Lieutenant Colonel Heath Collins is the Commander, Space Based Infrared Systems Space Squadron, Space Based Infrared Systems Wing, Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA. He leads 52 personnel to develop, deploy, and sustain the nation’s space-based infrared detection, targeting, and tracking systems for missile warning, missile defense, battlespace characterization, and technical intelligence. These systems are critical for protection against global and theater ballistic missile attacks against the United States, its deployed forces, and its allies.

Fifty years ago, America launched its first operational communications satellite — Courier 1B — built by Space Systems/Loral. Courier 1B was the world’s first transponder satellite, besting the broadcast-only capability of the USSR’s Sputnik 1.

Forecast + Outlook Snapshot — A desire for higher bandwidth and networking capabilities in Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) is creating new opportunities for advanced electronic components. Driven by growth in satellite launches and increasingly sophisticated capabilities, the annual market for electronics will grow from $796 million in 2009 to nearly $2.58 billion in 2020.

Military and civilian agencies alike depend on advanced satellite services to communicate between forward deployed personnel and command centers outside the area of operations. These communications solutions enhance intelligence gathering and in-field decision making, often creating a competitive advantage in an otherwise hostile environment. The type of information exchange can range from a simple phone call, to something more complex like an encrypted live video feed from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Either way, it’s a communications channel that must be up and running at all times.

The government vertical has been a stable and growing market for commercial satellite service providers in recent years given the shortfall in internal assets civil and military agencies have at their disposal. In terms of resources to run mission-critical requirements, government entities have always been behind the curve for bandwidth and data resource deployment. Indeed, the commercial satellite industry has been a growing part of governments’ strategic planning for current and future requirements for a variety of applications. It is now safe to assume that over the long term, commercial capacity and offerings will be a permanent feature in government planning and procurement practices.

The United States Air Force (USAF) has always considered space as a logical extension of the air space in which it had its operations and the X-37B automatic space plane is the latest expression of this belief.

The Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) is the Air Force’s product center for the development and acquisition of space and missile systems. The Center was established in 1954 and has served as the leader in military space systems development since the earliest days of the space age. Today, SMC leads the development, acquisition, fielding, and sustainment of the world’s best military space and missile systems.