New AFSPC website provides worldwide space surveillance support (Forwarded)

Air Force Space Command News Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 03, 2005

Story ID 05-001

New AFSPC website provides worldwide space surveillance support
By Capt. Angie Blair, Air Force Space Command Public Affairs

Air Force Space Command began a pilot program Jan. 3 designed to provide space
surveillance support to Commercial and Foreign Entities. Public Law 108-136,
transferred this space surveillance support responsibility from NASA to AFSPC on
Nov. 24, 2003.

"The primary objective of the pilot program is to develop processes and tools to
deliver timely, accurate, state-of-the-art space surveillance services to
commercial and foreign customers," said Lt. Col. David Maloney, AFSPC chief of
space situational awareness.

This service ensures mission success for commercial and foreign space operators
who often rely on the United States' space surveillance support to mitigate
hazards facing their space assets, according to Colonel Maloney. "To that end,
they request space object orbital data, support in predicting potential
conjunctions (close approaches between satellites) for on-orbit and launch
operations, satellite anomaly resolution support and end-of-life support."

As the worldwide leader in space surveillance, the United States is in the best
position to provide that support, said Colonel Maloney.

The CFE Pilot Program is being implemented in three phases. The first two phases
are dedicated to replacing the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Orbital
Information Group website with the CFE Space-Track website. The CFE Space-Track
(http://www.space-track.org) website will distribute Two-Line Elements,
satellite catalog messages, satellite decay messages, project TIP messages, and
most of the miscellaneous messages currently offered by the NASA OIG website.
AFSPC will continue to provide this data at no cost.

As part of the CFE Pilot Program, the Aerospace Corporation will operate the CFE
Support Office that will interface with the commercial and foreign entities on
behalf of AFSPC. The CFE Support Office is responsible for developing and
maintaining the Space-Track website.

"We've been working very closely with NASA to ensure a smooth transition for
existing customers to transfer their OIG accounts to the Space Track website,"
said Colonel Maloney. "Our goal is to provide uninterrupted service to more than
1,100 customers in 43 countries worldwide by implementing a 90-day dual
operations period between the two websites."

This 90-day transition period allows current OIG users to activate their Space
Track website accounts, which includes agreeing to terms of the CFE user's
agreement -- specifically agreeing not to transfer any data or other information
received or services provided to any third party without the prior written
permission from the Department of Defense. The transition period allows OIG
users to become familiar with the new website's design and functionality.

The main differences between the websites are the menus and report options,
according to Colonel Maloney.

After a 90-day transition period NASA will terminate their OIG website operations.

The third phase of the CFE Pilot program is dedicated to advanced services.
Proposed advanced services include, launch support (pre-launch safety screenings
and/or early orbit determination), conjunction assessment (including screening
for planned maneuvers), end-of–life/reentry support (includes reentry support
and planned de-orbit operations), anomaly resolution support (includes attitude
determination and spacecraft configuration) and performing emergency services
(significant mission degradation or failure for either the requester's asset or
U.S. government assets, endangerment of human life or degradation of U.S.
national security is at stake).

"The advanced services are expected to be provided for a fee," according to
Colonel Maloney. "The fees will be used to reimburse the Department of Defense
for the costs for providing advanced services. The details and fees are still to
be determined.

For more information on the CFE support pilot program and the Space-Track
website, go to
www.space-track.org