US Space Force Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, Space Systems Command commander (left). (Space Force photo by Senior Airman Kadielle Shaw)
SPACEPOWER 2024 — The Space Force’s software-centric program, known as ATLAS, to modernize how it manages, processes and disseminates space monitoring data has been given over to the service’s new(ish) space domain awareness delta that integrates operators and acquisition experts to wrap up testing and begin a trial period, according to the head of Space Systems Command.
“The integration testing continues to go well,” Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant told reporters at the Space Force Association’s Spacepower 2024 conference in Orlando, Fla. — expressing optimism that the program will meet his expectations for achieving operational capability by the end of next year.
The Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) program is the Pentagon’s latest effort to replace the 1980s-era Space Defense Operations Center (SPADOC) computer system for managing data from the military’s network of radar and telescopes that detect and track objects on orbit.
The Space Force originally planned for ATLAS to become operational in 2022, but the program has been troubled by technical issues and schedule delays — to the point where Air Force Space Acquisition Executive Frank Calvelli has dubbed it one of the Space Force’s three most troubled programs.
“Mr. Calvelli is really being aggressive in holding the program offices accountable and driving the tighter integration with the operators, which will also help us turn those capabilities on faster because it’s not the traditional transition,” Garrant said.
The Space Force in October announced the creation of Mission Delta 2 – Space Domain Awareness as one of its integrated deltas that bring together under one commander operators-in-training at Space Operations Command (SpOC) and acquisition specialists for maintenance and sustainment for each mission formerly under Space Systems Command.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman initiated the revamped structure for the deltas, which are the equivalent of Air Force wings, last September under two prototypes, called Integrated Mission Deltas — one for positioning, navigation and timing, and the other for electronic warfare. The service has accepted that most of SpOCs nine deltas will transition to what are now dubbed simply Mission Deltas, with four already stood up.
ATLAS has now been moved from Space Systems Command, which is the service’s primary acquisition unit, to Mission Delta 2 in large part because the Space Force has seen how well the new integrated structure is working. Garrant said the service has learned that the integrated deltas can actually get new capabilities and kit up and running faster because of the inclusion of operators.
“If we take something not quite traditionally ready for transition, but it’s close, and we put it in tight concert with the operators, the operators can start training sooner. They understand the sustainment needs better, and we start to move on that,” he said.
