On Sept. 1, 1982, the Air Force established Air Force Space Command, with
   space operations as its primary mission. During the Cold War, space operations focused on
   missile warning, launch operations, satellite control, space surveillance and command and
   control for national leadership. In 1991, Operation Desert Storm validated the command's
   continuing focus on support to the warfighter. The Space Warfare Center, now named the
   Space Innovation and Development Center, was created to ensure space capabilities
   reached the warfighters who needed it. ICBM forces joined AFSPC in July 1993.

   In 2001, upon the recommendation of the Space Commission, the Space and Missile
   Systems Center joined the command. It previously belonged to Air Force Materiel
   Command. AFSPC is currently the only Air Force command to have its acquisition arm with 
   the command. In 2002, also on a recommendation from the Space Commission, AFSPC was assigned its own four-star commander after previously sharing a commander with U.S. Space Command and NORAD.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the president directed military action against Afghanistan and Iraq. AFSPC provided extensive space-based support to the U.S. Center Command commander in areas of communications; positioning, navigation and timing; meteorology; and warning. IN 2005, the Air Force expanded its mission areas to include cyberspace. In concert with this, the Air Staff assigned responsibility for conducting cyberspace operations to AFSPC through Twenty-fourth Air Force, which was activated in August 2009.

In order to reinvigorate the Air Force's nuclear mission, Headquarters U.S. Air Force activated Air Force Global Strike Command to consolidate all nuclear forces under one command. Along with this, AFSPC transferred its ICBM forces to the new command in December 2009.

In July 2018, the Air Force cyber mission transferred to Air Combat Command, which generated the greatest capacity for an integrated Information Warfare capability within the Air Force. This move allowed AFSPC to focus on gaining and maintaining space superiority and outpacing its adversaries in the space domain.