The Space Force birthday is December 20. The U.S. Space Force was established on December 20, 2019, when the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 was signed into law. It was the first new U.S. armed service since the Air Force in 1947. Its members are called Guardians, and on December 20, 2026, the Space Force turns 7.
Why is the Space Force birthday on December 20?
The Space Force birthday is on December 20 because the law that created it was signed on December 20, 2019. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 renamed Air Force Space Command as the U.S. Space Force and made it a separate armed service within the Department of the Air Force. The law is codified at 10 U.S.C. § 9081.
| Birthday | December 20, 2019 |
|---|---|
| Created by | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 |
| Department | Department of the Air Force (shared with the Air Force) |
| Members are called | Guardians (announced December 18, 2020) |
| Motto | Semper Supra (“Always Above”), unveiled July 22, 2020 |
| Active-duty Guardians | 9,446 (DOD active-duty demographics, September 2025, via Air & Space Forces Magazine) |
| 2026 anniversary | 7th |
Why are Space Force members called Guardians?
Space Force members are called Guardians, a name announced on December 18, 2020, two days before the service’s first birthday. The name traces back to the 1983 motto of Air Force Space Command, “Guardians of the High Frontier.” Space Force members are the smallest group in the U.S. military: fewer than 10,000 active-duty Guardians, compared with more than 300,000 active-duty airmen.
What does the Space Force motto Semper Supra mean?
The Space Force motto, Semper Supra, is Latin for “Always Above.” The Space Force unveiled the motto and its delta logo on July 22, 2020. The Space Force says the delta symbol has been used by Air Force space operators since 1961, which links the new service to the Air Force space units it grew out of. The Air Force celebrates its own birthday on September 18.
How can you honor a Guardian on December 20?
You can honor a Guardian on December 20 with a message or a gift that names the newest branch. Our Space Force gifts include the Space Force Guardian Tee and a Veteran Family Wood Sign. Muster USA orders ship within 1 to 3 business days and arrive in 5 to 12 business days, so order at least 3 weeks before the date. Delivery times are on our shipping policy page. Because December 20 falls close to the holidays, order by late November.
