The first course in a five-course program developed between Air Force Space Command and the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs will end this month, graduating 20 officer and enlisted space professionals. The initial class, which began in January, undertook the Systems Engineering Management course in the prototype space certificate program. The other four courses are: Space and Space Systems; Information and Communications; Space Role in National Policy; and System Lifecycle. AFSPC expects the program to improve space personnel’s technical foundation and prepare them for advanced space professional degrees, reports TSgt. Kate Rust. The program may grow to other universities, as well.
Space Systems Command has awarded a massive $2.29 billion contract to SpaceX for the “backbone” of its new Space Data Network, a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit that will provide connectivity for the entire joint force.