Canadian forces contribute to space mission

by Senior Airman Steve Bauer, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- When servicemembers here perform a mission, whether it is space surveillance or launching a payload into space, it is not solely an American effort, but rather a joint effort.

One such example is the partnership here between Americans and Canadians.

Stemming out of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, a joint organization that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and defense for the U.S. and Canada, Air Force Space Command was created in 1982 with a focus on space surveillance, missile warning, and command and control for national leadership.

Canadians have been a part of this organization from the beginning, and seven Canadians currently fill various positions at Vandenberg Air Force Base. This group is part of the OUTCAN Space Operations Unit. OUTCAN refers to Canadian military units stationed outside the Canadian borders.

"Our aim is to develop a professional Canadian forces space cadre that can contribute to both coalition and combined space operations," said Canadian air force Lt. Col. Steve Sarty, the OSO commander.

Approximately 35 OSO members are involved in joint space missions at various locations including Vandenberg AFB, Peterson AFB, Colo.; Buckley AFB, Colo.; Clear Air Force Station, Alaska; Thule Air Base, Greenland; Cape Cod AFS, Md.; Beale AFB, Calif.; and Cavalier AFS, N.D.

"Members of OSO units are involved in space surveillance, missile warning, day-to-day crew operations and anything that pertains to the space mission as a whole, whether it is tracking objects in space, launch support or space collision avoidance," said Canadian air force Maj. Cameron Lowdon. "Every Canadian that is connected with Vandenberg (AFB) is doing a space related job."

A small number of Canadians have been stationed at Vandenberg AFB since the late 1990s, teaching courses at the 533rd Training Squadron. In the past few years, the Canadian presence began to grow at Vandenberg AFB, and Canadians began filling more operational roles.

"Canadian forces personnel have worked hand-in-hand with U.S. personnel with NORAD since 1958," Colonel Sarty said. "Through the years as the joint command has evolved and the requirements have changed, Air Force Space Command has been an offshoot, and Canadian personnel have maintained a presence through all these years. In addition to having Canadian forces personnel at the various space warning squadrons throughout North America, we contribute through joint positions here in Vandenberg (AFB)."

Although they are a small group at Vandenberg AFB, the Canadians here are working side-by-side with Americans, solving the same problems and dealing with the same issues.

"We certainly gather something working in a joint environment, but we also feel that we bring something to the table that allows our American counterparts to perhaps see the other side of the coin in getting a challenge fixed," Major Lowdon said. "Not only are we learning, but we are adding to the solution at the end of the day. It is unique and challenging, but as a unit we are getting to where we want to be and we are certainly looking forward to the integrated success in this capacity."

One of OSOs recent in-house achievements is becoming an independent and self-sufficient unit as it recently stood up an orderly room for its geographically-dispersed unit's members. Now that OSO has solidified its place at Vandenberg AFB, the unit pursues another goal.

"With this developing Canadian space cadre, our goal is to establish the best way that our personnel, and Canada as a whole, can contribute to the space operations to achieve coalition and national objectives," Colonel Sarty said. "The eventual result would be full integration into Vandenberg (AFB's) Joint Space Operations Center."

Future is bright for Air Force space assets

Photo: Tech. Sgt. Bryan Schubert watches a moving satellite dish inside one of the "golf ball" protective dish covers as it tracks a satellite moving across the northern polar sky in January at Thule Air Base, Greenland. Among the key areas on which Airmen in Air Force Space Command are focused is preserving and developing new capabilities for the joint warfighter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Michael Tolzmann)


Future is bright for Air Force space assets
by Louis A. Arana-Barradas
Air Force Print News

The Airmen of Air Force Space Command are tracking a lot more than the man-made space junk that orbits the Earth.

Space operators are troubleshooting the way they do business. They're focusing on getting their capabilities -- the ones most Americans know little about -- to the forefront of the battlefield.

Leading the effort is a group of leaders with experience in real-world combat operations. These men and women know how to work with their sister services to ensure servicemembers on the ground get the best air and space support needed to win the war on terrorism. Every day, these combat Airmen help joint forces achieve the best possible spherical situational awareness.

The commander of these space Airmen, Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, is a longtime space operator. The command is modernizing its capabilities and technologies and fixating on the details to make the services second to none. He said the command is focusing on key areas.

"First we need to be preserving, as well as developing, new capabilities the joint warfighter relies on. Second, we have to provide a nuclear deterrent with our ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) force," the general said. "Third, unlike other commands, we have an acquisition responsibility, so we are focusing on making sure we develop, acquire and field the necessary capabilities we need for the future. Underpinning this is our need for talented people."

So as the command heads into a more clearly defined future, it is concentrating on recruiting, training and retaining "the talent we need to run our space systems in the future," he said.

That is a key strategy for fighting the continuing war on terrorism, a battle in which space command Airmen are deeply involved every day. Space operators bring the Global Positioning System and timing to the worldwide joint fight. They also control global communications with their arsenal of satellites and provide weather and missile warnings. The unmanned aerial vehicles operating over Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world also rely on global communication.

"None of this would happen without the GPS and timing signal," General Chilton said.
The command has some immediate goals, he said. And it will continue to face challenges.

"Many of the goals we are paying close attention to are what we call space situation awareness," he said. "We need to have a better understanding of what is up in space.
Space command is doing a good job of cataloging and counting the objects orbiting the Earth, he said. But the command needs a better understanding of just what the objects are, the capabilities of the satellites in space and the intent of the satellite's users.

"The recent Chinese satellite test really put an exclamation point on this requirement for the future," the general said. "After we understand the situational awareness up there and develop that, we need to also focus on how we can command and control our assets so they can be responsive to any threat that may appear."

Getting there means facing change involving recapitalization and acquisition. But the general said his Airmen are up to the challenges and that this will make for some exciting times ahead.

"We are recapitalizing every system in the command," General Chilton said. "Right now, every satellite system -- whether weather, communications, missile warning or GPS satellites -- is being recapitalized. We are developing brand new ones, and we are launching some of those satellites this year."

The command is looking deep into the future to develop satellites that won't go into service for several years, but that will help with space surveillance. And the command is also recapitalizing the Air Force's entire ICBM force, essentially rebuilding the Minuteman III missile system deployed in the field.

These are very important programs for the nation and the general said it is "essential that we continue to fund these as we move forward."

Getting the funds needed to recapitalize means making lawmakers and the American public more aware of the command's capabilities. Doing that is a dedicated cadre of Airmen doing a task most people don't know about -- space command missions. It's a job space Airmen should be proud of, the general said.

"We require them to train and be proficient in what they do -- but they are in the fight 24-7," the general said. "On top of that, our ICBM force provides that strategic umbrella for our nations and that doesn't happen by accident. They are out there every day, doing the job."

But it's the payoff of having a viable space command that makes its capabilities worth their weight in gold to the command's customers.

"Nothing we do in Air Force Space Command is for Air Force Space Command," General Chilton said. "Everything we do is for the joint fight."

That's why the general said he wants everyone to know and have the confidence to turn to the command for "anything space." Space Airmen have capabilities that run the gamut from systems development, acquisition fielding and actual operations to the launch of ICBMs, missile warning, space surveillance and a host of key satellite systems.

"We have the expertise for America in Air Force Space Command," he said. "If you have a question about space, we should be at the top of your Rolodex."