Air Force Space Command
| Air Force Space Command | |
|---|---|
 Air Force Space Command emblem |
|
| Active | September 1, 1982–present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Type | Major Command |
| Role | Development and operation of military space technologies |
| Size | 47,000 |
| Part of | U.S. Strategic Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado |
| Nickname | AFSPC |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | William L. Shelton Gen William L. Shelton |
| Vice Commander | Lt Gen Michael J Basla |
| Chief Master Sergeant | CMSgt Richard T. Small |
Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations. Operationally, AFSPC is under the Combatant Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command
Approximately 47,000 people, including 25,400 active-duty service members and civilian employees, and 14,000 contractor employees, perform AFSPC missions at 88 locations worldwide. Its 25,400 employees are divided into approximately 7,100 military personnel and 18,300 civilian employees, although their missions overlap.
On December 1, 2009, the intercontinental ballistic missile mission was transferred to the new Air Force Global Strike Command. AFSPC gained the cyber operations mission with the stand-up of 24th Air Force under AFSPC in August 2009.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
According to AFSPC, its mission is "To provide an integrated constellation of space and cyberspace capabilities at the speed of need."[1] AFSPC claims its activities make space reliable to United States warfighters (i.e. forces personnel) by assuring their access to space.
AFSPC's primary mission areas:
- Space forces support involves launching satellites and other high-value payloads into space using a variety of expendable launch vehicles and operating those satellites once in the medium of space.
- Space control ensures friendly use of space through the conduct of counterspace operations encompassing surveillance, negation, protection and space intelligence analysis.[2]
- Force enhancement provides weather, communications, intelligence, missile warning, and navigation. Force enhancement is support to the warfighter.
[edit] History
During the Cold War, space operations focused on missile warning, and command and control for the National Command Authority. Missile warning and space operations were combined to form what was known as Space Command in 1982. Following the creation of United States Space Command, a Unified Combatant Command, in 1985, Space Command was renamed Air Force Space Command. In 1991, Operation Desert Storm provided emphasis for the command's new focus on support to the warfighter. ICBM forces were merged into AFSPC in 1993 and then moved to Air Force Global Strike Command in 2009. Air Force Space Command became the lead Major Command for Air Force cyberspace operations in 2009, gaining Air Force cyber operations and combat communications units and the Air Force Network Integration Center and Air Force Spectrum Management Office (formerly known as the Air Force Frequency Management Agency).
[edit] List of Commanders
| No. | Image | Name | Start of Term | End of Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  |
Gen. James V. Hartinger | September 1, 1982 | July 30, 1984 | [3] |
| 2. |  |
Gen. Robert T. Herres | July 30, 1984 | October 1, 1986 | |
| 3. | Maj. Gen. Maurice C. Padden | October 1, 1986 | October 29, 1987 | ||
| 4. |  |
Lt. Gen. Donald J. Kutyna | October 29, 1987 | March 29, 1990 | |
| 5. |  |
Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman Jr. | March 29, 1990 | March 23, 1992 | |
| 6. | |
Gen. Donald J. Kutyna | March 23, 1992 | June 30, 1992 | |
| 7. | .jpg) |
Gen. Charles A. Horner | June 30, 1992 | September 13, 1994 | |
| 8. |  |
Gen. Joseph W. Ashy | September 13, 1994 | August 26, 1996 | |
| 9. |  |
Gen. Howell M. Estes III | August 26, 1996 | August 14, 1998 | |
| 10. |  |
Gen. Richard B. Myers | August 14, 1998 | February 22, 2000 | |
| 11. |  |
Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart | February 22, 2000 | April 19, 2002 | |
| 12. |  |
Gen. Lance W. Lord | April 19, 2002 | April 1, 2006 | |
| Acting |  |
Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz | April 1, 2006 | June 26, 2006 | |
| 13. |  |
Gen. Kevin P. Chilton | June 26, 2006 | October 3, 2007 | |
| Acting | Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel | October 3, 2007 | October 12, 2007 | ||
| 14. |  |
Gen. C. Robert Kehler | October 12, 2007 | January 5, 2011 | |
| 15. |  |
Gen. William L. Shelton | January 5, 2011 | Incumbent |
[edit] Organization
[edit] Numbered Air Forces
Air Force Space Command has two active Numbered Air Forces (NAFs).
[edit] Fourteenth Air Force
The Fourteenth Air Force provides space warfighting forces to U.S. Strategic Command in its capacity as Air Forces Strategic-Space, and is located at Vandenberg AFB, California. It manages the generation and employment of space forces to support U.S. Strategic Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operational plans and missions.[4]
[edit] Twenty-Fourth Air Force
The Twenty-fourth Air Force, with the cyber operations mission, was activated under AFSPC in August 2009, at Lackland Air Force Base.[5]
[edit] Direct Reporting Units
AFSPC is the major command providing space forces and trained cyber warfare forces for U.S. Strategic Command. AFSPC also supports NORAD with ballistic missile warning information, operates the Space Warfare Center to develop space applications for direct warfighter support, and is responsible for the U.S. Department of Defense's ICBM follow-on operational test and evaluation program.
[edit] Space and Missile Systems Center
The Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) at Los Angeles AFB, California, designs and acquires all Air Force and most Department of Defense space systems. It oversees launches, completes on-orbit checkouts, then turns systems over to user agencies. It supports the Program Executive Office for Space on the NAVSTAR Global Positioning, Defense Satellite Communications and MILSTAR systems. SMC also supports the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and the Follow-on Early Warning System. In addition, it supports development and acquisition of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles for the Air Force Program Executive Office for Strategic Systems.
[edit] Space Innovation and Development Center
The Space Innovation and Development Center (SIDC) at Schriever AFB, Colorado is also part of the command. The center plays a major role in fully integrating space systems into the operational Air Force. Its force enhancement mission looks at ways to use space systems to support warfighters in the areas of navigation, weather, intelligence, communications and theater ballistic missile warning, and how these apply to theater operations.
[edit] Air Force Network Integration Center
The Air Force Network Integration Center (AFNIC), located at Scott AFB, IL, is a direct reporting unit to Air Force Space Command. As the leader in shaping, provisioning, sustaining, and integrating the USAF enterprise network, AFNIC enables assured cyberspace capabilities for the Air Force.
[edit] Air Force Spectrum Management Office
The AFSMO mission is to plan, provide and preserve access to the radio frequency spectrum for the Air Force and selected Department of Defense activities in support of national policy objectives, systems development and global operations. This includes obtaining spectrum access critical for all Air Force core functions.
[edit] Locations
The AFSPC headquarters is a major unit located at Peterson AFB, Colorado. There are 6 AFSPC host bases:
- Buckley AFB, Colorado
- Los Angeles AFB, California
- Space and Missile Systems Center
- 61st Air Base Wing
- Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing
- Global Positioning Systems Wing
- Space-Based Infrared Systems Wing
- Launch and Range Systems Wing
- Space Superiority Systems Wing
- Space Development and Test Wing (Kirtland AFB, New Mexico)
- 526th ICBM Systems Group (Hill AFB, Utah)
- Patrick AFB, Florida
- Peterson AFB, Colorado
- Schriever AFB, Colorado
- Vandenberg AFB, California
AFSPC also operates several Air Force Stations for launch support and early warning missions.
- Cape Cod Air Force Station, Massachusetts
- Cavalier AFS, North Dakota
- Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colorado
- Clear Air Force Station, Alaska
- New Boston AFS, New Hampshire
- Onizuka AFS, California
- 21st Space Operations Squadron
- Slated for closure in July 2010 [6]
[edit] Space capabilities
Spacelift operations at the East and West Coast launch bases provide services, facilities and range safety control for the conduct of DOD, NASA and commercial launches. Through the command and control of all DOD satellites, satellite operators provide force-multiplying effects—continuous global coverage, low vulnerability and autonomous operations. Satellites provide essential in-theater secure communications, weather and navigational data for ground, air and fleet operations and threat warning. Ground-based radar and Defense Support Program satellites monitor ballistic missile launches around the world to guard against a surprise missile attack on North America. Space surveillance radars provide vital information on the location of satellites and space debris for the nation and the world.
[edit] Resources
[edit] Satellites
- Advanced Extremely High Frequency
- Defense Satellite Communications System
- Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
- Defense Support Program
- Fleet Satellite Communications System UHF follow-on
- Global Positioning System
- MILSTAR
- NATO III and IV communications
[edit] Launch Vehicles
[edit] Space Situational Awareness
- Air Force Satellite Control Network
- Maui Optical Tracking Identification Facility,
- Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System
- Passive Space Surveillance System
- Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System
[edit] Ballistic Missile Warning Radars
- AN/FPS-115 PAVE PAWS
- AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane
- AN/FPQ-16 Perimeter Acquisition Radar Characterization System (PARCS)
- Sea-based X-band Radar Sea-Based X-Band Radar
- Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS)
[edit] In popular culture
In the science-fiction TV series’ Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe the fictional Stargate Program is managed by the U.S. military, primarily the Air Force. The Air Force Space Command patch was in those series’ worn by personnel at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, and onboard various fictional spaceships.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency. This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "http://www.afspc.af.mil".
- ^ US Air Force. "Fact Sheets : Air Force Space Command". AFSPC. http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=155. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ Mixed signals over Chinese missiles
- ^ Air Force Almanac 2011, Leaders through the years, Accessed on 2011-09-12
- ^ 14th Air Force Home Page
- ^ 24th Air Force Home Page
- ^ See http://www.schriever.af.mil/onizuka/index.asp
[edit] External links
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