Space Systems Command (SSC), headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is responsible for developing, acquiring, equipping, fielding, and sustaining lethal and resilient space capabilities for warfighters. As part of fielding, the command will be responsible for launch operations, on-orbit checkout, developmental testing, sustainment and maintenance of military satellite constellations and other Department of Defense space systems.  SSC will also provide select administrative and integration support to the Space Rapid Capabilities Office at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, which is currently a direct reporting unit to the Chief of Space Operations. The Space Rapid Capabilities Office will receive their acquisition authorities from the Service Acquisition Executive. 

As of August 2021, the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has officially been redesignated as SSC, the re-alignment of the space launch mission and launch bases to SSC, and establishes SSC as the U.S. Space Force’s lead interface with the Air Force Research Laboratory. Since its inception in 1954, SMC has been the world’s premier center of technical excellence for developing, acquiring, fielding, and sustaining unparalleled military space systems.  Bringing together the aforementioned elements to create SSC and stand up the U.S. Space Force's Field Command for space acquisitions will synergize the Field Command, and poise it to continue successfully providing an unmatched and accelerated asymmetric advantage to our warfighters – ensuring the United States’ dominance in every domain.