History of Space Force
This was the first new U.S. military branch created since 1947.
What is the U.S. Space Force?
The Space Force operates the GPS constellation, which consists of at least this many satellites for global coverage.
The GPS constellation requires a minimum of 24 satellites for global coverage, though the Space Force currently operates more than 30 active satellites to ensure robust and reliable service.
Guardians were first formally named in this specific year
2020
Satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) operate at this altitude range
What is 2,000 to 35,786 km (1,200 to 22,236 miles)
In the Netflix show Space Force, Steve Carell’s character is promoted to this rank
What is four-star general
The Space Force was established by this specific law signed on December 20, 2019.
What is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020?
Guardians monitor space debris using this global system of radars, telescopes, and sensors.
What is the Space Surveillance Network (SSN)
The highest-ranking officer in the Space Force holds this title
What is Chief of Space Operations
The Space Force uses this radar system in Greenland to detect ballistic missiles and space objects
What is Thule Radar (part of the BMEWS system)
The Space Force unveiled its official logo in 2020, which many fans noticed closely resembled this famous sci-fi organization’s emblem
What is Starfleet Command from Star Trek
This Air Force command, headquartered at Peterson AFB, transitioned into the U.S. Space Force.
What is Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has conducted multiple classified missions in this type of orbit.
What is low Earth orbit (LEO)
The first enlisted Guardian was previously an Airman in this career field.
The first enlisted Guardian, Chief Master Sgt. Roger A. Towberman, was previously an Airman in the intelligence career field. He was sworn in as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the U.S. Space Force on April 3, 2020, becoming the service's first enlisted member.
The Space Force’s AEHF satellites provide this type of secure communication for the military
What is jam-resistant, encrypted, beyond-line-of-sight communication
The official Space Force song Semper Supra was first performed in this U.S. city
What is National Harbor, Maryland (at the Air & Space Forces Association conference)
This U.S. combatant command was reactivated in 2019 to oversee space operations, working closely with the Space Force
What is U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)
This program, developed with NASA and NOAA, monitors the Sun’s activity to protect satellites and communications.
What is space weather forecasting
The Space Force announced its first permanent headquarters location in this U.S. state after a long debate.
What is Colorado? (Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs)
The ability to detect, track, and identify objects in space is formally called this
What is Space Domain Awareness (SDA)
Elon Musk’s company SpaceX provides many of the Space Force’s launches under this contract program
What is the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program
The “Space Commission Report” of 2001, chaired by this defense official, helped lay the groundwork for a future Space Force
Who is Donald Rumsfeld?
This operation, named after a bird, oversees the launch and tracking of U.S. military satellites.
What is Operation Blue Jay (or more broadly, National Security Space Launch program)
Unlike other branches, the Space Force has only this many enlisted ranks, the fewest of any service
9
The 11th Delta (DEL 11) within the Space Force specializes in this critical defensive mission area.
What is electronic warfare
In Interstellar, time dilation causes one hour on Miller’s planet to equal this many years on Earth.
What is 7 earth years