News

Nov. 17, 2022
AFRL encourages public sector collaboration, insight at New Mexico Cyber and Space Symposium

The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, in partnership with Deloitte and Central New Mexico Community College held the New Mexico Cyber and Space Symposium in Albuquerque, Oct. 12-14, 2022, with more than 150 attendees from across the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, industry,
Nov. 10, 2022
AFRL awards contract for pioneering spacecraft in region of Moon

The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a $72 million contract to Advanced Space LLC to demonstrate space situational awareness, object detection and tracking in the region of the Moon, supporting a resurgence of interest in lunar exploration and development across civil, commercial and
Oct. 31, 2022
AFRL celebrates unified science and technology enterprise

The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, recognized the 25th anniversary of one AFRL at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Oct. 28, 2022, with a celebration led by AFRL Commander Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle and Chief Master Sgt. James “Bill” Fitch, AFRL command chief. The event honored the
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.
Aug. 25, 2022
AFRL partners with NASA, academia, industry on spacecraft flight experiment

The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate in collaboration with the Georgia Tech Research Institute, or GTRI, NASA and DuPont de Nemours, Inc., has a brand-new spacecraft materials experiment flying on the International Space Station.
July 15, 2022
AFRL commander welcomes new leader to lab’s Kirtland site

“He entered the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate as an Airman and is leaving as a Guardian,” said Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, as she began the change of command ceremony in which Col. Eric Felt, the Space Vehicles director and
July 6, 2022
AFRL spacecraft Recurve launches on Virgin Orbit Space Force mission

The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate spaceflight experiment Recurve was launched July 2, 2022, from the Mojave Air and Space Port on the Virgin Orbit space system in California.
March 15, 2022
Equipping Space Force operators through innovation

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) - U.S. Space Force organizations at Kirtland AFB led the 2nd Annual Delta Innovation Summit held in February. Col. Eric Felt, director of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, and Col. Joseph Roth, director of the Space Systems Command
Feb. 21, 2022
AFRL aerospace engineer receives international recognition

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) - Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate principal aerospace engineer Dr. Khanh Pham was recently recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). Pham joined AFRL in 2004 following graduation from the University of Notre Dame,
Feb. 15, 2022
AFRL holds collaborative Space Domain Awareness event

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) - The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles and Directed Energy Directorates hosted the 9th Annual Space Domain Awareness Leadership Workshop at Kirtland AFB, January 25 – 27. More than 100 senior leaders from across the Department of Defense and