Space Force Activates New Capabilities Oversight Component

The U.S. Space Force activated the U.S. Space Forces-Space on Thursday, over a month after the organization was established.

S4S is tasked with planning, integrating, conducting and assessing global space operations to ensure that the United States and its partners and allies have combat-relevant space effects. Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations at the Space Force and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, said the organization will give the service capabilities necessary to deter conflict and support national interests and national security missions.

S4S was formerly known as the Space Operations Command-West, the Space Force said.

The announcement follows the activation of a new service component designed to help develop and expand space capabilities. In December, the Space Force, the U.S. European Command and the U.S. Africa Command launched the U.S. Space Forces Europe and Africa, which is responsible for satellite navigation, communications, NATO integration and other space-based capabilities.

USSPACEFOR-EURAF, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is also tasked with building space domain relationships and foster regional stability across the combatant commands’ areas of responsibility.