U. S. Strategic Command officially certified the second Space Based Infrared System Highly Elliptical Orbit payload for operational use Aug. 7. The payload is operated by personnel at the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. The certification occurred approximately eight months after the first Highly Elliptical Orbit payload was certified in December 2008.
This certification allows an 11th SWS space operator to send a missile launch report via the Mission Control Station at Buckley Air Force Base to theater combatant commanders through the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment System and Theater Event System. These networks are the backbone for global missile warning and missile defense.
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