RAF – UK Space Command establishes JCO-UK cell to raise awareness of global space mastery

The UK Space Command has successfully established the ‘JCO-UK’ cell as part of the JCO-Global initiative. This initiative improves global understanding and use of data to support space awareness (SDA).

The US-led JCO program, or Joint Cell Task Force for Commercial Space Defense Operations, provides unclassified indicators of orbital activity derived from public research, commercial SDA sensors, and analytical instruments.

JCO-Global’s construction is further enhanced by JCO-UK’s cell placement. From Monday 26 June 2023, the JCO-UK Cell will assist with the JCO ‘follow the sun’ model, which aims to provide global SDA coverage, with each cell operating worldwide during normal business hours.

“I am delighted that we are able to announce the JCO-UK National Cell Display from 26 June. This capability marks a step change in our ability for joint space operations and solidifies the UK-US alliance relationship more broadly in space.
Having partnered with the United States in space awareness since 1963, when the RAF Fylingdales radar was first announced to be operational, we continue to build on this enduring partnership by creating the first national JCO cell outside the United States and look forward to coordinating a regional JCO cell with other like-minded nations.

Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey
Commander of the British Aerospace Command

“The JCO-UK position represents a step forward in building our sun-following model of 24/7 operations. Each ally and partner brings the people, resources or capabilities that make JCO stronger, and leverages ever-growing commercial capabilities to ensure codes of conduct in space.” .

Brigadier General Dennis Blywood
Commander, Joint Task Force – Aerospace Defense at Shriver Space Force Base, Colorado

SDA is a key enabler for all other space capabilities and is central to our ability to protect UK and Allied interests in space. It also appears as one of the top priorities for developing space capabilities in the UK.

The JCO was created in 2020 to advance the protection and defense mission of the United States National Space Defense Center. It is a collaborative mix of government, military and commercial teams, with the mission of monitoring launches and objects in space, to provide timely and diversified SDA.

“As the JCO-UK team, we are very excited to begin day-to-day operations. It has been an honor to work with partner nations and learn from our colleagues at JCO-Americas. Our focus will be on timely issuance of high quality notifications to space operators (NOTSO) during our business hours, which are An essential step in our collective ambition to offer 24-hour Sun Follow operations.”

Flight Lieutenant Nick Hallchurch
JCO-UK Team Leader

“This initial expansion of SDA commercial support to the JTF-SD mission group is another milestone in the USSF’s strategy of ‘Get what you have, buy what you can, and build only what you need. JCO-UK leads the charge on global commercial operations, and together lessons learned will help us deploy capabilities new faster for our common tasks.

Mrs. Barbara Golf
Strategic Advisor for Space Awareness, US Space Force Space Systems Command

Last year, the UK successfully led the first Sprint Advanced Concept Training, a three-year live virtual experience and exercise series that provides opportunities for providers of spatial data and analytics capabilities to explore the integration of their products in a real-world space operations environment.

At its core, the JCO promotes integration between government and commercial sectors, fosters collaboration between allied space operations centers, and integrates publicly available information into operations. The JCO envisions moving to 24/5 global operations with partner countries, including the UK, in the 2024 financial year.