UK Space Command announced the successful establishment of ‘JCO-UK’, an initiative aiming to enhance global understanding and utilisation of data in support of Space Domain Awareness (SDA).
The newly minted ‘JCO-UK’ cell is integrated within the JCO-Global initiative, a United States-led program known as the ‘Joint Task Force-Space Defense Commercial Operations Cell’.
The JCO Programme serves to provide unclassified indications of orbital activity, gathered through public research, commercial SDA sensors, and analytical tools.
From 26 June 2023, the JCO-UK cell will follow a ‘follow-the-sun’ model to offer around-the-clock global SDA coverage. Each cell around the world will operate during normal business hours, enhancing the constant vigilance on the space domain.
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating: “I’m delighted that we can announce the stand-up of the National JCO-UK cell from 26 June. This capability marks a step change in our joint space operations capacity and further solidifies the UK/US, and wider coalition, bonds in the space domain.”
The JCO was originally established in 2020 to supplement the United States National Space Defence Center’s protect-and-defend mission. It represents a collaborative effort of government, military and commercial teams, tasked with monitoring launches and objects in space to provide diverse and timely SDA.
The establishment of the JCO-UK cell is seen as a milestone in the development of Space Domain Awareness capabilities in the United Kingdom. It not only strengthens the integration between government and commercial sectors but also enhances collaboration between allied Space Operations Centres.
“As JCO-UK crew, we are very excited to begin daily operations. Our focus will be to produce timely, high-quality Notices to Space Operators (NOTSO) during our operating hours, a key step in our collective ambition to deliver 24-hour ‘follow-the-sun’ operations.” says Flight Lieutenant Nick Hallchurch, JCO-UK team lead.
Plans for the expansion of JCO to other allied nations are in place, with anticipation for the JCO’s move to 24/5 global operations in fiscal year 2024.
UK JCO cell doing what has been done for years elsewhere.
UKSPACOM needs to get its own assets and a UK launch capability. Satellite constellations beyond Skynet, which is planned in the Minerva program, cannot come soon enough.