A special ceremony held at Space Command Headquarters, RAF High Wycombe today marked the official opening of UK Space Command, with the first ‘Space Operator’ Badges presented to personnel.
UK Strategic Command General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen is seen here wearing a virtual reality head set at the newly established UK Space Command at RAF High Wycombe today (Thursday 29 Jul 2021).
A special ceremony held at Space Command Headquarters, RAF High Wycombe marked the official opening of UK Space Command, with the first Space Operator Badges presented to personnel.
The stand-up of Space Command is a crucial step to ensure we protect UK interests in space and builds on the commitments outlined in the Defence Command Paper, invest an additional £1.4 billion on space over the next 10 years. The ability to operate in Space is further enhanced by an increase in Defence funding of £24 billion over the next four years, as announced by the Prime Minister last year.
When at full operating capability, UK Space Command will provide command and control of all of Defences space capabilities, including the UKs Space Operations Centre, RAF Fylingdales, SKYNET and other enabling capabilities.
After the newly refurbished headquarters were officially opened, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, presented the first eight personnel with the new Space Operator badges, which signify the excellence of space professionals across defence. Six members of the Royal Air Force received the badge, as well as a British Army officer, and an exchange officer from the United States.
Space plays a vital role in the Armed Forces ability to undertake the majority of defence tasks, with any disruption to the space domain leading to significant consequences on civilian, commercial, economic and military activity.
The stand-up of Space Command is a crucial step to ensure we protect UK interests in space and builds on the commitments outlined in the Defence Command Paper, invest an additional £1.4 billion on space over the next 10 years. The ability to operate in Space is further enhanced by an increase in Defence funding of £24 billion over the next four years, as announced by the Prime Minister last year.
As our adversaries advance their space capabilities, it is vital we invest in space to ensure we maintain a battle-winning advantage across this fast-evolving operational domain.
Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin
Jeremy Quin MP is seen here wearing a virtual reality head set at the newly established UK Space Command at RAF High Wycombe today (Thursday 29 Jul 2021).
A special ceremony held at Space Command Headquarters, RAF High Wycombe marked the official opening of UK Space Command, with the first Space Operator Badges presented to personnel.
The stand-up of Space Command is a crucial step to ensure we protect UK interests in space and builds on the commitments outlined in the Defence Command Paper, invest an additional £1.4 billion on space over the next 10 years. The ability to operate in Space is further enhanced by an increase in Defence funding of £24 billion over the next four years, as announced by the Prime Minister last year.
When at full operating capability, UK Space Command will provide command and control of all of Defences space capabilities, including the UKs Space Operations Centre, RAF Fylingdales, SKYNET and other enabling capabilities.
After the newly refurbished headquarters were officially opened, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, presented the first eight personnel with the new Space Operator badges, which signify the excellence of space professionals across defence. Six members of the Royal Air Force received the badge, as well as a British Army officer, and an exchange officer from the United States.
The stand-up of Space Command is an exciting and important step in our commitment to operate in space effectively.”
Under the leadership of Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey, the Joint Command will have oversight of all space capability development in the Ministry of Defence across three main areas:
Space operations
Space workforce training and growth
Space capability to develop and deliver space equipment programmes
When at full operating capability, UK Space Command will provide command and control of all of Defence’s space capabilities, including the UK’s Space Operations Centre, RAF Fylingdales, SKYNET and other enabling capabilities.
After the newly refurbished headquarters were officially opened, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, presented the first eight personnel with the new ‘Space Operator’ badges, which signify the excellence of space professionals across defence. Six members of the Royal Air Force received the badge, as well as a British Army officer, and an exchange officer from the United States.
The design is based upon the Airborne Specialist badge and features a single silver angled wing and a blue laurel surrounding a delta, an orbit ellipse and a constellation of stars representative of Aries, as UK Space Command was formed on 1 April which equates to Aries in the celestial calendar.
The space domain is vital, not just in enabling military operations across the world, but in the day to day lives of everyone across the nation
Commander of UK Space Command Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey
Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander UK Space Command, addresses attendees at the special stand up ceremony of UK Space Command, held at Air Command, RAF High Wycombe today (Thursday 29 Jul 2021).
A special ceremony held at Space Command Headquarters, RAF High Wycombe marked the official opening of UK Space Command, with the first Space Operator Badges presented to personnel.
The stand-up of Space Command is a crucial step to ensure we protect UK interests in space and builds on the commitments outlined in the Defence Command Paper, invest an additional £1.4 billion on space over the next 10 years. The ability to operate in Space is further enhanced by an increase in Defence funding of £24 billion over the next four years, as announced by the Prime Minister last year.
When at full operating capability, UK Space Command will provide command and control of all of Defences space capabilities, including the UKs Space Operations Centre, RAF Fylingdales, SKYNET and other enabling capabilities.
After the newly refurbished headquarters were officially opened, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, presented the first eight personnel with the new Space Operator badges, which signify the excellence of space professionals across defence. Six members of the Royal Air Force received the badge, as well as a British Army officer, and an exchange officer from the United States.
With our new headquarters officially open, UK Space Command is now on the path to lead UK space operations to protect UK and allied interests in space.”
UK Space Command will work with UK Strategic Command and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory drawing on key expertise from across Defence to ensure multi domain integration across environments.
UK Space Command carries the UK’s commitment in the Combined Space Operations initiative, which comprises of seven nations: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, UK and the US. The initiative seeks to improve cooperation, coordination, and interoperability opportunities in space, with main efforts focussed on ensuring a safe, secure and stable space domain.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston KCB CBE ADC, addresses attendees at the special stand up ceremony of UK Space Command, held at Air Command, RAF High Wycombe today (Thursday 29 Jul 2021).
A special ceremony held at Space Command Headquarters, RAF High Wycombe marked the official opening of UK Space Command, with the first Space Operator Badges presented to personnel.
The stand-up of Space Command is a crucial step to ensure we protect UK interests in space and builds on the commitments outlined in the Defence Command Paper, invest an additional £1.4 billion on space over the next 10 years. The ability to operate in Space is further enhanced by an increase in Defence funding of £24 billion over the next four years, as announced by the Prime Minister last year.
When at full operating capability, UK Space Command will provide command and control of all of Defences space capabilities, including the UKs Space Operations Centre, RAF Fylingdales, SKYNET and other enabling capabilities.
After the newly refurbished headquarters were officially opened, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, presented the first eight personnel with the new Space Operator badges, which signify the excellence of space professionals across defence. Six members of the Royal Air Force received the badge, as well as a British Army officer, and an exchange officer from the United States.
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