Shawn Bratton: USSF to Depend on Commercial Partners for Space Access

Space access, mobility and logistics comprise the areas wherein the U.S. Space Force would fully rely on commercial solutions, according to Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton, the U.S. Space Force’s deputy chief of space operations, strategy, plans, programs and requirements. 

Discussing at an Atlantic Council online event the eight priority mission areas of the recently released USSF’s Commercial Strategy, Bratton said space access and its two corollary activities constitute the sector “that is very immature for the Department of Defense” and wherein the USSF actively seeks commercial partners, Federal News Network reported Tuesday. 

According to Bratton, a speaker at a past Potomac Officers Club event, space domain awareness is another mission area in the strategy that the USSF is “more comfortable” with using commercial services, such as tracking and sharing data on space objects. 

The other mission areas acceptable for USSF commercial integration include satellite communications, command and control, cyber operations, space-based environmental monitoring and tactical surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking.

The USSF strategy’s release follows a DOD commercial space integration counterpart issued in early April focused on 13 mission areas and four goals, including ensuring security for commercial solutions.