History of Space force in Timeline

A space force is a military branch focused on space operations and warfare. Russia established the first space force in 1992, which later became part of the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2015. Currently, the United States Space Force and China's People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force are the only independent space forces as of 2025. These forces handle military activities and strategies related to outer space.

June 1944: First Object Across the Karman Line

On June 20, 1944, the MW 18014, an A-4 rocket launched by the German Heer, became the first artificial object to cross the Kármán line, the boundary between air and space.

1945: US Air Force Developing Space Program

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

1946: Navy Rocket Development

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

1954: Western Development Division Established

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

1958: NASA Absorbs Space Rivals

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.

1958: First Discussions of Military Space Service

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

1960: Soviet Military Space Forces Reorganized

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

1964: Part of the 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

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

1970: Renamed 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: Air Force Space Command Centralized

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. President Reagan also floated the idea of creating a military space service.

1982: Reports to Soviet 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 during 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: Chief Directorate of Space Assets

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

1989: Space Forces support during 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 Gained Space Forces

In 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation gained its space forces.

1992: Russian Space Forces Established

In 1992, the Russian Space Forces were established as the world's first independent military service dedicated to space operations.

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.

1997: Russian Space Forces absorbed into Strategic Rocket Forces

In 1997, the Russian Space Forces lost their independence and were absorbed into the Strategic Rocket Forces.

1998: Chinese Space Forces Creation

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

2001: Russian Space Forces as Independent Troops

In 2001, the Russian Space Forces was re-established as independent troops after being previously merged into the Strategic Missile Forces.

2001: Re-absorbed and Regained Independence of Russian Space Forces

In 2001, the Russian Space Forces were re-established after being separated from Strategic Rocket Forces.

2001: Space Commission Argues for Space Corps

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

2007: Space Commission Recommendation

In 2007, as recommended in 2001, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps.

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: Space Commission Recommendation

In 2011, as recommended in 2001, the Space Commission continued to argue for the creation of a Space Corps.

2011: Russian Space Command

In 2011, the Russian Space Forces became the Russian Space Command, part of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces.

2015: Reorganized and Renamed

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

2015: Russian Aerospace Forces Formation

In 2015, the Russian Air Force and Russian Aerospace Defense Forces merged to form the Russian Aerospace Forces, which reestablished the Russian Space Forces as one of its three sub-branches.

2015: Formation of the Russian Aerospace Forces

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

2017: Bipartisan Proposal for 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 December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force Act, part of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2020, was signed, creating an independent space service.

2019: Joint Space Command to 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.