Posted on 10/31/2020 3:55:31 AM PDT by Candor7
The fledgling U.S. Space Force's Space Delta 9 is tasked with performing a mission set that the service describes as orbital warfare. This includes keeping an eye out for potentially hostile activity in space, as well as deterring those threats and even potentially defeating them, according to the unit's official website. Publicly, it provides this support primarily through various space-based surveillance and communications systems, but, interestingly, it is also responsible for overseeing the operations of the experimental X-37B mini space shuttle, the exact mission and capabilities of which remain obscure.
Space Force highlighted the intriguing orbital warfare mission of Space Delta 9, as part of the larger array of capabilities within its new Space Operations Command (SpOC), in a Tweet earlier this week. The unit had first come into existence in July and had previously been known as the Air Force's 750th Operations Group, which had only been activated and assigned to that service's 50th Space Wing the month before. 50th Space Wing, headquartered at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado, was also transferred to the newest branch of America's armed forces that month, at which time it was rebranded as the Peterson-Schriever Garrison.
Space Delta 9 "conducts protect and defend operations from space and provides response options to deter and defeat adversary threats in space," according to an infographic that accompanied the Space Force Tweet on Oct. 24. "The mission of Delta 9 is to prepare, present, and project assigned and attached forces for the purpose of conducting protect and defend operations and providing national decision authorities with response options to deter and, when necessary, defeat orbital threats," is how the unit's official website describes it. It also shows the unit's insignia, which is distinct from those of the other deltas, and simply features the roman numeral "IX" for nine in silver along with a single red star at the top, all on a black background.
USSF
At present, there are four subordinate units assigned to Space Delta 9: the 1st and 3rd Space Operations Squadrons, the 750th Operations Support Squadron, and Space Delta 9, Detachment 1.
Publicly, the 1st Special Operations Squadron operates a constellation of space-based surveillance satellites, including the Space Based Space Surveillance System (SBSS), Advanced Technology Risk Reduction (ATRR) system, Operationally Responsive Space-5 (ORS-5), and the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP). SBSS, launched in 2010, was the U.S. military's first space-based sensor specifically designed for "Space Domain Awareness," or SDA, and is capable of "metric observations and Space Object Identification data on satellites operating in low-earth, semi-synchronous and geosynchronous orbits," according to the squadron's official website. The year before, the Air Force had worked with the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to launch the ATRR satellite, which is also now used for SDA, but originally "served as a pathfinder for next-generation sensor technology for future MDA space missions."
The GSSAP satellites, the first two of which reached orbit in 2014, "provide a space-based capability operating in the near-geosynchronous orbit regime supporting U.S. Space Command space surveillance operations as a dedicated SSN [Space Surveillance Network] sensor." The SSN includes space and ground-based systems to monitor activity in the upper reaches of the Earth's atmosphere and beyond.
“likely that the CCP will collapse and China will fractionate into many smaller powers that will be fighting amongst each other.”
This is what I was told by a General and GS16 in 2002, in Brussels, during a required meeting of the Singal Battalion that covers Networks for that area extending into Northern Germany, The Netherlands and SHAPE-Chievers.
Is History not repeating itself, but rather catching up?
That at least a ten year old picture taken before it was operational.
Latch on to the Cool Factor of Star Trek. That is shrewd.
I keep saying: China’s supposed “advantage” in surface ships is wildly overblown. It’s not the US vs. China. It’s the US/Taiwan/Malaya/Japan/Korea/the Philippines with ALL their land-based air, missiles and weaponry vs. the Chinese navy. They cannot even get to open water without losing more than half their fleet, and no, the US would not engage within the “ring.”
And everyone of them could fly circles around your level of intellegence.
Well, the Air Force was originally part of the Army, so there’s that.
Maybe one day there will be a combined service. I wonder what they’ll name it?
“ Our enemies must be shaking in their boots.“
They should be. The Space Force won’t be using hand to hand combat.
Always a very cool subject.
Space warfare is perhaps one of the least known theaters.
You mean publishing the assigned AB and each ones duty does not give up info.
For instance, if I was an “evil doer”, I would attack 2, 6 and then 4. I took out command and control and then launch capabilities.
I ain’t no expert but seems a little stupid to give out info.
Okay, going back to my bunker located 50 yards from second tree from house.
In 2015 Xi asked the PLA for an honest assessment of whether they were ready to invade Taiwan. They gave it and the answer was no. Xi executed around 1000 officers for “corruption.”. In reality he was replacing officers who might owe their loyalty to whoever appointed them. He replaced them with Xi Loyalists. Does anyone think the next time he asks if they will say they aren’t ready. In the meantime Xi has transformed the PLA into a much stronger tool.
The best way to win a war against someone who will be deposed if he loses is not to fight them. Winning and getting a few bases and American cities nuked is not an attractive option. Helping the CCP collapse on its own is much better.
Okay, going back to my bunker located 50 yards from second tree from house.
Seriously, you sound just like US armor in the field in Germany during the 60s. We used to plot them on the map and mark the apple tree or building they were hiding behind. The Russians used to get belly laughs at the stupid Americans giving their exact position in the clear. Russians passing their position sounded like: ARGHA PKLAM etc five day enciphered pads - unknown to them we had the daily keys ... hahahaha
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu says, “Every battle is won before it is ever fought.” makes me wonder it Sun Tzu was ever read by the CCP
Star Trek copied early NASA insignia.
I guess smaller is better for space missions. Diversity is certainly high in that group.
Especially since they lost Mary Sou's side cleaners, at least in the Pacific.
Sometimes those weapons actually exist, sometimes they don't.
Oh no?...what about all the SciFi covers with space sword fighting?
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