Down in the River To Pray

SDA Layered Network of Military Satellites now known as “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture”

Published January 23, 2023

The Space Development Agency’s resilient layered network of military satellites and supporting elements is now the “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture” or PWSA. The architecture, formerly known as the “National Defense Space Architecture,” was renamed to more specifically reflect the agency’s mission to deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of a proliferated low Earth orbit (pLEO) constellation of satellites. The spiral development and fielding of SDA’s mesh network has matured successfully, but the constellations’ original name did not accurately convey its current scope and purpose. The new constellation name became effective January 23, 2023.

Now integral members of the U.S. Space Force, SDA continues the integration of its space acquisition and operations into the overall national defense hybrid space enterprise, including pLEO advancements to support no-fail missions such as end-to-end missile warning, missile tracking, and missile defense. Maintaining technological and military advantages in space for the warfighter requires developing a resilient hybrid architecture through an integrated diversification of orbits and proliferation of satellites.

The constellation name change will have no impact to the SDA mission. Leveraging speed, delivery, and agility, SDA will continue to quickly deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the PWSA.

https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/3274487/sda-layered-network-of-military-satellites-now-known-as-proliferated-warfighter/

U.S. Air Force Selects Howard University for Science Research Partnership

Published January 23, 2023

The Department of the Air Force has selected Howard University as the first Historically Black College or University to lead a University Affiliated Research Center.

The center will be focused on tactical autonomy technology for military systems and Howard University will receive $12 million per year for five years to fund research, faculty, and students.

"Autonomous systems make our military faster, smarter, and more combat-credible," said Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin. "They equip commanders with the best possible information to support life-and-death decisions. And I have no doubt that the advancements that will come out of Howard's new research center will do even more to protect our most precious asset-our men and women in uniform."

The Department of Defense currently has 14 university affiliated research centers. Such centers are responsible for providing dedicated facilities and sharing space with Defense Department officials and industrial participants to conduct basic, applied and technology demonstration research.

"We need a team of decision-makers, researchers, scientists, engineers, and leaders who are committed to security and liberty and are excited to work on some of the world's most important problems, said Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall. " "If those with the intent to preserve peace don’t solve these technical challenges first, those with malign intent will acquire a significant advantage."

Secretary Kendall added, "This is a momentous historical occasion for the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, and Howard University. "

The university's primary mission will be to establish or maintain the essential engineering, research, or development capability in the field of tactical autonomy in support of critical Department of the Air Force and Department of Defense missions. Howard will lead a consortium HBCUs that include: Jackson State University, Mississippi, Tuskegee University, Alabama, Hampton University, Virginia, Bowie State University, Maryland, Norfolk State University, Virginia, Delaware State University, Florida Memorial University, and Tougaloo College, Mississippi.

Specific desired outcomes will be higher matriculation rates of graduates with autonomy and related education and skills and research products enabled by additional capacity built in the schools.

"We are excited to learn from the great minds at Howard University and see what they'll bring to the Department of the Air Force," said Dr. Victoria Coleman, chief scientist of the Air Force. "Their motto is 'Excellence in Truth and Service' and I know we will see that excellence in their scientific research and development work."

The Department of the Air Force, along with the Air Force Research Laboratory, is partnering with Howard University in order to:

• Establish and maintain essential research and development capabilities for the Department of the Air Force to deliver operationally relevant autonomy.

• Advance the field of autonomy by focusing on the Secretary of the Air Force's Operational Imperatives.

• Generate robust Research & Development efforts with Historically Black Colleges & Universities that is expected to build institutional research capacity to a research classification of "very-high-research activity" in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

• Grow and diversify the available pool of scientists and engineers to support the Department and establish a source of organic technical excellence.

• Seed a unique science, research, and development ecosystem of small and large businesses, academia and the Department of Defense.

https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/3274925/us-air-force-selects-howard-university-for-science-research-partnership/

USSF, USCG partner to strengthen presence in space domain

Published January 24, 2023

WASHINGTON (AFNS) – The United States Space Force Science, Technology, and Research Directorate and United States Coast Guard Research and Development Center solidified their commitment to collaborate and enhance space capabilities for the joint warfighter through a new memorandum of understanding signing Jan. 19.

This significant occasion marks the first time the two organizations have worked together, and the beginning of a partnership focused on coordination, sharing and exchange of information and identifying opportunities for applied research, and advanced technology development.

USSF Dr. Joel Mozer, USSF science, technology, and research director, signed the MOU alongside Capt. Daniel Keane, USCG research and development commanding officer; and underscored the importance of the partnership.

“The Coast Guard is more than 230 years old, and the Space Force just three,” Mozer said. “The nation’s newest service has a lot to learn from one of its oldest on how to provide national power and security in a burgeoning new domain full of new economic and geostrategic opportunity, but also representing unknown threats.”

The missions of the Space Force and Coast Guard are intertwined and have many goals that could be achieved more effectively and yield greater impact with coordinated planning. This MOU will enable and improve the Space Force’s access to unique USCG Research and Development Center facilities, infrastructure, and personnel to support their mission to protect the space interests of the U.S. and its allies by optimizing the development and transition of future space capabilities to the joint force.

“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the Space Force in potential future research, as well as share researchers and best practices,” Keane said. “We quickly realized the value that this relationship presented for both agencies soon after the Space Force participated in a Coast Guard strategic study that examined the Coast Guard’s future role in space governance, use of spaced based technology and research areas.”

Due to the high dynamics of space and its rapidly evolving domain, the demand for space-based capabilities is significantly increasing and it is imperative for the U.S. national security community to maintain its technological edge and strong foothold in space.

The Coast Guard has research activities adept at identifying, developing, and operating emerging technologies to benefit national space-related capabilities, including space missions and operations. Through this MOU the organizations aim to develop a partnership that focuses on collaboration and transparency to enhance capabilities and technologies, and to share best practices.

“The Coast Guard is a forward-leaning organization with an eye to the future,” Mozer said. “The Space Force wants to take advantage of their methods of strategic foresight and apply them to our own space problems, where technology developments overlap between the two services, we want to partner.”

https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article/3275484/ussfuscg-partner-to-strengthen-presence-in-space-domain/