Author Topic: Cape and VSFB realignment  (Read 4152 times)

Offline Jim

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Cape and VSFB realignment
« on: 05/12/2021 12:42 pm »
The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Space Launch (lift) is back as part of the acquisition process and not part of “operations"

"The Space Force released the organizational structure for its new Space Systems Command April 8. The Command is set to officially stand up in summer 2021 once all required conditions are met to re-designate the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, as SSC headquarters.

…….

 The 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB, California, will be re-designated as Space Launch Delta 30 and the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, will be re-designated as SLD 45. SLD 30 and SLD 45 and their respective subordinate units will realign from under Space Operations Command to SSC."
« Last Edit: 06/16/2022 05:26 am by zubenelgenubi »

Offline Proponent

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #1 on: 05/12/2021 06:17 pm »
The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Space Launch (lift) is back as part of the acquisition process and not part of “operations"

"The Space Force released the organizational structure for its new Space Systems Command April 8. The Command is set to officially stand up in summer 2021 once all required conditions are met to re-designate the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, as SSC headquarters.

Are you saying that the under the new structure, lift will be transferred from operations back to acquisition?  Or are you saying that an anticipated transfer from acquisition to operations will not now occur.  If the former, when was lift transferred to operations?

Offline bodhiandphysics

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #2 on: 05/12/2021 06:23 pm »
Are you saying that the under the new structure, lift will be transferred from operations back to acquisition?  Or are you saying that an anticipated transfer from acquisition to operations will not now occur.  If the former, when was lift transferred to operations?

With the creation of Air Force Space Command in the early 80s.  Lift was traditionally under Air Force Systems Command (since it was Benny Schreiver's baby), but when the air force decided to go in on the space shuttle, it realigned lift to be operational. 

Offline Jim

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #3 on: 05/12/2021 06:58 pm »
With the creation of Air Force Space Command in the early 80s.  Lift was traditionally under Air Force Systems Command (since it was Benny Schreiver's baby),

Huh?  All space was Benny Schreiver's babes and not just launch vehicles.    Space Command came in being more than 15 years after Schriever had retired.

but when the air force decided to go in on the space shuttle, it realigned lift to be operational. 

No, the Air Force had already got off the shuttle (with only two more mission left) when the realignment happened. 

Offline Jim

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #4 on: 05/12/2021 06:59 pm »
The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Space Launch (lift) is back as part of the acquisition process and not part of “operations"

"The Space Force released the organizational structure for its new Space Systems Command April 8. The Command is set to officially stand up in summer 2021 once all required conditions are met to re-designate the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, as SSC headquarters.

Are you saying that the under the new structure, lift will be transferred from operations back to acquisition?  Or are you saying that an anticipated transfer from acquisition to operations will not now occur.  If the former, when was lift transferred to operations?

Back to acquisition.

Offline bodhiandphysics

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #5 on: 05/12/2021 07:16 pm »
With the creation of Air Force Space Command in the early 80s.  Lift was traditionally under Air Force Systems Command (since it was Benny Schreiver's baby),

Huh?  All space was Benny Schreiver's babes and not just launch vehicles.    Space Command came in being more than 15 years after Schriever had retired.

but when the air force decided to go in on the space shuttle, it realigned lift to be operational. 

No, the Air Force had already got off the shuttle (with only two more mission left) when the realignment happened.

Obviously you were there in the weeds, but as I understand it, the air force didn't abandon the space shuttle till after challenger (and didn't close its manned spaceflight division till 89).  AFSC was stood up in 82, with the obvious goal of absorbing Space Division

Offline sdsds

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #6 on: 05/12/2021 08:06 pm »
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs published something about this April 08, 2021:
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/2565803/space-systems-command-geared-to-deliver-swift-responsive-space-capabilities/

They included a (fairly opaque IMO) organization chart, included here.

Have all the changes mentioned there now been put in place, or are some parts of the transition still ongoing?
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Offline Jim

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #7 on: 05/12/2021 09:01 pm »

Obviously you were there in the weeds, but as I understand it, the air force didn't abandon the space shuttle till after challenger (and didn't close its manned spaceflight division till 89).  AFSC was stood up in 82, with the obvious goal of absorbing Space Division

Space launch wasn't turned over to Space Command until 91 (with the two DOD shuttle missions left).   

Absorbing Space Division/SMC was never a goal.  It happened as a result of problems in the 90's and the recommendation of the Space Commission in 2001 (which also called for a Space force).

Offline Asteroza

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #8 on: 05/13/2021 02:11 am »
Dumb question, but is the alignment to acquisitions partly a side effect of using expendables, such that if there was a move to reusable vehicles, it might go back to operations again?

Offline Jim

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #9 on: 05/13/2021 12:24 pm »
Dumb question, but is the alignment to acquisitions partly a side effect of using expendables, such that if there was a move to reusable vehicles, it might go back to operations again?

The ride to orbit is just a part of the acquisition process (delivering to the customer).

Online catdlr

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #10 on: 05/14/2021 05:45 am »
Quote
VANDENBERG AFB RENAMES THE BASE ALIGNING UNDER U.S. SPACE FORCE
30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published May 12, 2021

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg Air Force Base is renaming the base and redesignating the 30th Space Wing during a ceremony, Friday, May 14, 2 p.m. on the Parade Field.

This ceremony will rename Vandenberg Air Force Base to Vandenberg Space Force Base, and the 30th Space Wing will redesignate to Space Launch Delta 30, under Space Operations Command, United States Space Force. Redesignating Air Force installations as Space Force installations is critical to establishing a distinct culture and identity for the Space Force.

Col. Anthony Mastalir and Chief Master Sgt. Jason DeLucy will remain in their command roles, as the commander and command chief of Space Launch Delta 30.

During this ceremony, the 30th Operations Group and 30th Mission Support Group will inactivate and transition from the operations and mission support group commanders to vice commander positions. This new organization allows squadron commanders to report directly to the SLD 30 commander, creating efficiency on all echelons.
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Offline sdsds

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #11 on: 05/14/2021 06:17 am »
Is there a precedent for describing an organizational unit within a military hierarchy as a "Delta?"
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Offline Jim

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #12 on: 05/14/2021 03:50 pm »
Is there a precedent for describing an organizational unit within a military hierarchy as a "Delta?"

New term

https://www.airforcemag.com/space-force-finalizes-organizational-changes/

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #13 on: 05/16/2021 01:55 am »
Oh, and the thread title? VSFB is I guess the new acronym.

----

VANDENBERG AFB RENAMES THE BASE ALIGNING UNDER U.S. SPACE FORCE
30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published May 12, 2021

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg Air Force Base is renaming the base and redesignating the 30th Space Wing during a ceremony, Friday, May 14, 2 p.m. on the Parade Field.

This ceremony will rename Vandenberg Air Force Base to Vandenberg Space Force Base, and the 30th Space Wing will redesignate to Space Launch Delta 30, under Space Operations Command, United States Space Force. Redesignating Air Force installations as Space Force installations is critical to establishing a distinct culture and identity for the Space Force.

Col. Anthony Mastalir and Chief Master Sgt. Jason DeLucy will remain in their command roles, as the commander and command chief of Space Launch Delta 30.

During this ceremony, the 30th Operations Group and 30th Mission Support Group will inactivate and transition from the operations and mission support group commanders to vice commander positions. This new organization allows squadron commanders to report directly to the SLD 30 commander, creating efficiency on all echelons.
— 𝐬𝐝𝐒𝐝𝐬 —

Offline Hog

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #14 on: 05/20/2021 04:44 pm »
30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB, California=Space Launch Delta 30
45th Space Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida= SLD 45 (Space Launch Delta 45)

Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)  Sept 1st, 1982 to
20 December 2019 when United States Space Force as an independent entity took over.

Squadrons, Delta(s?), Commands

Attachments
Here is the US Space Force logo - the Delta which was released July 22, 2020.
Paul

Offline Targeteer

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Re: Cape and VAFB realignment.
« Reply #15 on: 06/16/2022 02:44 am »
This is the most appropriate thread I could find for this...

https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3058907/rad-enhances-efficiency-for-space-launch-missions/fbclid/rad-enhances-efficiency-for-space-launch-missions/

PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. – A new software program called “Range Application Deployment,” is enhancing situational awareness for space launch missions at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

The system, which is accessible from any networked location in the United States, provides launch control officers with several communication channels, the launch countdown clock and up to 25 video feeds.

Senior leaders at then Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station began developing a virtual computing environment in 2018 to allow the Capabilities Development Division to work innovation projects geared towards modernizing legacy range systems, said Sonia Holmquist, Space Launch Delta 45 Capabilities Development Division chief.

“We established a lab environment with the information technology architecture and internet protocol network to enable this work and integrated various products through small, quick projects that would provide a virtualized operator workspace, enabling operators to access all the tools and mission information needed from one console, increasing flexibility to access tools from various locations,” Holmquist said.

In November 2020, the Capabilities Development Division researched what it would take to transition the lab environment into an operational capacity, Holmquist said. The software received operational acceptance approval May 9 and was used to support Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test-2 mission to the International Space Station May 19.

Mike Loftis, SLD 45 Capabilities Development Division technology planning analyst has worked to bring RAD online since January 2021.

“I lead much of the effort on the infrastructure side, data center, virtualization, coordinating contract support for maintenance, sustainment and development efforts for the system,” Loftis said.  “RAD is IT infrastructure and software applications that help us quickly move new capabilities from development to production or operation.”

The software is also adaptable in a variety of ways to support launch operations, Loftis added.

“The underlying virtual infrastructure allows us to allocate resources and adapt the system to support whatever applications that need to come onto the system,” Loftis said. “Currently, launch operators have access to mission video streams, mission voice communications and range timing. They have access to a unified graphical display that they can configure to their needs so they’re not stuck using hardware based, legacy systems.”

The Eastern Range at CCSFS supports dozens of launches each year. As of June 7, the Eastern Range has supported 21 launches, including the Crew-4 launch April 27. Innovations such as RAD, enhance mission capability.

“With the increasing launch tempo, RAD will enable launch crews at 1st ROPS the flexibility to operate from virtually anywhere,” said U.S. Space Force Maj. Jonathan Szul, 1st Range Operations Squadron director of operations. “With RAD's current capabilities, operators can utilize internal communication nets as well as have range timing and video feeds.”

This is vital to mission success, Szul said.

“This situational awareness tool integrates multiple operator functions into one convenient tool,” Szul said. “A particular benefit of the virtual communication nets is the ability to reconfigure nets on-the-fly. The legacy ORION communication panel must be manually reconfigured and can only be done by authorized contractors. However, with RAD, an operator can select and deselect communication nets with a click of the mouse. This gives the flexibility of adding back-up nets in the event of communication outages and increases overall situational awareness on nets an operator would not have otherwise been able to monitor due to physical limitations of the ORION communication panels.”

U.S. Space Force Capt. Mark Conque, 1st ROPS assistant director of operations, shared his appreciation for the RAD system.

“It modernizes our day of launch interfaces, taking us from an antiquated ORION panel that was developed in the 60s or 70s and virtualizes it to a digital communication panel,” he said. “With RAD, I am not limited. I can access whatever I need.”

When Conque serves as a range operations commander, he is responsible for ensuring public safety and he said that the RAD system helps his team do just that.

“If we don’t know what’s going on than we can’t without a doubt say the range is clear for launch,” Conque said. “RAD provides us with the heightened awareness we need and helps us ensure public safety. The video feed application allows me to see things and configure things the way I want to. I can alternate between feeds as I see fit or we can divide the feeds among each launch operator. All of this enhances situational awareness.”

It also shortens range reconfiguration time and enhances launch on demand for Space Launch Delta 45.

    “With RAD, we could support two launches within 24 hours or 40 minutes,” Conque said. “We could provide simultaneous support to two different launch customers because we have the enhanced situational awareness to do that. This will allow us to support the mission, even more launch providers in the future and ensure public safety. ”

Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Targeteer

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Re: Cape and VSFB realignment
« Reply #16 on: 06/21/2022 09:41 pm »
Again, best fit I could find

https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7281588/vandenbergs-south-base-re-energizes-with-activation-substation-n

Vandenberg’s South Base Re-energizes with the Activation of Substation N
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

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