Extended Abstract (648K)P1.2
Environmental Space Situaltional Awareness and Joint Space Effects
Kelly J. Hand, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO; and M. France, R. Benz, T. Holts, T. Longmire, and B. T. Hendrickson
Successful military operations rely on our ability to effectively integrate weather information into the planning and execution of land, air and sea operations. The implications of environmental effects on space capabilities and the subsequent impact on the delivery of joint space effects to the warfighter are not fully understood, but require expert analysis to reduce risk to mission capabilities. Through Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) is able to provide insight into space system and mission impacts by the environment. AFSPC has the capability to integrate environmental effects information into space operations in the context of SSA and deliver space effects to the warfighter. The desired end state of environmental SSA is to mitigate negative impacts on and improve performance of our space systems, and exploit potential space environment impacts on enemy systems. SSA is fundamental to the success of the space superiority mission. Therefore, effectively characterizing environmental effects is a critical part of that foundation. Space superiority operations ensure the continued delivery of space force enhancement to the military campaign, while denying those same advantages to the enemy. When SSA is successfully and sufficiently achieved the result maintenance of space superiority, reduced "Fog of War" for commanders, lowered risk of space fratricide, rapid assessment of attacks on all space systems, and a more rapid military execution cycle. From a Defensive Counterspace (DCS) perspective, confirming or eliminating the environment as a factor enables us to respond in a much more effective way to protect our systems. From an offensive perspective, superior knowledge provides potential to exploit environmental effects on enemy space capabilities. Credible environmental SSA capability requires a system of systems (SoS) approach that includes network sensors, forecasting resources, and the ability to integrate a data fusion methodology. These critical components are needed to assure viable environmental SSA well into the 21st century.
Poster Session 1, Space weather posters
Monday, 15 January 2007, 2:30 PM-4:00 PM, Exhibit Hall C
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