Acknowledging that space is the only physical domain without humans in place to conduct military operations, the digital vision document states "everything our operators experience is derived through data received from space and our ability to rapidly analyze that data to our advantage."

The document goes on to describe how the characteristics of the space operating environment and the growing threat presented by near-peer competitors generate an imperative to undergo large-scale cultural and technical transformation.

"The establishment of the United States Space Force gave us a generational opportunity to create a Service purpose-built for a contested space domain," said Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond. "Moreover, we are in a unique position because of the global, data-driven nature of our mission to harness data and analytics across the enterprise and serve as a change agent for the entire Department of Defense."

The Vision for a Digital Service is founded on three key tenets that provide a pathway to a faster, more innovative, and agile service designed to meet the unique demands of the space operating environment: an Interconnected, Innovative, Digitally Dominant force.

First, an Interconnected force effectively and efficiently shares relevant information with a broad array of stakeholders in support of the mission.

Second, an Innovative force routinely embraces new approaches and readily challenges the status quo.

Third, a Digitally Dominant force depends on people - establishing an empowered, digitally fluent workforce that advocates for innovation from every angle.

Informed by these tenets, the Vision for a Digital Service outlines four focus areas that serve as lines of effort for the necessary digital transformation Guardians must lead to achieve this vision:

· Digital Engineering: The Space Force will foster an interoperable, resilient, and secure Digital Engineering Ecosystem (DEE) that will enable Guardians across the force to rapidly mature innovative concepts into integrated solutions and deliver critical warfighting capability faster.

· Digital Workforce: The Space Force will attract, educate, develop, and retain the vital talent they need to cultivate digital fluency among all Guardians, and the USSF will equip and empower them to unleash their talent and energy toward bold, innovative solutions.

· Digital Headquarters: This focus area refers to a function, rather than a location - it represents the ability for all Guardians to make decisions efficiently by removing layers of bureaucracy and enabling and incentivizing data-driven decision making.

· Digital Operations: The Space Force will drive joint, all-domain solutions in, from, and to space, exploiting advantages provided by interconnected infrastructure and an innovative, digitally-fluent workforce.

The Digital Vision will be accompanied by a subsequent Transformational Roadmap product, which will delve into more detail and identify the key ongoing and planned actions required to make progress toward achieving the Vision. The roadmap is expected to be released in summer 2021.

Source:  Space Force
Associated URL: Click here to visit

The Use Agreement makes SNC the first commercial user of Space Florida’s FAA Re-entry Site Operator License and provides the runway and support facilities needed during testing and landing. It also takes SNC one step further in applying for its own FAA re-entry license, something needed ahead of the first Dream Chaser mission next year.

Dream Chaser has the potential to land at any FAA licensed landing site that has a suitable 10,000 ft runway capable of handling a typical commercial jet. Its low-g entry and runway landing protects sensitive payloads and provides immediate access to payloads upon landing.

The LLF’s proximity to Kennedy Space Center and formal recognition as a designated return site for rapid recovery of precious ISS cargo makes it the ideal location for the first orbital vehicle in SNC’s Dream Chaser fleet, the Dream Chaser Tenacity spaceplane to make its debut landing.

SNC recently announced its Space Systems Group will transition to an independent commercial space company, Sierra Space.

Source:  Sierra Nevada Corporation
Associated URL: sncorp.com

The prototype for the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) mission currently being developed by ESA with OHB Sweden as Mission prime is the precursor to a potential satellite constellation that would provide a near-constant stream of temperature and humidity data from anywhere on Earth. This would make very short-term weather forecasts - known as "nowcasting" - in the Arctic possible for the first time and would allow to better predict storms or extreme weather conditions. OHB Sweden leads the industrial consortium for the AWS mission. Omnisys Instruments in Sweden is the instrument prime contractor from which RUAG Space has now received a contract to supply the power system for the prototype’s radiometer instrument including the design, manufacturing, testing and delivery.

Improving weather forecasts in the Arctic

Today, satellites, both those in geostationary orbit and in polar orbit, provide a wealth of information that meteorologists use routinely to forecast the weather. However, the monitoring of the Arctic remains insufficient. Up to now, only patchy weather data have been available for the polar regions. One of the reasons for this is that geostationary weather satellites have only limited coverage at high latitudes. Although measurements are also carried out by weather satellites on polar orbits, since they fly over all latitudes, there are relatively large time intervals between the individual data points. Atmospheric parameters, however, are subject to constant change, which is why data with high temporal resolution are needed for precise weather forecasts. The polar-orbiting AWS mission complements the data of existing satellites systems such as MetOp or its US counterpart, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). It does that by providing global measurements of the atmospheric temperature and humidity with frequent revisit times which will help improve weather forecasts, specifically in the Arctic. For that, the AWS satellite will carry a 19-channel cross-track scanning microwave radiometer providing the necessary high-resolution humidity and temperature soundings of the atmosphere in all weather conditions.

"New Space" approach with agile, cost-effective production methods

RUAG Space’s Power System is set to be delivered in Q4 2022. The launch of the prototype satellite weighting about 120 kilograms is planned to take place in 2024. The now ordered prototype is planned to be followed-up by a constellation of 16 AWS satellites. Subject to a follow-up decision after the prototype, the constellation would be implemented with the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites EUMETSAT according to the cooperation model established with the Meteosat and MetOp satellites.

Source:  RUAG
Associated URL: ruag.com