What does Space Command do exactly?

SPC Erich Guenther — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 12:09:48 -0500

I heard that in the USAF Officers can serve in Space Command. Just curious what this command is responsible for exactly in space and what they routinely do over time. Also, does it also include Army and Navy?

http://www.afspc.af.mil/

Air Force Space Command Home

The official website for the Air Force Space Command

Response by SSG Shavonde Chase made Nov 14 at 2016 12:20 PM

SSG Shavonde Chase — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 12:20:13 -0500

Interesting question. I want to know the answer too.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Nov 14 at 2016 12:21 PM

SN Greg Wright — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 12:21:25 -0500

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Space_Command

Air Force Space Command - Wikipedia

Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) is a major command of the United States 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 an Air Force component command subordinate to U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), a unified combatant command.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2016 12:42 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 12:42:44 -0500

Space stuff, lol.

I would assume something with satellites.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 14 at 2016 2:03 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 14:03:13 -0500

Much more involvement than the US Air Force. FYSA (public source info), check out the link for some additional info on the US Army & US Navy missions:

USAF Space Command mission: "Provide resilient and affordable space and cyberspace capabilities for the Joint Force and the Nation."

US Army Space and Missile Defense Command: http://www.smdc.army.mil/factsheets/smdc.pdf

US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command: http://www.navy.mil/local/spawar/

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Nov 14 at 2016 4:56 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 16:56:49 -0500

AFSPACE is actually a subset of US Strategic Command. The overarching USSTRATCOM mission has components from each of the service branches. They are responsible for the MILCOM, GPS, and various sensor space craft orbiting the Earth. They also track foreign space craft so as to not conflict with orbit areas during new lauch activity. There is a great link posted by SN Greg Wright. It should answer many of your questions.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2016 9:18 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 21:18:27 -0500

I was a member of the Space Command. It ranged from satellite intel to the ICBM fields (which is what I did as a Missile Cop). Pretty much, if it left the atmosphere, they were the ones calling the shots.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 7:22 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 07:22:16 -0500

They go to "Infinity and Beyond!"

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Nov 15 at 2016 7:47 AM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 07:47:50 -0500

A lot of folks missed this, but AFSPC is also the Air Force's Major Command (MAJCOM) for Cyberspace Operations. The 24th Air Force is aligned under them which is the Numbered AF responsible for most of the Air Force's newest Cyber Operations Squadrons.

Response by MSgt Richard Randall made Nov 15 at 2016 9:55 AM

MSgt Richard Randall — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 09:55:51 -0500

There are way too many things the Space Command is involved with to describe in a brief note. It’s a relatively new command having been established in the mid 80s, however, its predecessor was the old Aerospace Defense Command. SC has posts all over the world ranging from Thule and Sondrestrom AB in Greenland to outposts in the Australian outback, Scottish highlands and little rocks in the Alaska Aleutian Islands. Although the Army runs the posts on Kwajalein and Enowetok the SC has a very strong presence there. I’ve been TDY to Peterson AFB and have visited NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain. At both locations I noticed a very strong Navy presence. At Cheyenne I noticed a few Army officers and a lot of Canadian Forces personnel. Didn’t notice any Marines.

During my time as a missile guy in the AF I worked very closely with folks from the old SAMSO and BMO offices as well as NASA and DoD at Vandenberg AFB and LA Air Force Station. We also worked very closely with civilian contractors, Boeing, TRW, Lockheed, GE, Rockwell, etc. As part of the Western Test Range we coordinated closely with the Navy folks at Port Hueneme and various Coast Guard stations on the west coast.

There are a ton of things the Space Command is involved with and to try and cover everything would take a book. So, if you’re technically inclined I know they are always looking for good folks. I could tell you more but then I’d have to get one of my Marine friends to killya.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 15 at 2016 10:36 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:36:56 -0500

Thanks everyone for your responses. I was always curious what they do and sometimes you get a broader answer by asking via using Google.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 10:40 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:40:03 -0500

Yes the space command does extend into the Army as well, I have a former squad sergeant that transferred to that side from a signal position in order to get his E6

Response by MSgt Walter Thomason made Nov 15 at 2016 5:27 PM

MSgt Walter Thomason — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 17:27:42 -0500

Air Force Space Command primary responsibility is anything that flies into or above the upper atmosphere. AFSPACE is responsible for the following: Space Launch, Space Surveillance, Missile Warning, Satellite Command & Control and ICBM Launch. Someone has already done a good job on the cyberspace mission.

1. Space Launch - AFSPACE is responsible for the launch of various Satellite payloads that are of interest to the nation's needs.

2. Space Surveillance - The Space surveillance network is responsible for tracking near-earth and geosynchronous (far out there)objects as small as a basketball that has been launch either domestically or by foreign nations. This is done through a variety of Radar, optical and passive systems. Not only that, all objects tracked are identified and cataloged. These pieces can be anything from satellites, rocket bodies, and other debris that are remnants from satellite launches, breakups, and collisions.

3. Missile Warning - It is the responsibility of AFSPACE to detect and report on all submarine and land-based ICBM launches. This accomplished through both land and space-based sensors.

4. Satellite Command & Control - AFSPACE has the responsibility to maintain the satellites once in orbit from initial checkout to the end of life. This includes status-of-health collection, in orbit problem resolution, payload programming, orbit maintenance and anything else to ensure the successful mission of the satellite.

5. ICBM Launch - AFSPACE officers are responsible, when directed, to launch our nation's Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile in time of crisis.

The Navy and the Army both have Space components, however, the Air Force mission is more robust than her sister services. The mission is stressful but fulfilling. It takes a lot of training (monthly by requirement but a sharp crew trains often on shift), certification, and annual recertifications. That includes an encyclopedia of regulations and instructions in conjunction to knowing the system. Crews have to be disciplined and capable of handling a variety of situations. There are times of pure boredom and times of constant action. And yes, for the most part, shift work.

This is much abbreviated but gives a good overview of what Space Command does.

Response by Lt Col Robert Canfield made Nov 15 at 2016 7:01 PM

Lt Col Robert Canfield — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 19:01:59 -0500

Below is the official web site. Having spent a few years with AF Space Command, I found that they do some interesting stuff: Missile warning, Satellite control, Spacelift operations, Cyberspace Ops, On-orbit tracking of satellites and space debris etc.

http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104526/air-force-space-command.aspx

Air Force Space Command U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet Display

Air Force Space Command, activated Sept. 1, 1982, is a major command with headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC provides military focused space and cyberspace capabilities with a global perspective to the joint warfighting,

Response by Capt John Schubert made Nov 16 at 2016 12:22 AM

Capt John Schubert — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 00:22:42 -0500

A little bit if misinformation going out. You only wear the rocket if you go on a Missilier assignment. Not every 13S (Space and Missile Officer) gets a pocket rocket. I have 16 yearsin Space Command without it.

We dont wear flight suits unless youre pulling operations. I believe however, 13S and 1C6 (enlisted Space Operators) no longer wear them however.

The rest is pretty close. You use GPS? 2 SOPS flies those. uS Navy get crypto rekeys at sea via MILSTAR satellites. 45th and 30 Space Wings launch satellites from the coasts. Only go into Space if You like Colorado Springs, CO as most of your assignments will be there. There are Joint biklets so you will see Army.

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Nov 16 at 2016 7:13 PM

CPL Anthony Slaughter — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 19:13:43 -0500

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Nov 19 at 2016 10:38 AM

Maj Walter Kilar — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 10:38:34 -0500

There are some good responses here concerning what AFSPC is, so I will answer the latter part of your question. An Air Force officer assigned to Air Force Space Command can have many duties over time.

First of all, there was a time when nuclear and missile operations officers belonged to AF Space Command, but this if no longer the case. I have to point this out because older folks, the media, as well as Wikipedia may still include nuclear and missile operations under AFSPC when those jobs now belong to AF Global Strike Command. There are some old missileers in AFSPC wearing the "pocket rocket", but space guys no longer perform that mission.

Space Launch. Some space officers lead launch campaigns and are responsible for getting billion dollar satellites launched on quarter billion dollar rockets.

Space Surveillance and Missile Warning. Some space officers lead space surveillance operations. Generally speaking this means watching for debris that may hit the space stations, using "conjunction assessments" and conjunction warnings. Space officers also catalog every rocket launch. This may not seem important, but for the first several minutes of any rocket launch, United States Strategic Command (which includes AF Space Command and AF Global Strike Command), has to verify that the rocket is going into space and is not an ICBM. Nowadays they also track satellites that "fly" around other satellites.

Satellite Command and Control. Some officers lead the collection of telemetry from satellites that give the health and status of the satellite constellations. These officers also are responsible for using commands for satellites to fire orbit keeping thrusters, change crypto keys, or execute anomaly recovery.

Other Duties As Assigned. Some AFSPC officers work in Building 1 operating the PowerPoint Weapons System at the headquarters building in Colorado Springs. Some AFSPC officers do research, development, test and engineering at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles. Some AFSPC officers are actually cyberspace operators at various bases.

In summary: AF Space Command officers have a lot of different missions and many daily duties. The answer gets more complicated when including space officers assigned outside of AF Space Command, such as US Strategic Command (which includes AF missileers, Army space and missiles, Navy space, cyberspace and intelligence), National Reconnaissance Office, and NASA liaisons.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Nov 19 at 2016 7:04 PM

SFC Joseph Weber — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 19:04:28 -0500

They arrange quarters and tours for visiting Aliens.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 7 at 2019 4:07 AM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 04:07:55 -0400

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmxPRCyR-Co

This was really built in the 1960s, a 1 gigawatt nuclear engine...I honestly think if I ever saw it actually used to power a starship for real, I'd truly faint, ya know? I mean, wouldn't that just a be a positively dandy idea?

NASA Project ROVER NERVA Nuclear Rocket Engine testing @ Jackass Flats

NASA's nuclear rocket engine idea, shot down by concern of radioactive fallout. This was NASAs original idea for a engine to get to the moon. Project ROVER N...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 7 at 2019 4:40 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 16:40:11 -0400

It is all based on capabilities and requirements.