History of Space force in Timeline
A space force is a military branch specializing in space warfare. The Russian Space Forces, established in 1992, was the first, though it later merged with other forces. As of 2025, only the United States Space Force and China's People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force operate as independent space forces. These organizations focus on military operations in outer space.
June 1944: First object to cross Karman line
In June 1944, the first artificial object to cross the Kármán line was MW 18014, an A-4 rocket launched by the German Heer.
1945: Air Force Starts Space Program Development
In 1945, the U.S. Air Force started developing its space program while it was the Army Air Forces, viewing space operations as an extension of their strategic airpower mission.
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 October 4, 1957, the RVGK was responsible for the launch of Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite.
1958: Army and Navy Space Programs 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.
1958: First Discussions of Military Space Service
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 Space Assets Part of Strategic Rocket Forces
In 1964, Soviet space assets became a part of the new Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces Central Directorate of Space Assets.
1967: Establishment of Anti-Ballistic Missile and Anti-Space Defense Forces
In 1967, the Anti-Ballistic Missile and Anti-Space Defense Forces of the Soviet Air Defense Forces were established.
1970: Main Directorate of Space Assets Renamed
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.
1982: Main Directorate Reports Directly 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 Employment in Grenada Invasion
In 1983, U.S. space forces provided satellite support during the United States invasion of Grenada.
1986: Space Forces Employment in Bombing of Libya
In 1986, U.S. space forces provided satellite support during the United States bombing of Libya.
1986: Main Directorate Becomes Chief Directorate
In 1986, the Main Directorate of Space Assets became the Chief Directorate of Space Assets.
1989: Space Forces Employment in Panama Invasion
In 1989, U.S. space forces provided satellite support during the United States invasion of Panama.
1991: Reorganization of Russian Space Forces
In 1991, following the Soviet Union's collapse, the Chief Directorate of Space Assets was 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: Merger into 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
In 1997, the Russian Space Forces lost their independence and were absorbed into the Strategic Rocket Forces.
1998: China Begins Creating Space Forces
In 1998, the Chinese People's Liberation Army began creating its space forces under the General Armaments Department.
2001: Re-establishment of Russian Space Forces
In 2001, the Russian Space Forces regained status as independent troops.
2001: 2001 Space Commission Argued for Space Corps Creation
In 2001, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.
2007: 2001 Space Commission Argued for Space Corps Creation
In 2007, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.
2010: French Joint Space Command Created
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 Russian Space Command
In 2011, the Russian Space Forces became the Russian Space Command, part of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces.
2011: 2001 Space Commission Argued for Space Corps Creation
In 2011, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.
2015: Reorganization of Chinese Space Forces
In 2015, Chinese space forces were reorganized and renamed as the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force Space Systems Department.
2015: Russian Space Forces Merged into Russian Aerospace Forces
In 2015, the Russian Space Forces merged with the Russian Air Force to form the Russian Aerospace Forces, existing as a sub-branch.
2015: Russian Space Forces Re-established as Sub-Branch
In 2015, the Russian Space Forces were re-established as a sub-branch within the Russian Aerospace Forces.
2017: Bipartisan Proposal for a 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 was signed, creating an independent space service.
2019: French Space Command to become major command of Air Force
In 2019, the French President 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 July 24, 2020, the French Air Force was renamed Air and Space Force.
September 2020: New Logo Unveiled for French Air and Space Force
On September 11, 2020, the new logo for the French Air and Space Force was unveiled.
2020: National Defense Authorization Act Signed
In 2020, the National Defense Authorization Act creating the Space Force was signed.
June 2022: Spanish Air Force Renamed
In June 2022, the Spanish Government announced that the Spanish Air Force would be renamed as the Spanish Air and Space Force.
April 2024: People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force Formed
In April 2024, the space force element of the SSF became the People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force.
2025: Two Independent Space Forces Exist
As of 2025, there are two independent space forces: the United States Space Force and China's People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force.
