Artist’s rendering of WGS-11+

News

Acquiring Minds Episode 19 - JAM

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
  • Space Systems Command
EL SEGUNDO, Calf. --  Welcome to Acquiring Minds, where we break down how space acquisition empowers today’s warfighter.

In the modern era, our strength in space is defined by numbers. Today, vast constellations of military and commercial satellites provide unprecedented coverage and capability. But this creates a new challenge: how do you communicate with thousands of satellites using a limited number of ground antennas?

The Joint Antenna Marketplace, or JAM, developed by Space Systems Command, is foundational to the future of Space Force satellite control, accelerating delivery of antenna services to Space Force operators and mission partners.

JAM is a secure, cloud-based marketplace that connects satellite operations centers to a global network of commercial and government antennas, creating a flexible and resilient on-demand service for satellite communications.

The Joint Antenna Marketplace is a key part of the Space Force’s hybrid architecture strategy, developed through a modern software acquisition pathway that delivered the first operational prototype within three months of contract award. By aggregating and dynamically scheduling available antennas from industry partners, JAM expands capacity, alleviates congestion, and reduces scheduling conflicts.

By using JAM to connect with commercial antennas, the Space Force expands its ability to control a growing satellite fleet. This approach provides scalable and resilient access to antenna services, establishing a foundation that can evolve over time to meet increasing demand and incorporate advances in commercial antenna technology.

As the space domain becomes more congested and contested, the Joint Antenna Marketplace will be there, ensuring that when it matters most, our warfighters have the clear and open lines of communication they need to protect our nation’s interests in, from and to space.

 

 

United States Space Force

Official United States Space Force Website