Colorado S prings M ilitary Newspaper Group
Thursday, February 28, 2019
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Vol. 13 No. 8
New course improves RPO capability By Steve Kotecki
50th Space Wing Public Affairs
This week kicked off the Unit Effectiveness Inspection. Continue to be the champions you are!
Base Briefs Spouses are invited to events marked with
THIS WEEK Ash Wednesday Service The Schriever Chapel is providing an Ash Wednesday service on March 6 from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. at the event center, Bldg. 20. Chaplain Maj. McGregor will be performing the rite and taking confession directly after. For more information contact the
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Airmen from the 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron learned the newest space maneuvering techniques in the Advanced Rendezvous Proximity Operations course in Colorado Springs, Colorado Feb. 26, 2019. The course is offered though a contract partnership with Palski & Associates, a Colorado Springs systems engineering and technical assistance company. The course changes and expands the approach to achieving space situational awareness among satellites and builds on the knowledge 3rd SES Airmen learn during initial technical training. “It’s really the next step in the process of evolving and innovating space operations,” said Capt. Logan Burch, 3rd SES operations support flight commander. “The idea of rendezvous and proximity operations has been around since the 60s, but the pockets of people who are experts in this field are limited and isolated. This course is looking to make this advanced knowledge the base for a space operator,” Burch said. The four week course isn’t just a crash course in RPO. “It’s really a deeper dive into the technical competencies that allow them to operate in space,” said Andrew Palski, course instructor. “This new application of knowledge will make our satellites more agile, and gives them more options for the mission set,” Burch said.
U.S. Air Force Photo by Steve Kotecki
Capt. Logan Burch, 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron operations support flight commander, describes how a satellite model allows students at the Advanced Rendezvous Proximity Operations course a hands-on approach to maneuvering a satellite, Feb. 25, 2019. The advanced course expands the foundation to achieving space situational awareness that is learned during initial training.
“We need to have the advanced knowledge so we can have the best operators.” The students will use this knowledge immediately upon returning to operations to increase space situational awareness and will also help the entire wing when the students transition to other squadrons.
The course will wrap up its first iteration in two weeks, and includes students of varying levels of experience. “Some people were new to this particular facet of space while others were a little more See RPO Course page 5
Schriever Chapel at 719-567-3705.
Air Force Wing Open Boxing Championships The event will be hosted at the United States Air Force Academy at the Clune Arena, tonight at 6 p.m. Admission for this event is free. The event will be streamed live at: https://goairforcefalcons.com/sports/2018/7/31/mountainwest-digital-network.aspx. For more information contact, Michael E. Peterson 719-333-2401 or email michael.peterson@usafa.edu. More Briefs page 11 Sign up for weekly Schriever announcements, news and more. Visit www.schriever.af.mil and click “Public Affairs” under featured links.
Public Affairs
Inside
Transitioning fitness assessments..... 5 Airmen ride snowmobiles................ 6 Welcoming Colorado staffers......... 10
4th SOPS Airmen unite with Alpha Co. Soldiers Courtesy Photo
Members of the 4th Space Operations Squadron, 50th Operations Support Squadron, and Alpha Co. 53rd Signals Battalion gather for a photo in the Alpha Co. facility, Fort. Detrick, Maryland, Feb. 6, 2019. The Airmen spent two days at the Wideband Satellite Operation Center learning about their specific positions and their associated duties to improve communication between agencies and better utilize their expertise.
By Staff Sgt. Matthew Coleman-Foster 50th Space Wing Public Affairs
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The 50th Space Wing sent 11 members from 4th Space Operations Squadron and 50th Operations Support Squadron on a temporary duty assignment to the Wideband Satellite Operation Center at Fort Detrick, Maryland. The Airmen spent two days at the WSOC talking to various operators from Alpha Co., 53rd Signals Battalion learning about their specific positions and their associated duties to improve communication between agencies and better utilize their expertise. First Lt. Rosalinda Alfaro, 4th SOPS Defense Satellite Communications System Engineer, one of the 11 to attend said discussions involved the 4th SOPS operations construct, the satellite vehicle expert position, and the threats to wideband military satellite communications.
“We manage the bus and they manage the payload,” Alfaro said. “We wanted to better understand their operations and help them to understand ours so that we can improve communication, optimize our working relationship and provide excellent wideband MILSATCOM to our customers.” The trip aimed to strengthen the jointwarfighting effort between 53rd SIG Bn. and 4th SOPS. “Our communication with the Army is critical since we each control specific aspects of the wideband constellation,” Airman First Class Aaron Hartman, 4th SOPS satellite vehicle expert said. “It was important that the 50th OSS came along on the trip because they are responsible for training new Airmen on the specific weapon system that the Airman are assigned within 4th SOPS. Any new information that 50th OSS can attain from the Army will better equip our future Airmen coming through their training environment.” 50th OSS’s goal in the visit was to improve their processes in supporting Alpha Co.
through intelligence product distribution and threat overviews. Airman First Class Devin Vega, 50th OSS intelligence analyst, said the cross-talk provided the necessary information to better prepare them for the future. “The impact was great for Alpha Co. to see and hear from 50th OSS Intel, give them a better understanding of the intelligence available to support and assist with their daily operations through intelligence product distribution and increase their knowledge on current and future threats to space operations,” he said. The 4th SOPS and 53rd SIG Bn. will work through action items discussed during the visit to enhance communications between the two organizations. Additionally, 4 SOPS and 53rd SIG Bn. will pursue future exchange opportunities, with trips planned in the coming months to other WSOC’s to improve the joint effort.