23 May 2006

SECDEF announces nomination for commander of Air Force Space Command

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced today that the President has nominated Lieutenant General Kevin P. Chilton to the U.S. Senate for appointment to the grade of general with assignment as commander, Air Force Space Command. If confirmed General Chilton will become the 13th commander of Air Force Space Command since its creation on Sept.

23 May 2006

101 Critical Days begin May 26

Air Force Space Command’s 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign kicks off over the Memorial Day weekend and is focused this year on personal protective equipment usage and wingman applications. The annual campaign has run since the early 1980s and was developed to counter the traditional increase in Air Force mishaps and fatalities that occur during

23 May 2006

Trackers watch for dangerous 'space junk'

Roughly 15,000 miles above the Earth’s surface a communications satellite provides vital information to all branches of the U.S. military. It joins more than 9,000 other items in space that are tracked by the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System, known as GEODSS. There are three operational GEODSS sites that report to the

23 May 2006

New antenna at OL-AE augments AFSCN

The 22nd Space Operations Squadron’s detachment at Royal Air Force Oakhanger, United Kingdom, took over a newly built, 43-foot Antedo antenna recently. The Antedo antenna will replace an aging 60-foot legacy antenna at the site. “Today's ceremony represents the culmination of a lot of hard work from an integrated team,” said Col. Michael Taylor,

23 May 2006

22nd SOPS supports CloudSat launch

The 22nd Space Operations Squadron here provided critical Air Force Satellite Control Network support for NASA’s CloudSat and CALIPSO launch April 28. The launch required support from six AFSCN sites, including remote tracking stations here and at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., where the Delta II rocket carrying the satellites launched. “Our

23 May 2006

Guardian Challenge kicks off

It’s been two years since the last competition, so the cheers and bully sticks were louder than ever during the 2006 Guardian Challenge kickoff at the 91st Space Wing Bully Dome here April 20. The 91st SW will be defending their 2004 Guardian Challenge title and try to hold on to the coveted Gen. William H. Blanchard trophy for another year when

23 May 2006

Canadian officer garners Air Force medal

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles regarding the Canadian forces’ contributions to Air Force Space Command. A Canadian officer, previously assigned to the 21st Operations Support Squadron here, returned to the 21st Space Wing Headquarters Building on April 17 for an award ceremony in her honor. Capt. Teresa Holla is the fourth

22 May 2006

Advanced EHF moves closer to realization with ASMCS demo

A team of Lockheed Martin contractors demonstrated a new Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite Mission Control Segment system to visitors from Schriever, Peterson and Los Angeles Air Force bases April 25. The system, known as ASMCS, will communicate with both AEHF and Milstar satellites once it enters production, said 1st Lt. Daniel Schwarz,

22 May 2006

Schriever receives 8th ‘Tree City USA’ award

The base received its eighth-straight Tree City USA award from the Colorado Forest Service during a ceremony at the child development center here May 3. To be eligible for the award, cities and bases must have a tree city board and a tree-care ordinance, spend $2 or more per person annually on urban forest maintenance and hold an Arbor Day

22 May 2006

Helos go gear-up for Guardian Challenge

Helicopter crews from all four Air Force Space Command helicopter units converged here May 9-11 to compete in the command’s annual Guardian Challenge competition. Crews from F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., Malmstrom AFB, Mont., Minot AFB, N.D., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif., began competition on May 9 with a navigation event. This low-level, tactical mission