Space Force

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --  Vandenberg Space Force Base has revolutionized west coast space and test launch with an historic 51 launches in 2024 from the United States Space Force’s West Coast Spaceport and Test Range. This achievement was driven by the base's commitment to innovation, revising practices and procedures and close partnerships with launch and test mission partners. "This year marks a historic milestone for our nation's space launch capabilities, achieving a level of activity not seen in the past 50 years at Vandenberg," said Col. Mark Shoemaker, Space Launch Delta 30 commander. "As we accelerate our space launch efforts and push boundaries, we are rewriti...

PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --  A joint-task force of Guardsmen and Reservists conquer air, space and sea to provide Human Space Flight Support training for astronaut retrieval through search and rescue Jan. 14-17, at Patrick Space Force Base.Guardsmen from the 204th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, joined hands with Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, and the 308th Rescue Squadron, Patrick SFB, Florida, to train on HSFS search and rescue airdrop techniques, used to retrieve astronauts from open-ocean waters upon returning to Earth.“The developments in the space industry from 2020, when [JB] Hickam originally picked up this alert, until now, show an increase in SpaceX launche...

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --  The Department of the Air Force Mentoring Program is launching a series of events throughout January 2025 marking National Mentoring Month. First launched in January 2002, National Mentoring Month is a call to action for all Airmen and Guardians to engage in mentoring relationships, both as mentors and mentees.NMM introduces the Total Force to a series of panels, events and interactive discussions on mentoring as an enterprise imperative, ensuring greater awareness of the mentoring opportunities available to all Airman and Guardians and empowering them to reach their fullest potential.The Department of Defense 2025 theme for NMM is “Mentoring tomorrow’s leaders today.” Aligned under this is the DAF NMM theme for 2025, “Transfo...

WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Only days before his tenure as secretary of the Department of the Air Force comes to an end, Frank Kendall offered a vision Jan. 13 for the security challenges the Air Force and Space Force could face in 2050 and what is needed to properly respond.The perspective was laid out in a formal report entitled, “The Department of the Air Force In 2050,” and is studded with qualifying language. The report concedes “enormous uncertainty about the events that might transpire over the next 25 years, about the technologies that will be available by then, and about the threats to national security that will exist.”Nonetheless, the report is emphatic that China will remain the most formidable adversary to the U.S. and its allies. It is unambigu...

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) --  “We get to do some really exciting stuff in the Space Force,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna. “Our mission is at the heart of joint warfighting and protecting our way of life!”Bentivegna gave two talks for U.S. Space Force master sergeants and senior master sergeants stationed at Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever SFB, and Cheyenne Mountain Complex, on Jan. 10, as an opportunity to shape the future of the USSF and receive feedback from key enlisted leaders.When asked why he wanted to speak to these two specific groups, Bentivegna said they are the group he doesn’t get to speak to often but are a pivotal cohort for the success of the USSF.“When I speak and engage, it’s usually with...