The document provides an overview of the United States Space Force, detailing its role as the world's only independent space military operation responsible for space warfare and operations. It highlights the structure of the Space Force, including various commands and squadrons, as well as its participation in global military efforts. It also discusses the establishment of strategic and intelligence units within the Space Force, emphasizing their mission and capabilities.

1. UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE
SHASHANK KUMAR
“SEMPRA SUPRA”
shashank.kumar [at] duke.edu
& INTELLIGENCE
Graduate Class of 2023
PUBPOL 507

2. SPACE FORCE?
• conducts military operations in space and space warfare.
• RUSSIA was formed as the world’s first independent space force. (est. in 1992)
• Later was merged with the strategic rocket force so does not “Technically” qualify as a space force.
• As of now only the US and CHINA have an independent space force.
• However, CHINA’s space force is also its cyber force.
• So we can come to a conclusion that US is the only country with a significantly developed space force.
• The first military rocket launched was MW 18014, an A-4 rocket launched by the German Heer on 20 June 1944
from the Peenemünde Army Research Center.
Fig. V2/A4 Rocket

3. Fig. 1 US Space Forces Delta
US SPACE FORCE
• World’s only independent space force.
• One of the 3 civilian led military departments in the DoD.
• Smallest unit of the armed forces of the US. Only 8,400 personnel.
• Operates 70+ spacecraft (satellites, GPS, Space Fence, X-37B Space Plane, etc.)
• It was formed under the “Goldwater-Nichols Act” for the US Space Command.
• Was established in September, 1982.
• That civilian is the secretary of the Air Force which is a civilian political appointee.

5. Fig. 2 General Bernard Schriever, Father
of the United States Space Force
Fig. 1 Headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia
Fig. 3 Participated in the Global war on Terror including the
war again Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Fig. 4 A Joint operation of Afghan and US troops.

6. Space Operations
Command
Space Operations
Command West
Commands
Deltas (Units/Regiments)
Space Mission Deltas X 9 Space Operations
Command X 2

7. Intelligence Units/Deltas
Intelligence,
surveillance, and
reconnaissance
Space Delta 4 Space Delta 7 Space Delta 18
National Space
Intelligence Center
Missile warning

8. Space Delta 4
- Strategic and theater missile warning
- Headquartered in Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.
- Established on 24 July 2020.
- Responsible for providing strategic and theater missile warnings to the United States and its
international partners.
- It operates three constellations of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) satellites and two
types of Ground-Based Radars (GBRs) to conduct strategic and theater missile warning
- Additionally provides tipping and cueing to missile defense forces.
- There are nine squadrons in Space Delta 4.

9. Space Delta 7
• It is the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) division.
• It is headquartered at Space Force Base Peterson, Colorado.
• Established on July 24, 2020.
• Provides actionable, time-sensitive intelligence for space operations, including
detection, characterization, and coordination of adversary space capabilities.
• For that, it uses fixed and mobile sensors around the world.
Symbols:
1. Blue and Black -> Intelligence in all domains, surveillance, reconnaissance
and orbital, airborne and ground aspects of its mission indicate.
2. Seven Stars of Ursa Major -> Core of Cosmic Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Delta.
3. Attack Bear -> Relentless tenacity to detect and deter the actions of America's most
significant competitor in space.
4. Keys -> Unlock enemy secrets and provide combatants with actionable information.

10. Space Delta 7 is composed of the three squadrons.
71st Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance Squadron
73rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance Squadron
72nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and
Reconnaissance Squadron
71 & 72 Squadron -> ISR to support the space mission deltas. operations to support the
research,
73 Squadron -> Development and acquisition of future space capabilities

11. Space Delta 18
- It is the National Space Intelligence Centre
- Headquartered in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
- Established in 24 June 2022.
- Responsible for performing national and military space missions and evaluating capabilities,
performance, limitations, and vulnerabilities of space and counter-space systems and
services.
- Symbols:
1. Platinum -> Strength of its United Guardians and Citizens Guardian
2. Sphinx -> Ancient symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and challenges that Delta solves.
3. Eight points of the North Star -> points of the compass, showing how intelligence
professionals analyze and access acquisitions, policymakers, and combatants.
There are two squadrons in Space Delta 18.
1st and 2nd Space Analysis Squadron

12. THANK YOU!

13. References
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Stripes.com.
2."2021 USAF & USSF Almanac: Personnel". Air Force Magazine. 30 June 2021.
3."U.S. Space Force brochure" (PDF). www.airforcemag.com.
4.https://quicksearch.dla.mil/Transient/7FB7BDED740E45D1A85B251BE8A3F33D.pdf
5."U.S. Space Force Fact Sheet." Spaceforce.mil. United States Space Force. 20 December 2019.
6. "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020" (PDF). United States House of Representatives.
7. Wright, Ashley M. (10 August 2020). "Space Force releases 1st doctrine, defines "spacepower" as a distinct
form of military power." United States Space Force.
8."Aerospace Power Journal: Spring 2000" (PDF). Aerospace Power Journal. 14 (1). 2000 – via Air University.
9. Erwin, Sandra (1 March 2018). "Chairman Rogers: space corps needed more than ever, Air Force 'in
denial.'" SpaceNews.
10."Comprehensive plan for the Organizational structure of the U.S. Space Force" (PDF).
velosteam.com. Department of the Air Force. February 2020.