Earth planet surface in outer space. Stars and milky way on background. Sci-fi space wallpaper. Elements of this image furnished by NASA (NASA.gov)
I/ITSEC 2022 — Tired of the classroom, the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) is looking at incorporating live operations for Guardians and, separately, is asking industry to help build out its range infrastructure.
Speaking here today, Maj. Gen. Shawn Bratton, commander of STARCOM, said one of the things the command is working through now how to train Guardians for extraterrestrial operations. So far in the space domain, training has traditionally been almost an “all simulation, all classroom environment.”
“And I think we’re considering now kind of moving the needle back into training with live operations, but I don’t know how to measure the value of training that’s done live at, you know, actual sorties on spacecraft versus training that’s done in the simulator and the measuring of which one is better in a given circumstance,” Bratton said.
“And it’s something we’re certainly thinking through and looking for help on is, you know, if I put a Guardian in a simulator, simulator, simulator and then put them on the ops floor live to fly GPS or communication satellite or any of the space capabilities, is that the best preparation? Or is it better if in training, they do some of those live activities?” he continued.
Along with the kind of training, Bratton said STARCOM could use industry’s help in building out its range infrastructure — something he called the command’s greatest technical challenge. He pointed to the National Space Test and Training Complex, which he likened to a gym “where we’re going to go work out the force and get some reps and sets in.”
Training in simulators or in live situations is about the limit of options available, because legally, the US can’t establish a training ground in space, unlike any other warfare domain.
The training complex is “the place that STARCOM is building to take Guardians to train and to test new capabilities, but we can’t own the real estate on orbit,” Bratton said. “And so how do we create an environment where we can do live training safely, where we can communicate to partners what we’re doing on orbit, and so… nothing is misconstrued. And then, you know, stand up a place that we can watch and gather data and observe with the tester training activity, bring that data down to the earth, so we can analyze it and learn the lessons that we need to learn. I mean, all of that is what we’re working through right now.”
Bratton added the command has a good handle on the direction it’s going with the National Space Test and Training Complex, but it needs time to build it out.
