Space Force Explores Integrated Operations Network Development to Enable Enhanced UDL, SpaceVerse

The U.S. Space Force is planning to develop a new integrated operations network to support efforts aimed at transforming into a fully digitized service. 

According to Space Force Chief Technology and Innovation Officer Lisa Costa, a previous Wash100 winner and a past Potomac Officers Club speaker, the network will serve as the foundation for an updated Unified Data Library and the SpaceVerse, a virtual environment where people can collaborate on system development and testing. 

ION is currently a pilot program but Costa said it will most likely become a program of record within the next few years, noting that the service is discussing an acquisition strategy for the network, Breaking Defense reported.

The network is expected to use commercial cloud-based technologies and have the capability to store sensitive information at different classification levels, enabling enhanced space domain awareness and accelerated work timelines.  

Both SpaceVerse and UDL will be plugged into ION.