Acting Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Space Operations Visits Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

By  //  May 24, 2021

Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, tours Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. During his visit, Roth toured several facilities at CCSFS and met with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Sjoberg)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The acting Secretary of the Air Force, John P. Roth, and the Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, visited Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, May 17, 2021.

During the visit, Roth and Raymond toured the Morrell Operations Center, the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center (ASOC), and the Spaceflight Operations Processing Center.

“U.S. Space Force Guardians and our space systems are absolutely vital for homeland defense, global operations with partners and allies, and many comforts that have become normal in the American way of life,” Roth said.

One of the goals of the visit for Roth and Raymond was to educate congressional leaders about the U.S. Space Force and its missions. Members of the House of Representatives participated in the tour including several members of the House Armed Services Committee.

Formerly known as the 45th Space Wing, Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45) operates the Eastern Range and aims to provide on demand launch support for commercial mission partners and Department of Defense missions. SLD 45 does this by providing launch partners with weather analysis, mission assurance, and operating range support radar and equipment.

Over the past year, this support has enabled numerous successful launches, including the third crewed space flight in less than a year.

“I’m grateful for the support of the Congressional members who joined us and their willingness to learn more about the Space Force and the Guardians who defend the ultimate high ground,” said Roth. “The Nation is making efforts to improve our space defense architecture and deter conflict in space from a position of strength.”

During a tour of United Launch Alliance’s ASOC, the dignitaries learned about the Atlas 5 rocket and the plan to launch the United States’ fifth Space Based Infrared Geosynchronous satellite on May 18. The satellite will enhance a constellation that provides 24/7 global strategic missile warning capabilities that contribute to national defense.

In January 2020, the SBIRS constellation detected 16 ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward two U.S. installations in Iraq.

Recalling the event, Raymond said, “The critical missile warning provided by Guardians allowed U.S. service members and coalition partners to seek shelter and mitigated the risk of casualties, and ultimately saved lives.”

Roth and Raymond concluded their visit by recognizing Airmen and Guardians for all they do to support the USSF.

“Assured access to space is a vital national interest; it underpins our security and economic prosperity,” Raymond said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the Space Launch Delta 45 team!”

Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, tours Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. During his visit, Roth toured several facilities at CCSFS and met with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Sjoberg)
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, and U.S. Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, exit their aircraft after landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. Roth and Raymond visited the installation to meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations and learn more about the partnerships between CCSFS and commercial companies. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman)
Nancy Trainer, left, Space Launch Delta 45 chief of protocol, Scott Cook, SLD 45 legislative liaison, and Col. Ed Marshall, SLD 45 vice commander of support, stand in formation as a plane with Assistant Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, and U.S. Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, aboard, arrives at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. Roth and Raymond visited the installation to meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations and learn more about the partnerships between CCSFS and commercial companies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman)
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, greets Scott Cook, Space Launch Delta 45 legislative liaison, as U.S. Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, greets U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Marshall, SLD 45 vice commander of support, after arriving at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. Roth and Raymond visited the installation to meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations and learn more about the partnerships between CCSFS and commercial companies. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman)
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, listens to a presentation in the Morrell Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. During his visit, Roth toured several facilities at CCSFS and met with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Sjoberg)
U.S. Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, left, Chief of Space Operations, speaks with Brig. Gen. Stephen Purdy, Space Launch Delta 45 commander, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. During his visit, Raymond toured several facilities at CCSFS and met with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Sjoberg)
U.S. Space Force Gen John W. “Jay” Raymond, Chief of Space Force Operations, listens to a presentation in the Morrell Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. Raymond became the Chief of Space Operations in December of 2019. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dakota Raub)
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth listens to a presentation inside the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. Roth visited the installation to meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations and learn more about the partnerships between CCSFS and commercial companies. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman)
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, speaks with Barry Eugene “Butch” Wilmore, NASA astronaut, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. During his visit, Roth toured several facilities at CCSFS and met with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Sjoberg)
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, tours United Launch Alliance’s Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. During his visit, Roth toured several facilities at CCSFS and met with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Sjoberg)
U.S. Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, right, Chief of Space Operations, speaks with NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, during a tour of the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. Raymond visited the installation to meet with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations and learn more about the partnerships between CCSFS and commercial companies. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman)
Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, speaks with U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Nicholas Francoeur, 1st Range Operations Squadron range operations commander, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. During his visit, Roth toured several facilities at CCSFS and met with Airmen and Guardians supporting space launch operations. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Thomas Sjoberg)
U.S. Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, speaks to the group about space operations in the Morrell Operations Center at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., May 17, 2021. During his visit, he also toured the Spaceflight Operations Processing Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dakota Raub)

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