Constellations spoke with Dr. Kelly Hammett of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) about the process of delivering timely, combat-capable space and ground systems and the push towards dynamic space operations. Space RCO is a unit of the Space Force that develops and delivers capabilities to defend U.S. space assets.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the discussion, including the unique and crucial role of Space RCO, the challenge of delivering new capabilities quickly, and what the USSF is doing about the rise of adversarial threats in space.
Takeaway: Space RCO delivers space and ground systems, defends joint forces, and protects space assets.
Space RCO works closely with USSF Field Command, Space System Command, Space Operations Command, and Space Training and Readiness Command to develop and field space capabilities. As an executive officer at Space RCO, Dr. Hammett is prioritizing a portfolio of programs with “programmatic discipline and technical rigor,” he said, while also working to improve the transfer and transition on the back end of acquisitions to make sure that new tech is tested, certified, and fielded rapidly.
Space RCO has a portfolio of acquisition programs focused on all the crucial aspects of space and satellite, from flight to ground systems. The Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource (SCAR), for example, is a phased array antenna that augments the satellite control network, which is currently limited in capability and capacity. Similarly, the new ground software programs Rapid Resilient Command and Control (R2C2) is meant to replace the legacy program Essential Ground Services, which was over scoped and struggled to get products delivered.
Takeaway: In acquisition processes, speed kills.
The most important thing in acquisition processes is to move fast and in the right direction. “The quote is ‘speed is king,’” said Dr. Hammett. “I say, ‘speed kills.’” While moving quickly is paramount, care must be taken in the types of technology acquired by organizations like USSF and how they are integrated with existing systems. “Velocity or speed in the wrong direction takes you off cliffs, takes you into cars and brick walls,” he warned.
In many ways, Dr. Hammett is tasked with an incredibly difficult problem. “It is a complex endeavor, with a dynamic Space Force in its fifth year, trying to assimilate multiple organizations that came online at different times,” he said. “It is a full contact sport for us.”
Takeaway: “Exploit what we have, buy what we can and build only what we must.”
When approaching acquisition, Dr. Hammett often looks for products or services that might have been designed for a different customer or industry but that would translate well to space and satellite. For example, products and services that were developed for the intelligence community can sometimes be repurposed for the Space Force.
General Gutlein of the Space Force once said, “exploit what we have, buy what we can and build only what we must.” And for the most part, Dr. Hammett agrees. “It’s a very catchy phrase that he coined,” Dr. Hammett said. “I support it in terms of philosophy. We do not want to reinvent things that have already been done elsewhere.”
But sections of the space community aren’t embracing this philosophy as well as Dr. Hammett would like, at least when it comes to data. “I see commercial data products and services that the Space Force could be ingesting and using right now, and they’re very slow to adopt it.”
Takeaway: Chinese militarized satellites are pushing the USSF to build a truly dynamic space system.
To compete with China’s satellite program, the Space Force is making an effort to build a truly dynamic space system with highly maneuverable satellite constellations. “What we have right now in the Space Force is a lot of fat, juicy, still, deaf, dumb, blind targets in multiple orbital regimes,” he said. In order to be competitive with a satellite program like China’s, Dr. Hammett wants the to change the industry’s mindset towards satellite design and management.
“That’s the way satellites were built for decades,” admitted Dr. Hammett. “Very exquisite, very expensive, no maneuver capability, no ability to defend yourself, to duck, run, punch back. All that will change under dynamic space operations, because it’s now a war-fighting domain.”
“Anything that you can think of, literally, China has put in orbit,” said Dr. Hammett. “They’ve got lasers, they’ve got high-powered microwaves, they’ve got rail guns.” If the USSF doesn’t begin to field new satellite capabilities, China will quickly become a formidable competitor.
“You don’t want to be deaf, dumb, blind, and still,” he said. “That’s a good way to die quickly.”
For more on integrated space operations, working with the Space Force, and improving acquisition processes, listen to the full podcast episode.
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