U.S. Air Force Space Command is finalizing a plan to revamp floor manage structures for navy satellite tv for pc constellations. Current structures suffer from issues with user-unfriendly software, previous cybersecurity standards, and problems sharing facts in the military’s area corporation.
The problems are well documented, but the Air Force has struggled to come up with solutions. Air Force Space Command final 12 months determined that the solution is an everyday command-and-manage architecture called Enterprise Ground Services (EGS). A memo signed in August with the aid of AFSC Commander Gen. John Raymond declares EGS the “common platform to execute satellite operations for tactical command and manage of space property.” To make certain facts may be shared, EGS would require “device to machine exchanges” in all ground systems. They also have to use universal messaging requirements, in keeping with Raymond’s memo.
The Air Force’s 2020 finances idea provides a brand new funding line for EGS, requesting $138 million to develop and check software. Legacy floor structures will transition to the EGS architecture over the subsequent decade. That includes the floor management for missile warning, satellite communications, space domain attention, and experimental satellites.
“EGS prepares us for the day after today’s combat with the aid of increasing enterprise resiliency and functionality,” Col. Jesse Zydallis, Enterprise Ground Services leader at the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, said in a declaration to SpaceNews.
Zydallis stated the intention is to have a “common ground platform for commanding and information sharing.” Commonality could store money on software enhancements and expedite the refresh of software program applications.
SMC is now developing the EGS Service Catalog to support authorities and industry software program developers, said Zydallis. Vendors may be expected to comply with the tips supplied by way of the EGS Service Catalog as they end up to be had, he said. The catalog offerings will grow through the years. Zydallis’ office is running with each task location across SMC to assist increase person transition plans for each ground device with the aid of November.
What precisely EGS is and how it will affect cutting-edge space packages are questions nonetheless now not nicely understood, however. Contractors are waiting for info with a purpose to tell that what they have to do now to put together, enterprise sources advised SpaceNews.
The Air Force has a spotty file with software trends. Space floor systems are especially challenging due to protection necessities and mission complexity, stated Jon Ludwigson, appearing director of contracting and countrywide safety acquisitions troubles at the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Ludwigson authored a March file documenting costly area software issues, including OCX, a next-generation ground control system lagging in the back of the deployment of the Air Force’s GPS three satellites. “The congressional defense committees are very concerned,” Ludwigson stated in an interview. “In space, the software is essential to the execution of the missions.”
GAO concluded that the poor overall performance of software program packages is caused by the government’s failure to contain customers early within the development. Program managers don’t get enough remarks from users till it’s too late or too high-priced to trade the layout, Ludwigson stated.
