The Cavalier Air Force Station in North Dakota on July 30 will join the United States Space Force, aligning with efforts by U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) to ensure a role for his home state in the nation’s space operations.
“The Cavalier Air Force Station has long been an important part of America’s space operations, and that’s why we made the case with military leadership for ensuring the station continues in this role,” said Sen. Hoeven on July 23, noting that the site will be re-designated as the Cavalier Space Force Station and will continue to track Earth-orbiting objects.
“This re-designation is part of our broader efforts to build a central role for North Dakota as we move into this new chapter in the race in space, building on the low-Earth orbit satellite mission and the UAS [unmanned aerial systems] laser communications project that we’ve worked to bring to Grand Forks,” Sen. Hoeven said.
The announcement builds on Sen. Hoeven’s work to grow North Dakota’s role in U.S. space operations.
For instance, the senator in February joined U.S. Gen. Charles Brown, Jr., and U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) during the general’s visit to the Grand Forks region and outlined efforts to support the base’s operation and grow its mission, including maintaining Grand Forks Air Force Base as the lead for all U.S. Air Force Global Hawk operations and positioning the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at the base to lead future Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Sen. Hoeven also is working to secure a $6 million federal award from the Space Development Agency to General Atomics, which would demonstrate satellite to MQ-9 Reaper laser communications, according to his staff.
The United States Space Force is the space service branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, one of the eight U.S. uniformed services and the world’s first and currently only independent space force.