EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Space Systems Command (SSC) recently opened the doors to its new Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Space Operations Center (MSOC) at the Boulder Ground Innovation Facility (BGIF) in Colorado. The new facility is enabling Guardians and mission partners to seamlessly monitor space-based sensors and make rapid, data-driven decisions that enhance missile warning and threat responses for the joint force.
The MSOC serves as the operational backbone of Space Systems Command’s Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking (MWT) enterprise. By enabling Guardians and mission partners to assess the health and status of space-based sensors and make rapid, data-driven decisions, the MSOC ensures that critical information flows seamlessly from space vehicles to ground systems and into the hands of decision-makers. This integration enhances decision advantage and accelerates threat response across every phase of missile flight.
“The MSOC is the heartbeat of Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking,” said USSF Col. Ray Imbo, materiel leader, SSC Resilient MWT ground system. “Today’s threats are designed to evade detection across multiple domains, and this system ensures we can track advanced threats, including hypersonic missiles, through all phases of flight. What I’m most looking forward to is the capability the MEO system brings to the architecture and seeing Guardians and mission partners come together to bring this vision to life and confront the threat head-on.”
Imbo explained MSOC operations are vital to closing capability gaps in the current missile warning enterprise. The center enables real-time tasking, antenna scheduling, and cross-domain data fusion, empowering operators to track emerging threats more efficiently. Leveraging the advantages of the MEO orbit, the Resilient MWT constellation provides a broader field of view than low Earth orbit satellites and higher data fidelity than geosynchronous systems. The MSOC functions as a 24/7 operational hub, where Guardians and contractors process and disseminate data collected from these satellites to ensure the U.S. and its allies stay ahead of evolving missile threats.
The BGIF leverages a proven infrastructure with a rich history in data processing, achieving greater cost-efficiency and improved readiness levels to support the stand up of the MSOC. It offers a unique combination of a centralized location, pre-existing data resources, a robust communications and power infrastructure, and proximity to key technical expertise. SSC’s Strategic Missile Warning, Ground, and Integration (SNG) Interim Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Tools, Applications, and Processing (TAP) Lab also sits in this facility.
“The BGIF supports resiliency by co-locating mission critical programs, personnel, and advanced tools under one roof, allowing us to rapidly prototype, test, and integrate solutions that can outpace evolving threats,” said Maj. Keri Clark, interim director, SNG OPIR TAP Lab and director of BGIF.
Clark explained that BGIF is more than a workspace. It is a hub for cutting edge research and operational development. The BGIF houses the OPIR TAP Lab, the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) program, the Resilient Missile Warning and Missile Track effort, and the Next Gen Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) program. Together, these teams fuse volumes of data to accelerate application development, enhance system survivability, and deliver next generation capabilities at mission speed.
Additionally, the OPIR TAP Lab serves as a government-owned innovation hub, providing access to critical sensor data and fostering collaboration and innovation between industry, academia, and government stakeholders.
The BGIF offers many opportunities for small businesses and non-traditional partners through the use of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) phased contracting model under the SpaceWERX office. This collaboration enables small businesses to explore their technological potential, foster innovation, and provide the incentive for partnerships with the Space Force and SSC.
Clark summarized it well, “This isn’t just a building - it’s a mission enabler. This facility represents the future of the missile warning architecture.”
View the MSOC video to learn more.