UK Space Command Officially Launches
Article from Malvern Editorial July 30, 2021 (malvernobserver.co.uk)
• July 29th marked the official opening of UK Space Command, with the first ‘Space Operator’ Badges presented to personnel.
Tag: UK Space Command
Britain Launches Its Own Space Command
Article by Marta Blanco Sanchez and Edmond Reeves April 6, 2021 (smallcapnews.co.uk)
• The UK government has officially launched Space Command, to provide command and control of all defense space capabilities, including Skynet Satellite communications and the UK Space Operations Center. The command is made up of a joint force of all military branches: the Royal Navy, the British army, the Royal Air Force, and the civil service.
• An official from the UK’s Ministry of Defense explained that, “Space is an enabling field that includes global positioning system and satellite communications that affect civilian life, as well as an operational field where space activity of other countries can be observed. …[T]he establishment of a Space Command is a critical step in developing a coherent strategy for understanding and operating in space aimed at protecting the interests of the United Kingdom.”
• The Space Command carries out its tasks alongside the Space Administration of the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for policy, strategy, intergovernmental and international coordination of Britain’s space defense. Space Command will interact with British Space Agency and the British Aerospace Command when necessary, with a view to integrating multiple areas.
• Space Command will be headquartered at the Royal Air Force Station High Wycombe. By sharing a base with the Air Command, the Space Command can “take advantage of the existing RAF space structures, such as the UK Space Operations Center. The Space Command will begin recruiting, training, and developing space defense personnel for the new command center.
• Collaboration with international partners is the key in space. The British Space Command will continue the UK’s commitment to Joint space operations with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, and the United States, to improve opportunities for cooperation, and operational coordination in space under NATO’s Space Alliance operation Olympic Defender.
The UK government officially launched Space Command, a joint force formed by Royal Navy,
The the British army, The Royal Air Force And the civil service. Upon full operation of the new force, it will provide command and control of all defense space capabilities, including UK Space Operations Center (SpOC), Satellite communications Skynet, The RAF Fylingdales and other enabling capabilities. The country thus joins the list of countries that already have its own space force, such as the United States and France.
Space is essential for military operations. Loss or disruption of spatial dominance can affect the ability to perform most defensive tasks and has the potential to significantly affect civil, commercial and economic activity. With this in mind, the UK has made its new military arm in charge.
Unlike US Space Force, which follows the naval model, UK Aerospace Command is more consistent with the Air Force. Officials from the country’s Ministry of Defense explain that, “Space is an enabling field that includes global positioning system and satellite
communications that affect civilian life, as well as an operational field where space activity of other countries can be observed. It is about being an advocate of space, not a fan of The space. ”
For the British authorities, “the establishment of a space command is a critical step in developing a coherent strategy for understanding and operating in space aimed at protecting the interests of the United Kingdom.”
Composition and structure
The Space Command carries out its tasks alongside the Space Administration of the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for policy, strategy, and intergovernmental and international coordination of space defense. Title National Space Council It will flow through space direction to British Space Command and other related defense elements. Space Command will interact with British Space Agency when necessary, to provide a common national space capacity.
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Britain’s New Space Command
Article by James Bickerton November 22, 2020 (express.co.uk)
• Will Whitehorn, president of UK space industry trade association UKSpace, argues: “If we’re going to put billions and billions of pounds of assets into space, which secure the future of this country, then we’re going to have to defend those assets.” It’s vital Britain is able to defend its commercial assets in space.” Whitehorn even predicted that “… there will come a time when we will have a Royal Space Force…”.
• On November 18th, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a “once in a generation modernization” of Britain’s armed forces, with massive funding in military research and development, new warfare technologies, and space and cyber capabilities, and the official launch in 2021 of the UK Space Command.
• A Space Command Center, likely based at RAF High Wycombe (which currently houses Headquarters Air Command), will be rededicated to the new RAF space command, artificial intelligence, launching British satellites, and to“further enhance coordination of the UK military and commercial space operations”. The Space Command plans to launch its first rocket from Scotland in 2022.
• UKSpace’s Will Whitehorn commented: “I am delighted Space Command is to be established and have long argued for it in order to bolster the UK’s ability to defend both the freedom of space and our sovereign assets in space. An important part of that ability will include a sovereign launch capability in the UK, and UKspace will work closely with the government to play our part in achieving launch capability in the north of Scotland and Cornwall. We will also work to ensure that our country becomes the global centre of excellence for the satellites and other space industrial assets of the future.”
• There are a number of proposals to build the UK’s first vertical launch space port in Scotland with sites in Sutherland, North Uist and the Shetland Islands on the short list. A new spaceport in Newquay, Cornwall is also under development with the support of Virgin Orbit. The plan is for ‘Cosmic Girl’, a Virgin Orbit Boeing 747, to take off from Newquay airport then launch an attached rocket which will carry satellites into space.
• The UK Government wants Britain to account for 10 percent of the global space economy by 2030.
On Wednesday Boris Johnson announced a “once in a generation modernisation” of Britain’s armed forces with an additional £16.5bn in funding over the next four years. This money will be invested in space and cyber capabilities as well as conventional forces.
As part of this programme a UK Space Command will be launched next year, potentially based at RAF High Wycombe.
The move was welcomed by UKSpace, an umbrella group which represents the British space industry.
The body said it will “further enhance coordination of the UK military and commercial space operations”.
Will Whitehorn, president of UKSpace, argued it’s vital Britain is able to defend its commercial assets in space.
He commented: “I am delighted Space Command is to be established and have long argued for it in order to bolster
the UK’s ability to defend both the freedom of space and our sovereign assets in space.
“An important part of that ability will include a sovereign launch capability in the UK, and UKspace will work closely with the government to play our part in achieving launch capability in the north of Scotland and Cornwall.
“We will also work to ensure that our country becomes the global centre of excellence for the satellites and other space industrial assets of the future.”
Mr Johnson also said plans are in place for a British rocket to be launched into space from Scotland in 2022.
There are a number of proposals to build the UK’s first vertical launch space port in Scotland with sites in Sutherland, North Uist and the Shetland Islands being considered.
These will launch satellites, and potentially one day people, into space from British soil.
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. ExoNews.org distributes this material for the purpose of news reporting, educational research, comment and criticism, constituting Fair Use under 17 U.S.C § 107. Please contact the Editor at ExoNews with any copyright issue.