The future home of the United States Space Command remains uncertain – as there is growing speculation that the HQ could still move to Huntsville, AL. However, the Department of the Air Force announced this month that it had selected Schriever Space Force Base (SFB), CO, to be the preferred and final location to host Space Delta 15 – one of the two command and control deltas under U.S. Space Forces-Space (S4S).
DEL 15 is responsible for the U.S. Space Force’s command and control organization and is the servicing delta for the National Space Defense Center at Schriever SFB. Space Delta 5, the other servicing delta, oversees the Combined Space Operations Center located at Vandenberg SFB, California.
Gov. Jared Polis, both Colorado senators, U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs), and other Colorado lawmakers were quick to praise the decision to see DEL 15 based in the Centennial State.
“Colorado is the epicenter of our national security operations in space. We’re proud of the thriving space ecosystem that makes this leadership possible, including the fully operational Space Command,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper, in a statement. “Locating Space Force Delta 15 — which leads command and control for U.S. Space Command — in Colorado Springs makes all the sense in the world.”
Though Lamborn is retiring at the end of this session, he serves on the House Armed Service Committee and was pleased to see DEL 15 in his district.
“Colorado will continue to play a vital role in securing our nation’s space operations and national security,” Lamborn said via a statement. “Having Schriever Space Force Base as the preferred location will enable Delta 15 to directly integrate and support the National Space Defense Center (NSDC). A strong NSDC is critical because space situational awareness is more important now than ever.”
The S4S Mission
S4S, which was activated on December 6, 2023, was formed by combining the Combined Forces Space Component Command and the Joint Task Force—Space Defense.
It currently integrates, conducts, and assesses global space operations in order to deliver relevant space effects in, from, and to space. That includes combatant commanders, coalition partners, the joint forces, and the nation.
The Mission of DEL15
The DAF explained that the decision to base DEL 15 at Schriever came as the delta reached initial operational capability (IOC), while the department anticipates final operational capability by summer 2027. It was also made after Schriever SFB conducted a site survey assessing its ability to facilitate the mission and infrastructure capacity while accounting for community support, environmental factors, and cost.
Delta 15 will consist of “250 manpower authorizations,” meaning that number of Space Force Guardians. That is a marked increase from the approximately 30 to 40 personnel it had when it was formed a year ago.
The DEL 15 mission will include protecting and defending the space of operations. It will house the command and control, intelligence and reconnaissance, and cyber squadrons. According to the DAF, its responsibilities will include:
- Present a core service command and control capability with mission-ready crew forces, skills training, and certification.
- Provide survivable responsive and enduring command and control information systems.
- Synchronize and integrate the planning and operation of ISR sensors, assets, processing, exploitation, and dissemination systems in direct support of current and future operations.
- Provide cyber protection, defense, and special mission IT support.
- Develop training environments, testing, and simulation to prepare USSF forces and designated joint and allied partners, to prevail in various space operations.
“Delta 15 must continue its mission at Schriever Space Force Base to preserve our military readiness and protect our superiority in space from Russia and China’s growing hostility,” said Senator Michael Bennet.
