自从空间时代开始以来,美国国防部在空间科学研究和空间军事发展方面一直很活跃。在高级研究规划局的主管下,实施了首批美国科学卫星和月球探测发射计划。六十年代初期,探险者和先锋号卫星为Solrad、Injun和环境研究卫星的发展开辟了道路,从而完成了海军研究实验室,空军剑桥研究实验室和有关单位的研究和发展实验项目。1964年,空军宇航研究办公室通过使用OV卫星系列,开始了 Since the space age began, the U.S. Department of Defense has been active in space science research and space military development. Under the authority of the Senior Research Planning Agency, the first US-based scientific satellite and lunar exploration launch program was implemented. In the early 1960s, explorers and Pioneer satellites opened the way to the development of Solrad, Injun and environmental research satellites, completing the research and development pilot project of the Naval Research Laboratory, the Air Force’s Cambridge Research Laboratory, and related units. In 1964, the Air Force Aerospace Research Office started by using the OV satellite series