Space Command officials exceed GPS standardPosted 5/26/2009 Updated 5/26/2009 Email story Print storyhttp://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=1231507115/26/2009 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- Air Force Space Command officials here maintain the Global Positioning System constellation that now has 30 operational satellites, six more than the standard."I have high confidence we will continue to sustain at least the 24 satellites required to maintain our current performance standard," said Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler, the Air Force Space Command commander.The current number of satellites being used by Air Force for global positioning is the most satellites and the greatest capability to date, since GPS came into fruition in the 1970s."We are committed to maintaining our current level of service, while striving to increase and improve service and capability through on-going modernization efforts," said Lt. Gen. John T. "Tom" Sheridan, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, which is the acquisitions arm for Air Force Space Command. "The Air Force will continue to execute an achievable growth path maintaining GPS as the premier provider of positioning, navigation and timing for the military and civilian users around the world."Just as it was reported in the Government Accountability Office's report May 7, Air Force Space Command officials acknowledged the potential for an availability gap years ago, and has actively pursued and institutionalized procedures and processes to mitigate the potential gap or minimize any impact. Command officials developed key processes within the operational community as well as the acquisition community to extend the life of on-orbit assets and to ensure GPS capability is delivered in a timely manner.The Air Force launched the seventh of its current block of IIR-M satellites in April, and will launch another one this fall followed by the first of 12 Block IIF satellites in early fiscal 2010. The IIF's sophisticated L-band payload will include new hardware that serves the civil user community. The next generation of GPS satellites, the GPS IIIA, with additional navigation signals for both civilian and military users will improve the accuracy and availability for all users. GPS IIIA is scheduled for first launch in 2014."New acquisition approaches, including phased acquisition and prototyping, will reduce risk to constellation sustainment in the future," General Sheridan said."Let me state emphatically; since we declared Full Operational Capability in 1995, the Air Force has maintained the constellation above the required 24 GPS satellites on orbit at 95 percent. In fact, we have achieved sub-three meter accuracy," General Kehler said. "The Air Force has been a good GPS steward continually providing 'better than expected' service to our GPS users. At this point, we foresee no significant loss of service in the future, near or far."Space operations vital to Air Force, nationPosted 5/26/2009 Updated 5/26/2009 Email story Print storyhttp://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123150936by Staff Sgt. J.G. BuzanowskiSecretary of the Air Force Public Affairs5/26/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force officials discussed the importance of space as a warfighting domain before members of the Senate May 20 on Capitol Hill.Senior Air Force leaders in the space realm answered questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee Strategic Force Subcommittee, telling them that Air Force officials were postured to make the most of their assets as part of the joint fight.Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler, the Air Force Space Command commander, told the subcommittee that the command's efforts to provide the services with resources to maintain a strong presence in space have been and continue to be a vital part of the national defense strategy."Our mission is to provide an integrated constellation of space and cyberspace capabilities at the speed of need," General Kehler said. "Our vision is to be the leading source of emerging and integrated space and cyberspace capabilities."General Kehler spoke of two key decisions the Air Force made: The creation of Air Force Global Strike Command and the assignment of cyberspace tasks to AFSPACE."Space capabilities contribute across the spectrum of regular and irregular combat and noncombat operations, and provide joint commanders a decisive advantage," he said. "The cyberspace domain is inextricably linked to the other domains in which the U.S. military operates."With the recent budget release and the cancellation of the TSAT program, the Air Force is "harvesting" the technologies, systems and lessons learned so it can apply them to the next generation of satellites."What's important is that we synchronize capabilities with needs," General Kehler said.Gary E. Payton, the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for space programs, also testified."Our space systems are the envy of the world," he wrote in his official statement. "Our surveillance satellites are able to detect missile launches anywhere in the world, our communications systems allow the president precise and assured control over nuclear forces, our wideband systems rapidly transmit critical information to our warfighters, our weather satellites allow us to predict future weather half a world away, our Global Positioning Systems enable knowledge down to centimeters and timing down to nanoseconds."Mr. Payton said a strong space presence enhances the joint fight."These sophisticated systems make each Soldier, Sailor, Marine and Airman safer and more capable."Space Preservation Act of 2005(H.R. 2420)(See also: GN Response)http://thomas.loc.gov/home/search.htmlTitle: To preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the benefit of all humankind by prohibiting the basing of weapons in space and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit, and for other purposes.Sponsor: Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] (introduced 5/18/2005) Cosponsors (34)Latest Major Action: 5/18/2005 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.COSPONSORS(34), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] - 5/18/2005Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 5/18/2005Rep Brown, Sherrod [OH-13] - 5/26/2005Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 5/18/2005Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 5/18/2005Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 5/18/2005Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 5/18/2005Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 5/26/2005Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 5/18/2005Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 5/18/2005Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 5/18/2005Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 5/18/2005Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 5/18/2005Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 5/18/2005Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 5/26/2005Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 5/18/2005Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 5/18/2005Rep McKinney, Cynthia A. [GA-4] - 5/18/2005Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 5/18/2005Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 5/18/2005Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 5/18/2005Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 5/18/2005Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 5/26/2005Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11] - 5/18/2005Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 5/18/2005Rep Sanders, Bernard [VT] - 5/26/2005Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 5/18/2005Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 5/18/2005Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] - 5/18/2005Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 5/26/2005Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 5/26/2005Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 5/18/2005Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 5/18/2005Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 5/18/2005REP. DENNIS KUCINICH:STOP THE WEAPONIZATION OF SPACE-- (House of Representatives - May 19, 2005)[Page: H3586] GPO's PDF CONGRESSIONAL RECORD(Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, the administration, through senior Air Force officials, wants the U.S. to achieve military supremacy in outer space. Dominating all earth from outer space will have an out-of-world price tag, perhaps more than $1 trillion.A question: Why reach for the stars with guns in our hands? Are there weapons of mass destruction on Mars?Yesterday 28 Members of Congress signed on to H.R. 2420, a bill to stop the weaponization of space, urging the President to sign an international treaty to ban such weapons. If we work together towards creating peace on earth, we would not bring war to the high heavens.While some fantasize about being ``masters of the universe,'' there are 45 million Americans without health insurance. Corporations are reneging on pension obligations. Social Security is under attack. We are headed towards a $400 billion annual budget deficit, a $600 billion trade deficit, an $8 trillion national debt. The cost of the war in Iraq is over $200 billion. While we build new bases in Iraq, we close them in the United States.Earth to Washington, D.C. Earth to Washington, D.C. D.C., call home.TEXT OF Space Preservation Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)HR 2420 IH109th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 2420To preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the benefit of all humankind by prohibiting the basing of weapons in space and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit, and for other purposes.IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 18, 2005Mr. KUCINICH (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. HOLT, Mr. FATTAH, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. LEE, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. STARK, Mr. OWENS, Mr. HONDA, Ms. WATERS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. WATSON, Mr. FILNER, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. MEEKS of New York, and Mr. MCDERMOTT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services and International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo preserve the cooperative, peaceful uses of space for the benefit of all humankind by prohibiting the basing of weapons in space and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit, and for other purposes.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.This Act may be cited as the `Space Preservation Act of 2005'.SEC. 2. REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY ON THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE IN SPACE.Congress reaffirms the policy expressed in section 102(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451(a)), stating that it `is the policy of the United States that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all mankind.'.SEC. 3. BAN ON BASING OF WEAPONS IN SPACE AND THE USE OF WEAPONS AGAINST OBJECTS IN SPACE IN ORBIT.The President shall--(1) implement a ban on space-based weapons of the United States and the use of weapons of the United States to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit; and(2) immediately order the termination of research and development, testing, manufacturing, production, and deployment of all space-based weapons of the United States.SEC. 4. INTERNATIONAL TREATY BANNING SPACE-BASED WEAPONS AND THE USE OF WEAPONS AGAINST OBJECTS IN SPACE IN ORBIT.The President shall direct the United States representatives to the United Nations and other international organizations to immediately work toward negotiating, adopting, and implementing an international treaty banning space-based weapons and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit.SEC. 5. REPORT.The President shall submit to Congress not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter, a report on--(1) the implementation of the ban on space-based weapons and the use of weapons to destroy or damage objects in space that are in orbit required by section 3; and(2) progress toward negotiating, adopting, and implementing the treaty described in section 4.SEC. 6. SPACE-BASED NONWEAPONS ACTIVITIES.Nothing in this Act may be construed as prohibiting the use of funds for--(1) space exploration;(2) space research and development;(3) testing, manufacturing, or production that is not related to space-based weapons or systems; or(4) civil, commercial, or defense activities (including communications, navigation, surveillance, reconnaissance, early warning, or remote sensing) that are not related to space-based weapons or systems.SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.In this Act:(1) The term `space' means all space extending upward from an altitude greater than 110 kilometers above the surface of the earth and any celestial body in such space.(2) The terms `space-based weapon' and `space-based system' mean a device capable of damaging or destroying an object or person (whether in outer space, in the atmosphere, or on Earth) by--(A) firing one or more projectiles to collide with that object or person;(B) detonating one or more explosive devices in close proximity to that object or person; or(C) any other undeveloped means.Read more…
