'Teammates wanted' to deliver future

  • Published
  • By Tom Budzyna
  • Air Force News Service
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Killer apps, unprecedented success and a budget-requirements conundrum lead U.S. Air Force Space Command commander, Gen. William L. Shelton, to announce 'teammates wanted' during his remarks at the Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 18.

The Air Force Association, an independent, nonprofit, civilian aerospace organization that promotes public understanding of aerospace power and national defense, hosts the annual conference to bring together aerospace professionals.

Killer apps coming to space

Enabling developers to build, test and provide "killer app" upgrades to a new space operations mission system is at hand, according to Shelton. Called "JMS" for Joint Space Operations Center Mission System, it represents a vast leap in computational power.

"JMS will provide the central data integration and automation necessary to make the best use of the tremendous volume of space surveillance data streaming in from sensors like SBSS and other ground-based radar and optical systems," said Shelton.

SBSS, or Space-Based Surveillance Satellite, tracks earth-orbiting space objects that may pose a threat to other space assets and a state-of-the-art version of the satellite became operational August.

Shelton explained how the JMS acquisition strategy was revamped and now leverages commercial and government software already developed to enable a development environment for 'killer apps' to be added to improve or tailor sensor data.

"Our new acquisition strategy was recently approved, so we're off and running," said Gen. Shelton emphasizing that the $1.2 billion program was cut in half and will now deliver capabilities several years earlier than the original program.

Unprecedented Success

New space sensors in orbit for missile warning, missile defense, battle space awareness and technical intelligence missions are "exceeding our expectations Shelton said. "It's one of many successes enjoyed by the Air Force in the past year as a result of the passion, courage and innovation of Airmen.

"Allow me to foot stomp a bit," Shelton said. "June 20, 2012 marked the 50th consecutive successful EELV launch for national security payloads, which is unprecedented in the history of space."

EELV, for Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, is a rocket system that delivers satellites and other space assets to earth's orbit in an affordable and reliable way for the Department of Defense.

June also marked the successful landing of the X-37B orbital test vehicle. With the appearance of a miniaturized unmanned space shuttle, the X-37B spent 469 days on orbit - 199 more than planned.

"The mission was a spectacular success and, while we can't talk about specifics, X-37B and the entire team of blue-suit, civilian, and contractor operators, engineers, and testers have absolutely exceeded expectations," Shelton said.

Budget-Requirements Conundrum

"The budget pressures are real and they must be addressed. The foundations of military capability are essential for global capability and they are not free. These are very hard choices for our Air Force, for the Department of Defense and for our nation," Shelton said. .

Shelton pointed out how space capabilities were once only seen by senior leaders at the highest levels of government and that today Soldiers in a foxhole expect space products delivered on demand.

"I can't think of a single military operation, across the entire spectrum of conflict, and at every level, strategic through tactical, that doesn't somehow depend on space and cyber," Shelton said.

When facing these challenges, Shelton asserted that the aerospace community can make it harder than it needs to be and that he seeks teammates to come alongside to provide help with the challenges.

"In my humble opinion I believe we can save considerable resources by a teaming mentality: Teammates in industry who recognize that working together is the only way to continue to field the capabilities we need for the joint warfighter. Teammates in Congress who understand the disruption caused by careless marks against a program, resulting in additional expense and stretch out capability delivery. Teammates who work in a cooperative spirit to knock down the bureaucratic barriers in our acquisition system, barriers that delay programs and drive cost.

Shelton added that the space command is laying out roadmaps for change and will redouble its efforts and energy toward innovation in order to capitalize on the synergy possible between space and cyber systems."

"I believe the future of this command's focus will gravitate away from simply the platforms and operations for space and cyber. We will shift away from the gadgets to a focus on information--actionable, decision-quality information that we move across networks comprising platforms, equipment, and personnel operating in multiple domains," Shelton said.

"We're seeing a lot of changes and challenges, but I'm genuinely excited about what future we'll bring with us when tomorrow arrives."