To aid USAF efforts to interest young scientists and engineers in aerospace work, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research hasjust awarded $6.3 million in grants to 21 scientists and engineers who received doctorate-level degrees within the past five years. The effort is part of USAF’s new Young Investigators Research Program, which received 145 proposals for research in areas that interest the Air Force. Officials expect to see the program award at least 50 grants over the next three years.
The Space Force’s fiscal 2027 budget request includes about $2.5 billion for commercial services like satellite communications and off-the-shelf capabilities, but officials say commercial components and technology are embedded throughout programs, making the true allocation much higher.