History of Space force in Timeline

A space force is a military branch specializing in space operations and warfare. The Russian Space Forces were the first, established in 1992, but later integrated into other branches. As of 2026, the United States Space Force and China's People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force are the only independent space forces. These organizations focus on military activities in outer space.

June 1944: First Object to Cross the Kármán Line

On 20 June 1944, the first artificial object to cross the Kármán line (the boundary between air and space) was MW 18014, an A-4 rocket launched by the German Heer from the Peenemünde Army Research Center.

1945: US Air Force starts developing its space program

In 1945, the U.S. Air Force, while still the Army Air Forces, began developing its space program, viewing space operations as an extension of its strategic airpower mission.

1946: Navy begins developing rockets

In 1946, the Navy began developing rockets primarily for Naval Research Laboratory projects rather than seeking to actively develop an operational space capability.

1954: Establishment of the Western Development Division

In 1954, General Bernard Schriever established the Western Development Division within Air Research and Development Command, becoming the U.S. military's first space organization.

October 1957: Launch of Sputnik 1

On 4 October 1957, the RVGK was responsible for the launch of Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite.

1958: Air Force's rivals absorbed by NASA

In 1958, the Air Force's space rivals in the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, Naval Research Laboratory, and Advanced Research Projects Agency were absorbed by NASA, leaving the Air Force as the only major military space organization within the U.S. Department of Defense.

1958: First discussions of creating a military space service in the United States

In 1958, the first discussions of creating a military space service in the United States occurred.

1960: Reorganization of Soviet military space forces

In 1960, Soviet military space forces were reorganized into the 3rd Department of the Main Missile Directorate of the Ministry of Defence.

1964: Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces Central Directorate of Space Assets

In 1964, Soviet military space forces became a part of the new Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces Central Directorate of Space Assets.

1967: Anti-Ballistic Missile and Anti-Space Defense Forces established

In 1967, the Anti-Ballistic Missile and Anti-Space Defense Forces of the Soviet Air Defense Forces were established, responsible for space surveillance and defense operations.

1970: Renaming to Main Directorate of Space Assets

In 1970, the Strategic Rocket Forces Central Directorate of Space Assets was renamed the Main Directorate of Space Assets.

1982: U.S. Air Force space forces centralized & President Reagan floats idea of military space service

In 1982, U.S. Air Force space forces were centralized in Air Force Space Command, the first direct predecessor to the U.S. Space Force. Also in 1982 President Reagan floated the idea of creating a military space service in the United States.

1982: Main Directorate of Space Assets transfers to Ministry of Defense

In 1982, the Main Directorate of Space Assets was transferred to directly report to the Soviet Ministry of Defense.

1983: Space forces support invasion of Grenada

In 1983, U.S. space forces provided satellite communications, weather, and navigation support during the United States invasion of Grenada.

1986: Space forces support bombing of Libya

In 1986, U.S. space forces provided satellite communications, weather, and navigation support during the United States bombing of Libya.

1986: Renamed Chief Directorate of Space Assets

In 1986, the Main Directorate of Space Assets became the Chief Directorate of Space Assets.

1989: Space forces support invasion of Panama

In 1989, U.S. space forces provided satellite communications, weather, and navigation support during the United States invasion of Panama.

1991: Russian Federation gains its space forces

In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation gained its space forces, with the Chief Directorate of Space Assets reorganized into the Military Space Forces.

1992: Establishment of the Russian Space Forces

In 1992, the Russian Space Forces were established as the world's first space force, operating as an independent military service.

1997: Merged into the Strategic Missile Forces

In 1997, the Rocket and Space Defence Troops and Military Space Forces were merged into the Strategic Missile Forces, subordinating space troops' priorities.

1997: Russian Space Forces absorbed into Strategic Rocket Forces

In 1997, the Russian Space Forces lost its independence and was absorbed into the Strategic Rocket Forces.

1998: Creation of Chinese People's Liberation Army Space Forces

In 1998, the Chinese People's Liberation Army began creating its space forces under the General Armaments Department.

2001: Re-establishment as independent troops

In 2001, the Russian Space Forces was re-established as independent troops after being part of the Strategic Rocket Forces from 1997-2001.

2001: Establishment of Russian Space Forces

In 2001, the Russian Space Forces was re-established as independent troops.

2001: 2001 Space Commission argues for the creation of a Space Corps

In 2001, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.

2007: Space Corps creation argued for

In 2007 the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.

2010: Creation of the Joint Space Command

In 2010, the French Armed Forces created the Joint Space Command, a joint organism under the authority of the Chief of the Defence Staff.

2011: Russian Space Forces became the Russian Space Command

In 2011, the Russian Space Forces became the Russian Space Command, part of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces, which merged Russia's space and air defense forces into one service.

2011: Merged with the Russian Air Force

In 2011, the Russian Space Forces merged with the Russian Air Force to form the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces.

2011: Space Corps creation argued for

In 2011, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.

2015: Reorganization and renaming as People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force Space Systems Department

In 2015, the Chinese space forces were reorganized and renamed as the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force Space Systems Department.

2015: Merged with the Russian Air Force

In 2015, the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces and Russian Air Force merged to form the Russian Aerospace Forces, where the Russian Space Forces now exists as a sub-branch.

2015: Russian Space Forces re-established as a sub-branch

In 2015, the Russian Air Force and Russian Aerospace Defense Forces were merged to form the Russian Aerospace Forces, which re-established the Russian Space Forces as one of its three sub-branches, although it is no longer an independent entity.

2017: Bipartisan proposal to create Space Corps

In 2017, a bipartisan proposal in the U.S. Congress would have created a Space Corps.

December 2019: United States Space Force Act signed

On 20 December 2019, the United States Space Force Act, part of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2020, was signed, creating an independent space service by renaming and reorganizing Air Force Space Command into the United States Space Force.

2019: Joint Space Command becomes Space Command

In 2019, the French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the Joint Space Command would become the Space Command and the newest major command of the Air Force.

July 2020: Air Force renamed Air and Space Force

On 24 July 2020, the French Air Force was renamed Air and Space Force, with its new logo unveiled on 11 September 2020.

September 2020: New logo unveiled for the Air and Space Force

On 11 September 2020, the new logo for the French Air and Space Force was unveiled.

2020: United States Space Force Act is effective

In 2020, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2020 was effective, which included the United States Space Force Act, creating an independent space service by renaming and reorganizing Air Force Space Command into the United States Space Force.