space Force Ball in Los Angeles. Space Systems Command’s annual Fight Tonight competition debuted three years ago seeking to empower solutions in alignment with the critical Space Force mission of ensuring a secure space domain for all. The competition is open to all SSC government employees and all...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFNS) --  Space Training and Readiness Command held its inaugural Partnership Days in Reston, Virginia Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, bringing together leaders, educators, and innovators from academic institutions and the space-related private sector. These key players joined Space Force education leaders to explore future avenues for supporting Guardian development.The conference aimed to establish and strengthen connections while providing a platform for industry and academia to present innovative ideas for potential education and training pathways to STARCOM leaders. This effort focuses on piloting new education and training programs that would offer enlisted, officer, and civilian Guardians diverse opportunities to expand and deepen the...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AFNS) --  An exhibit spotlighting an unheralded but vital element of America’s space capabilities was unveiled in an October ribbon-cutting ceremony at Los Angeles Air Force Base, both to celebrate the program’s achievements and inspire future Guardians. Showcasing the Centaur III upper stage and its associated RL10 rocket engine, the exhibit was dedicated on Oct. 18 at Los Angeles AFB, where Space Systems Command is headquartered. The Centaur family of liquid hydrogen-fueled upper stages has been placing U.S. spacecraft into Earth orbit and beyond since 1965, while the program – which made its 289th successful flight Oct....

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --  A prototype F-16 Fighting Falcon cockpit collapsible ladder for agile combat employment and contingency operations emerged as the 2024 Spark Tank winner following presentation and judging at the Pentagon, Oct. 30.Spark Tank is the flagship competition in which innovators from across the Department of the Air Force pitch their ideas to a panel of top leadership and industry experts in pursuit of sponsorship to realize their idea.The Spark Tank judging panel included Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Jim Slife; Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Mike Guetlein; Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Coleman with the Space Force Chief Technology and Innovation Office Futures Task Fo...

BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) --  Buckley Space Force Base is home to one of the Defense Department's only two chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles."You spend enough time around him and start to forget he's a QUGV," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dominic Garcia, Installation Office of Emergency Management section chief. Garcia refers to this innovative QUGV, affectionately known as CHAPPIE, representing a significant technological advancement in CBRN defense.CHAPPIE, one of the only two QUGVs in the DoD repurposed for CBRN field operations, stands out with its extensive list of capabilities and customizations. These include remote CBRN sensing capabilities using our current inventory of detectors...