Although it has been needed for quite some time, it appears that the US Space Force has decided to commit to upgrading the major US launch ranges, according to a report today on SpaceNews.com.
After years of kicking the can down the road on modernization, the U.S. Space Force is now embarking on a comprehensive overhaul of the IT infrastructure used at mission control centers at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The launch centers are the places where the mission controllers monitor the space mission’s progress and manage meeting the mission’s objectives. As such, communications and information flow are essential to their function.
The launch ranges’ supporting IT architecture is crucial to the success of space missions and meeting the growing demand for access to space, but the technology is in desperate need of an overhaul, said retired U.S. Air Force Col. Chad Davis, former director of the National Reconnaissance Office’s Office of Space Launch.
Davis, now an executive at Stellar Solutions, directed 12 national security space missions on the East and West coasts.
“At Vandenberg, a lot of the infrastructure that’s there was put in place for the Space Shuttle. That’s how old it is,” Davis told SpaceNews. “They’ve been Band-Aiding it through the years but have never really done any significant overhaul.”
Probably the most succinct summary is that both systems were built around single digits of launches per year and they're looking at meeting three digits worth of launches. Not just doubling or tripling but multiplying the "single digits per year" by 30, 50 or perhaps as much as a hundred in the coming years. Maj. Jason Lowry, deputy director of technology and innovation at the
Space Systems Command’s Assured Access to Space program office said this was long overdue, as the private sector has pushed into hundreds of launches per year.
“Imagine a future when the U.S. is launching a rocket every day,” Lowry said.
That means moving away from analog stovepipes to a digital environment where data flows seamlessly and experts can be virtually integrated, he added. “Clearly, we’re going to need to digitize and automate a lot of what we do to support that type of launch cadence.”
SpaceX alone is targeting close to 150 launches this year and while a one per year or one every other year launch like last week's Delta IV Heavy are essentially zero impact, Lowry said they're expecting over 100 launches from the cape, “and we’re also projecting a 30% year over year increase in both the Eastern and Western launch range manifests.” United Launch Alliance is targeting a Vulcan Centaur launch every other week starting next year.
Lots more details at the original source.
A shuttle mission control center photo from late in the program. This isn't an early '80s version, but this is like what they're planning to upgrade. To include the stuff you can't see like data links in and out.
Oh my yes, the government implementing yesterday's technology sometime next year.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed at some of the antiquated equipment we were using. I mean this stuff was OLD! Our RF Tracking Pedestal was running Windows95, the Photo Optics Tracker was running some obscure (even to me!) version of Unix, the PC that controlled the cameras filming the launch was running NT v3, and on and on and on. The Telemetry Receivers were 1960's vintage, and the "Decommutator" was equally as old. NONE of it was supported by the manufacturers because they'd all either closed up shop, or got acquired. It was extremely well maintained, and worked acceptably well, but geesh.....I guess it was Apollo Era gear.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of having to reset the year on Jan 1 on the Alpha 400 systems running HP-UX because the OS and the equipment was so old...
DeleteIt's about time, way past time really, to do this. Should have been done 20 years ago but the slow shutdown of shuttle operations took off the pressure.
ReplyDeleteChalk up another win for Elon Musk in his quest to push us whining and screaming into a future that we are too lazy to embrace!
ReplyDeleteall of this "equipment" will be on the "used" market; used to be able to purchase it on "Radio Row" in Manhattan for pennies; will it be sent to China/Iran tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteChina probably has better stuff now, since they've been stealing everything that gets worked on in the US for at least 30 years. Iran? Maybe. Unless it was on one of those pallets of cash Obama or Biden sent them.
DeleteThe Shuttle Mission Control was NOT part of the Space Force toys, but was instead located at JSC in Houston. Range Safety, however, was located at Cape Canaveral and was involved in ALL launches from the Eastern Test Range.
ReplyDeleteSo for every STS launch I remember, there were TV shots of an area inside that squat building on the SE side of the VAB, with rows and rows of consoles and a few people overlooking that, including who I think was the launch director. I know that right after liftoff they said it transferred to mission control at JSC. That part doesn't count?
DeleteThat was LAUNCH control, and run by NASA and the USA contractor. There was a Range Safety rep in there as well, but their real ops were on cape side.
DeleteWe don't have enough money for this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteWe wouldn't be able to provide pensions for Ukraine school teachers.
To say noting of the cash cards and other Free Stuff to the Illegals/Invaders pouring over the border!
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