Air Force Space Command

Definition/Scope: Air Force Space Command, created Sept. 1, 1982, is a major command headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. AFSPC defends North America through its space and intercontinental ballistic missile operations - vital force elements in projecting global reach and global power. Mission Deliver space and missile capabilities to America and its warfighting commands Vision America’s space leaders ... delivering responsive, assured, decisive space power People Approximately 39,000 people, including 25,000 active-duty military and civilians, and 13,700 contractor employees, combine to perform the AFSPC missions. Organization AFSPC has two numbered air forces and two centers. Fourteenth Air Force is located at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Fourteenth Air Force manages the generation and employment of space forces to support U.S. Strategic Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command operational plans and missions. Twentieth Air Force is located at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. Twentieth Air Force operates and maintains the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile weapon systems in support of USSTRATCOM war plans. The Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., designs and acquires all Air Force and most Department of Defense space systems. It oversees launches, completes on-orbit checkouts and then turns systems over to user agencies. It supports the Program Executive Office for Space on the Global Positioning, Defense Satellite Communications and MILSTAR systems. SMC also supports the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, Titan IV, Defense Meteorological Satellite and Defense Support programs, and the Space Based Infrared System. In addition, it supports development and acquisition of land-based ICBMs for the Air Force Program Executive Office for Strategic Systems.

Used For:

AFSPACECOM

Acronym:

AFSPC

Broader Terms:

Air Force Global Strike Command
Combat Air Force
major Air Force commands
Patrick Air Force Base
unified commands (Air Force components)
USSTRATCOM space components

Narrower Terms:

18th Space Surveillance Squadron
Air Reserve Component
Buckley AFB
Cape Canaveral AFS
Cavalier Air Station
Cheyenne Mountain Air Station
Clear Air Force Station
Eastern Space and Missile Center
F. E. Warren AFB
Fourteenth Air Force
GEODSS Space Surveillance Network
Los Angeles AFB
Maui Space Surveillance Complex
MILSATCOM Joint Program Office
Minot AFB
New Boston Air Station
Onizuka Air Station
Patrick AFB
Schriever AFB
Space and Missile Systems Center
Space Warfare Center
Thule Air Base, Greenland
Twentieth Air Force
Vandenberg AFB
Woomera Air Station, Australia

Related Terms:

missile launch facilities
Peterson AFB
Strategic Command