 |
Early days: the WDD was initially, temporarily, stood up in the "Old Schoolhouse" on Manchester Avenue in Inglewood, CA.
|
Much of the space enterprise innovation that today brings a multitude of consumer, business and national/homeland security services to U.S. residents had its roots in the development of space-related military technology. The debt of gratitude owed to Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) for the wealth of space services enjoyed by all of us can never be repaid, except in the expression of support and appreciation for the intellectual capital and entrepreneurial spirit that continues to inspire world-class innovation in space-related technology development and deployment.
This summer, the Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB) and Space and Missile Systems Center celebrates the 50th anniversary of U.S. Air Force space. The California Space Authority, on behalf of all state and national space stakeholders and citizens, thanks the LAAFB/SMC for its tremendous contributions to national and California space enterprise over these 50 years!
SMC is located in the city of El Segundo, in the South Bay, the section of the greater Los Angeles area known as the heart of the nation's aerospace industry and home of the space industrial base. Well-situated at the U.S. nexus of industrial and intellectual capital featuring manufacturing, systems engineering and academic excellence unequalled anywhere in the world, SMC is the center of technical excellence for researching, developing and purchasing military space systems.
On July 1, 1954, the Air Research and Development Command's Western Development Division (WDD) was activated in Inglewood, California, under the direction of General Bernard A. Schriever. Its mission was the development of inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and space programs. According to Walter A. McDougall's observations, Schriever helped “make systems engineering an American science to be emulated by the world”.
Schriever, known as the “Father of the USAF's Space Program”, accomplished astounding achievements — the nation's first launch vehicles, satellites and space communications systems — by assembling an organization that had the highest educational level of any U.S. military organization. He was crystal clear about the importance of intellectual capital: “In my view, it is a national disgrace that the term ‘egghead' as a synonym for intellectual excellence has become a derogatory expression. Let me tell you that it is the ‘eggheads' who are saving us — just as it was the ‘eggheads' who wrote the Constitution of the U.S. It is the ‘eggheads' in the realm of science and technology, in industry, in statecraft, as well as in other fields, who form the first line of freedom's defense.”
Providing approximately 5,000 jobs, with an estimated job impact of 60,000, the Space and Missile Systems Center budget is nearly $9 billion annually, with an estimated $60 billion in managed contracts. Co-located in El Segundo with SMC, The Aerospace Corporation provides technical assistance to SMC in all program phases — from requirements definition to launch and eventual on-orbit operation. The company has over 3,400 highly-skilled employees, including 700 PhDs and 1,000 at the masters degree level.
The Space and Missile Systems Center list of major programs and functions make it a key U.S. and California space asset.
Satellite Systems
Air Force Satellite Communications System Provides high-priority command, control and communications for U.S. strategic forces. System is integrated into other spacecraft.
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Supplies global visible and infrared cloud cover, and other specialized meteorological, oceanographic and solar/geophysical data to military operational commands and high priority programs.
Defense Satellite Communication System Worldwide satellite network providing secure, jam-resistant and survivable high data rate communications for Department of Defense, State Department and other U.S. government users. DSCS II satellites provide super high frequency communications primarily for high capacity fixed users.
Defense Support Program Ensures earliest detection and warning of missile and space launches to National Command Authorities and operational commands.
MILSTAR MILSTAR provides a combination of capabilities unmatched by any other satellite communication system, including worldwide, secure, survivable, highly jam-resistant communications; satellite-to-satellite communication; autonomous operation; the ability to reposition to meet theater requirements and the ability to provide direct support to mobile forces.
NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) The internationally known system providing highly accurate three-dimensional position, velocity and time to a wide variety of U.S. and allied field forces as well as navigation data to civil and commercial users worldwide.
Space Based Infrared Program Developmental program to provide the space based infrared architecture to meet the mission requirements for missile defense, missile warning, battlespace characterization, and technical intelligence.
Launch Programs
Launch sites are at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California and Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida
Atlas II Provides intermediate launch capability for a variety of DOD and national system payloads, including Defense Satellite Communications System, Space Test Program payloads and others.
Delta II Provides medium launch capability for launching Navstar Global Positioning System satellites and Space Test Program payloads.
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Family of state-of-the art expendable launch systems from two separate contractors providing vehicles for DOD, civil and commercial medium through heavy-lift payload requirements.
Pegasus and Taurus Commercially-developed launch vehicles currently being used to boost small payloads. Pegasus, an air-launched three-stage space booster, serves as the workhorse for the Space Test Program's continuing series of small satellite experiments. Taurus is a ground-launched version of Pegasus.
Titan IV Program provides heavy-lift vehicles for Shuttle-class payloads.
Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) IUS was developed to provide a capability to boost satellites into geosynchronous orbits from initial deployment from Titan IV and the Space Shuttle. Used for military and NASA payloads, including DSP, Magellan, Galileo and Ulysses interplanetary missions.
Space and Missile Test and Evaluation
Space Test and Small Launch Vehicle Program Provides space flight for advanced DOD research and development (R&D) experiments and prototype operational systems. Develops, integrates and launches small and medium class R&D satellites for the Air Force. Integrates and launches DOD operational and R&D satellites in the Space Shuttle.
Rocket Systems Launch Program Provides inter-service support for acquisition and delivery of booster hardware, integration of boosters and payloads and launch services. Serves as program manager for flight test booster replacement programs.
Space Test and Evaluation Directorate USAF Space Test center for space R&D program mission control and associated technology demonstrations. Activates and transitions new space operations support systems from the acquisition to operational phases. Plans and conducts research, development, test and evaluation of on-orbit space assets and ground-based space support systems and serves as DOD executive agent for space test capabilities.
