Phase III Mission Index
Phase III is mission-based. Each mission is a research verification gate built to train real operational thinking: study the briefing, answer the questions, unlock a completion code, and submit it inside the Starfighters App. This page is an overview of what each mission teaches and how it connects to real-world applications and future education paths.
Progression rule: Complete any two Phase III missions to unlock the Specialty Operations Ribbon and confirm operational status in the app.
Stacking: Additional missions can be completed for bonus credit as new tracks are released.
Orbital Operations Track
Orbital Operations missions focus on launch systems, reusability, vehicle capabilities, and the operational thinking used in real mission environments. The goal is to help cadets understand how complex missions are planned, monitored, and executed.
Operation Heavy Lift
Orbital Operations Certified- Real-world applications: heavy payload launches, mission planning, fleet capability comparisons.
- Focus skills: interpreting specs, understanding propulsion and payload limits, operational tradeoffs.
- Career exploration areas: launch operations, ground systems, mission support, vehicle integration.
Operation Reliable Scout
Orbital Operations Certified- Real-world applications: rapid reuse cycles, turnaround operations, launch cadence planning.
- Focus skills: systems thinking, risk awareness, operational constraints and checklists.
- Career exploration areas: mission operations, reliability and safety, integration and readiness teams.
Operation Multiplanetary Frontier
Orbital Operations Certified- Real-world applications: deep-space logistics, in-orbit refueling concepts, mission expansion planning.
- Focus skills: evaluating capabilities, understanding constraints, reading mission-level requirements.
- Career exploration areas: spacecraft operations, trajectory support, mission analysis, systems planning.
Orbital Operations Certified
Cadets who earn Orbital Operations Certified gain exposure to the types of skills, systems, and operational thinking used across modern space organizations such as SpaceX, NASA contractors, and aerospace firms. This experience can help cadets identify future education and career paths related to mission operations, launch and ground systems, spacecraft and satellite operations, orbital analysis, telemetry and data monitoring, safety and reliability analysis, and space situational awareness. Cadets interested in these fields are encouraged to pursue appropriate education, training programs, and professional certifications aligned with these areas as potential pathways into the space industry.
AI Operations Track
AI Operations missions focus on decision support, anomaly detection, optimization, and responsible oversight. The goal is to help cadets understand how AI supports mission teams without replacing human authority.
Operation Sentinel AI
AI Operations Certified- Real-world applications: satellite health monitoring, cybersecurity alerting, system anomaly watch.
- Focus skills: baselines, signals, multi-sensor patterns, reducing false alarms.
- Career exploration areas: operational monitoring, intelligence analysis, safety-critical oversight.
Operation Neural Navigator
AI Operations Certified- Real-world applications: route planning, autonomous systems support, trajectory optimization concepts.
- Focus skills: tradeoffs, constraints, scoring options, safe recommendations.
- Career exploration areas: systems integration, automation support, mission planning assistance.
Operation Cognition Forge
AI Operations Certified- Real-world applications: decision support, briefing generation, analysis assistance, controlled AI workflows.
- Focus skills: asking better questions, verifying outputs, documenting assumptions and sources.
- Career exploration areas: leadership support, media ops workflows, responsible AI oversight.
AI Operations Certified
Cadets who complete AI Operations missions gain exposure to how artificial intelligence is used to support decision-making, systems integration, and operational oversight in aerospace, technology, and complex mission environments. This experience can help cadets explore future areas of study related to AI operations, decision-support systems, data and telemetry analysis, automation oversight, systems integration, and human-in-the-loop governance. Cadets interested in these fields are encouraged to pursue formal education, technical training, and industry-recognized programs aligned with responsible AI development and operational use as potential pathways into AI-enabled roles across space, defense, logistics, and advanced technology organizations.
Autonomous Horizon Track
Autonomous Horizon missions train cadets to scan complex environments, evaluate options with structured decision tools, and project future vectors for adaptive planning. The focus is understanding how autonomy can support mission teams while human leadership sets intent, constraints, and final authority.
Operation Landscape Scan
Autonomous Horizon Certified- Real-world applications: operational environment mapping, early-risk scanning, open-source intelligence synthesis, system status watch.
- Focus skills: pattern spotting, baselines and deviations, trend extraction, multi-source context framing.
- Career exploration areas: mission support analysis, operational monitoring, intelligence support, systems assessment.
Operation Decision Matrix
Autonomous Horizon Certified- Real-world applications: mission planning option scoring, contingency evaluation, resource allocation, safety and risk reviews.
- Focus skills: constraints, tradeoffs, risk weighting, decision logs, prioritization under uncertainty.
- Career exploration areas: operations research support, decision-support systems, mission planning assistance, safety-critical review.
Operation Future Vector
Autonomous Horizon Certified- Real-world applications: long-range mission readiness, capability forecasting, strategic roadmaps, scenario planning support.
- Focus skills: scenario building, leading indicators, decision triggers, adaptive planning, “if-then” response design.
- Career exploration areas: strategic planning support, systems analysis, futures/foresight roles, innovation and capability planning.
Autonomous Horizon Certified
Cadets who complete Autonomous Horizon missions gain exposure to how autonomous-assisted workflows support situational awareness, structured decision-making, and forward planning in complex mission environments. This experience can help cadets explore future areas of study related to mission planning support, systems analysis, operations research, autonomous systems oversight, safety governance, and strategic foresight. Cadets interested in these fields are encouraged to pursue formal education, technical training, and industry-recognized programs aligned with responsible autonomy and human-in-the-loop decision authority as pathways into roles across space, defense, logistics, aviation, and advanced technology organizations.
Job Paths & Future Roles
Common career directions aligned with Autonomous Horizon skills include: mission planning assistant roles, operational intelligence analysis, decision-support specialist positions, systems integration analysis, autonomy governance and oversight, operations research support, safety and risk review functions, and strategic foresight or capability planning tracks.