SpaceX launched its second classified mission for the U.S. Space Force in less than a week tonight (Sept. 16).

STARCOM will play a key role in Space Force plans to roughly double the number of today's 10,000-odd active-duty guardians within the next five years.

Separately, the Space Force plans to issue the first operational contracts for space domain awareness to commercial firms “very soon,” according to Space Force Col. Timothy Tremailo.

The U.S. Space Force wants to double its uniformed ranks in the next five years.

The U.S. Space Force is giving SpaceX latitude to design one of the military’s new low-Earth orbit satellite networks, setting performance requirements rather than prescribing the number and configuration of spacecraft needed to meet them.

Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about 30 minutes prior to liftoff.

U.S. Space Force Guardians assigned to the 42nd Electromagnetic Warfare Combat Detachment operate in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The Space Force has not identified the weapon system employed by the detachment during Operation Epic Fury. (U.S. Air Force photo)

As the Space Force prepares to potentially double in size over five years, it is readying to house and train more than 10,000 new people.

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