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.
In June 1944, the first artificial object to cross the Kármán line was MW 18014, an A-4 rocket launched by the German Heer.
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.
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.
On October 4, 1957, the RVGK was responsible for the launch of Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite.
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.
In 1958, the first discussions of creating a military space service in the United States occurred.
In 1960, Soviet military space forces were reorganized into the 3rd Department of the Main Missile Directorate of the Ministry of Defence.
In 1964, Soviet space assets became a part of the new Soviet Strategic Rocket Forces Central Directorate of Space Assets.
In 1967, the Anti-Ballistic Missile and Anti-Space Defense Forces of the Soviet Air Defense Forces were established.
In 1970, the Strategic Rocket Forces Central Directorate of Space Assets was renamed the Main Directorate of Space Assets.
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.
In 1982, the Main Directorate of Space Assets was transferred to directly report to the Soviet Ministry of Defense.
In 1983, U.S. space forces provided satellite support during the United States invasion of Grenada.
In 1986, U.S. space forces provided satellite support during the United States bombing of Libya.
In 1986, the Main Directorate of Space Assets became the Chief Directorate of Space Assets.
In 1989, U.S. space forces provided satellite support during the United States invasion of Panama.
In 1991, following the Soviet Union's collapse, the Chief Directorate of Space Assets was reorganized into the Military Space Forces.
In 1992, the Russian Space Forces were established as the world's first space force, operating as an independent military service.
In 1997, the Rocket and Space Defence Troops and Military Space Forces were merged into the Strategic Missile Forces.
In 1997, the Russian Space Forces lost their independence and were absorbed into the Strategic Rocket Forces.
In 1998, the Chinese People's Liberation Army began creating its space forces under the General Armaments Department.
In 2001, the Russian Space Forces regained status as independent troops.
In 2001, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.
In 2007, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.
In 2010, the French Armed Forces created the Joint Space Command, a joint organism under the authority of the Chief of the Defence Staff.
In 2011, the Russian Space Forces became the Russian Space Command, part of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces.
In 2011, the Space Commission argued for the creation of a Space Corps between 2007 and 2011.
In 2015, Chinese space forces were reorganized and renamed as the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force Space Systems Department.
In 2015, the Russian Space Forces merged with the Russian Air Force to form the Russian Aerospace Forces, existing as a sub-branch.
In 2015, the Russian Space Forces were re-established as a sub-branch within the Russian Aerospace Forces.
In 2017, a bipartisan proposal in the U.S. Congress would have created a Space Corps.
On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force Act was signed, creating an independent space service.
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.
On July 24, 2020, the French Air Force was renamed Air and Space Force.
On September 11, 2020, the new logo for the French Air and Space Force was unveiled.
In 2020, the National Defense Authorization Act creating the Space Force was signed.
In June 2022, the Spanish Government announced that the Spanish Air Force would be renamed as the Spanish Air and Space Force.
In April 2024, the space force element of the SSF became the People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force.
As of 2025, there are two independent space forces: the United States Space Force and China's People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force.
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