AFMC News

June 21, 2024
FLASHBACK: Dyna-Soar, Little Joe II: Paths to the Present Suborbital Flight Test Program

The X-20 Dyna-Soar program is often remembered as one of the biggest lost opportunities in the history of manned space flight.
March 26, 2024
AFWERX, SpaceWERX Ventures divisions launch Notice of Opportunity for space applicable technology submissions

AFWERX AFVentures, the commercial investment arm of the Department of the Air Force, issued a Notice of Opportunity within the Strategic Funding Increase and Tactical Funding Increase (STRATFI/TACFI) program for its U.S. Space Force division, SpaceWERX.
Nov. 29, 2023
AFRL, 59th Medical Wing launch space medical research group

The Clinical and Operational Space Medicine Innovation Consortium, or COSMIC, will serve as a platform to fuse human health and performance research capabilities and expertise across both organizations.
May 31, 2023
A Mission Out of This World: The Benefield Anechoic Facility tests first space satellite in decades

The Benefield Anechoic Facility recently tested its first space satellite in decades. Anticipated to launch in late 2023, Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) will be the Department of Defense’s first experimental, integrated navigation satellite system in nearly 50 years.
Nov. 18, 2022
AFRL breaks ground on new FORTRESS space lab

The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, held a ground-breaking ceremony, Nov. 16, 2022, beginning construction on the Facility for Radiation Tolerance Research on Electronics for Space and Strategic Systems, or FORTRESS, a 6,200-square-foot, $4.5 million facility, located adjacent to the AFRL
Nov. 4, 2022
SpaceWERX awards 124 Orbital Prime contracts

The SpaceWERX Orbital Prime program awarded 124 Phase 1 contracts from June 15 to Sept. 22, 2022, each with a five-month term valued at $250,000.
Oct. 18, 2022
AFRL’s Ascent satellite marks end of mission objectives

The Air Force Research Laboratory's small satellite named Ascent has completed all of its mission objectives and is performing extended operations to characterize the survivability of the commercial-off-the-shelf, or COTS, bus electronics in the geosynchronous Earth orbit, or GEO, space environment.
Oct. 6, 2022
12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year recognized during Air Force’s season of celebrations

The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2022 were recognized and honored during the Air Force’s 75th Anniversary week and the Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Sept. 15-21.
Sept. 27, 2022
AFRL commander moderates future of propulsion panel at AFA Air, Space, Cyber Conference

Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, Air Force Research Laboratory commander, moderated a future of propulsion panel comprised of Air Force experts Sept. 21, 2022, during the Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National
May 26, 2022
AFRL sponsorship recipient wins NASA space manufacturing contract

Air Force Research Laboratory research sponsorship recipient, United Semiconductors, LLC (USLLC), is one of eight companies selected to work on a three-year $21 million NASA contract to manufacture tools in space.
April 21, 2022
AFRL, ABL Space Systems demonstrate rapid operation of launch systems

The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, and ABL Space Systems are collaborating to demonstrate how launch systems can be operated rapidly by small teams from nontraditional sites.
April 20, 2022
National radiation electronics expert brings value to AFRL Space program

An Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate expert was presented the prestigious Peter Haas award at the 2022 Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology (HEART) Conference held March in Tarrytown, New York. Dr. Robert “Bob” Pugh has worked in radiation-hardened electronics with
June 24, 2021
AFRL leaps forward in NTS-3 spacecraft development

The Air Force Research Laboratory is excited to announce that the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) satellite navigation program is closer in the development of the spacecraft for its in-space demonstration, thanks to the delivery of its bus that will carry it to space in 2023.
June 17, 2021
AFRL’s DSX spacecraft ends orbit with a team celebration

After 706 days of successful on-orbit operations, the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Demonstration and Science Experiments (DSX) spacecraft completed its end of life May 31, exceeding the originally planned mission by nearly a year.
May 24, 2021
AFRL opens Space Warfighting Operations Research and Development (SWORD) Laboratory

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) - The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate held a ribbon cutting ceremony May 20 to celebrate the opening of its newest facility, the Space Warfighting Operations Research and Development, or SWORD, laboratory. Col. Eric Felt, the director of

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