The 45th LCSS’s mission closely coincides with the 5th SLS – as both provide mission assurance for launches from the Eastern Range. The 5th SLS is responsible for boosters and the LCSS’s responsibility lies with the spacecraft itself......Bringing both squadrons under one commander reduces some of the duplication of effort by both parties and provides a more cohesive squadron feel to operations. With a mission so important, Airmen so innovative and such strong leadership – the current course the 45th Space Wing can only drives the wing closer to launch enterprise.
This just the current wind direction.Together - early 60'sApart - late 60'sTogether - early 70'sApart - late 70'sTogether - early 90'sApart - early 00'sTogether - Late 10's
Quote from: Jim on 06/04/2018 05:09 pmThis just the current wind direction.Together - early 60'sApart - late 60'sTogether - early 70'sApart - late 70'sTogether - early 90'sApart - early 00'sTogether - Late 10'sSorry to be dense, but do you mean by this that all the changes that are occurring are cosmetic? It seems like a lot of improvements are occurring due to a lot of hard work.
Quote from: Targeteer on 06/04/2018 04:49 pmThe 45th LCSS’s mission closely coincides with the 5th SLS – as both provide mission assurance for launches from the Eastern Range. The 5th SLS is responsible for boosters and the LCSS’s responsibility lies with the spacecraft itself......Bringing both squadrons under one commander reduces some of the duplication of effort by both parties and provides a more cohesive squadron feel to operations. With a mission so important, Airmen so innovative and such strong leadership – the current course the 45th Space Wing can only drives the wing closer to launch enterprise.This just the current wind direction.Together - early 60'sApart - late 60'sTogether - early 70'sApart - late 70'sTogether - early 90'sApart - early 00'sTogether - Late 10's
The change of command ceremony is one of many steps the 45th Space Wing is taking to revitalize the squadron. In time, the 45th LCSS will inactivate and merge with the 5th SLS, under Mitchell, their dual-hatted commander.
Quote from: Kansan52 on 06/04/2018 06:20 pmQuote from: Jim on 06/04/2018 05:09 pmThis just the current wind direction.Together - early 60'sApart - late 60'sTogether - early 70'sApart - late 70'sTogether - early 90'sApart - early 00'sTogether - Late 10'sSorry to be dense, but do you mean by this that all the changes that are occurring are cosmetic? It seems like a lot of improvements are occurring due to a lot of hard work. This has nothing to do with the range launch rate. It only has to do with management of Air Force missions.
Do you think this planned consolidation is either enabled or made more attractive because the majority (and eventually all?) of future range users are going to be using AFTS? If so, then this consolidation may end up being more than just the current wind blowing.
Triggering factors would have been new kinds of rockets and customers, manned vs unmanned, government vs commercial payloads, private vs government funding, military vs civilian.Today the triggering factor is more private companies competing with government entities trying to launch using the same air space, and same shadow. Control of the ground is taking second place.
The following example illustrates one issue launch providers currently face as aresult of agency differences at the launch site:During a commercial launch campaign, the FAA treats major operations atnearby facilities (e.g. a static test firing at a different launch provider’sfacility) differently than the USAF does for one of its missions. One differencerelates to the Flight Hazard Area /Flight Caution Area. Specifically, the 45thSpace Wing is more accommodating when it comes to allowing ULA MissionEssential Personnel to remain at Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) duringmajor operations at SLC-40 for non-FAA licensed missions. This enablesULA to keep personnel working and not delay operations for the next Atlas Vlaunch. However, the FAA is less accommodating in allowing ULA personnelto remain at SLC-41 during FAA licensed operations at SLC-40, which cancause monumental delays and schedule perturbations. There can be severalFAA licensed missions per year at each launch site, and the resultingdeleterious effect on the other party’s launch operations are significant.Launch providers and the USAF Range spend much time and significantresources de-conflicting SLC-40 and SLC-41 operations due to the FAAuniquerequirements that other agencies do not impose
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE — Six years ago, then-Col. Doug Schiess reported to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to oversee Eastern Range missile launch operations.Thursday, he returned to Brevard County as a brigadier general — to lead the entire 45th Space Wing.Schiess assumed command from retiring Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith during a ceremony at the Patrick Air Force Base auditorium....Schiess — whose last name rhymes with chess — formerly commanded the 45th Operations Group from 2012-14. In that capacity, he oversaw the Eastern Range's military, commercial, NASA, and ballistic missile launch operations.