About this Unit
U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) was originally established on September 23, 1985, to coordinate the use of space assets by the U.S. military. Following the end of the Cold War, it was inactivated in 2002 and its responsibilities were transferred to U.S. Strategic Command. Due to the increasing importance of space in national security, USSPACECOM was reestablished as a unified combatant command on August 29, 2019. Today, it is responsible for military operations in outer space, ensuring the freedom of operation for U.S. and allied space assets and deterring aggression from adversaries in the space domain.
Historical Facts
• Origins in the Cold War: The original U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) was established in 1985 to coordinate the use of outer space by the United States Armed Forces, largely due to Cold War competition with the Soviet Union.
• Deactivation and Reactivation: USSPACECOM was deactivated in 2002 and its functions were merged into U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). It was reestablished as a unified combatant command on August 29, 2019, highlighting the growing importance of space in national security.
• Distinct from Space Force: U.S. Space Command is not the same as the U.S. Space Force. Space Command is a combatant command overseeing military space operations, while the Space Force is a military service branch responsible for organizing, training, and equipping space forces.
• First Commander: The first commander of the reactivated U.S. Space Command was General John W. "Jay" Raymond, who also served as the first Chief of Space Operations for the Space Force.
• Global Area of Responsibility: Unlike most combatant commands, USSPACECOM has a global area of responsibility, overseeing U.S. military operations in, through, and from space.
• Space Warfighting Doctrine: The command has developed its own space warfighting doctrine, emphasizing the need to protect U.S. and allied interests in space against potential adversaries such as China and Russia.
• Space Domain Awareness: USSPACECOM tracks more than 27,000 objects in orbit, including satellites and debris, to ensure space domain awareness and collision avoidance.
• Operation Olympic Defender: The command leads this multinational effort to strengthen allies’ and partners’ ability to deter hostile acts in space and defend their space assets.
• Transition Headquarters: The command was initially headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, but political debate continues over a potential move to Huntsville, Alabama.
• Historic “Space Flag” Exercises: USSPACECOM conducts “Space Flag” exercises, similar to the Air Force’s “Red Flag,” to train space operators in realistic conflict scenarios involving space assets and threats.
