Space Foundation Events to Commemorate 30th Anniversary of Air Force Space Command

Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 3, 2012) – The Space Foundation plans to conduct two special events to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the United States’ Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) – one in Colorado Springs, Colo., which is the headquarters city of both AFSPC and the Space Foundation, and one in Washington, D.C.

The first commemorative event, The Space Foundation Presents a 30th Anniversary Salute to Air Force Space Command, will take place on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, at The Broadmoor Hotel. The event will celebrate the history and contributions of the command and its 30-year heritage in the Pikes Peak community.

The second event, The Space Foundation Presents a Washington, D.C., Salute to the 30th Anniversary of Air Force Space Command, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at the Army-Navy Club in Washington, D.C. The celebratory dinner will reunite historic leaders who created and then led AFSPC with senior military, government and industry leaders.

AFSPC’s official anniversary is Sept. 1.

“Few events have transformed U.S. National Security as fundamentally as the formation of Air Force Space Command,” said Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham. “The organization is a treasure for our Pikes Peak community and a powerful instrument of our national will. We at the Space Foundation are honored to host these events in honor of all the men and women who have served and fought for Air Force Space Command.”

Details on the program for both events, as well as how to participate, will be released at a later date.

About Air Force Space Command
The Air Force established AFSPC in 1982, with space operations as its primary mission. During the Cold War, space operations focused on missile warning, launch operations, satellite control, space surveillance and command and control for national leadership. In 1991, Operation Desert Storm validated the command’s continuing focus on support to the warfighter. The Space Warfare Center, now named the Space Innovation and Development Center, was created to ensure space capabilities reached the warfighters who needed it. ICBM forces joined AFSPC in July 1993. In 2001, upon the recommendation of the Space Commission, the Space and Missile Systems Center joined the command. It previously belonged to Air Force Materiel Command. AFSPC is currently the only Air Force command to have its acquisition arm within the command. In 2002, also on a recommendation from the Space Commission, AFSPC was assigned its own four-star commander after previously sharing a commander with U.S. Space Command and NORAD. In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the president directed military action against Afghanistan and Iraq. AFSPC provided extensive space-based support to the U.S. Central Command commander in communications; positioning, navigation and timing; meteorology; and warning. In 2005, the Air Force expanded its mission areas to include cyberspace. In concert with this, the Air Staff assigned responsibility for conducting cyberspace operations to AFSPC through Twenty-fourth Air Force, which was activated in August 2009. In order to reinvigorate the Air Force’s nuclear mission, Headquarters U.S. Air Force activated Air Force Global Strike Command to consolidate all nuclear forces under one command. Along with this, AFSPC transferred its ICBM forces to the new command in December 2009.

About the Space Foundation
The foremost advocate for all sectors of the space industry and an expert in all aspects of space, the Space Foundation is a global, nonprofit leader in space awareness activities, educational programs that bring space into the classroom and major industry events, including the National Space Symposium, all in support of its mission “to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity.” The Space Foundation publishes The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity and provides three indexes that track daily performance of the space industry. Through its Space Certification and Space Technology Hall of Fame® programs, the Space Foundation recognizes space-based technologies and innovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation conducts research and analysis and government affairs activities from its Washington, D.C., office and has a field office in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and read about the latest space news and Space Foundation activities in Space Watch.

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