Serco to support USSF Satellite Control Network in UK

Image courtesy Serco

Serco has a long history at TCS, having provided operational support since the late 1970s and we have been providing the operations, maintenance and site services at TCS Oakhanger since 2003, when it was originally part of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Skynet programme.  

The Oakhanger site is owned by the MoD and is the busiest ground station in the USSF Satellite Control Network supporting over 30,000 successful contacts annually, whilst continuously performing above an operational performance success standard of 99%.

Currently, Serco has c.70 personnel at the site in various roles across operations, maintenance, security, site support services and programme management to deliver the mission.

Commenting on the award, Doug Umbers, Managing Director of Serco’s Defence business, said: “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to continue to make an impact by delivering the mission with our customer CACI and prime contractor, Five Rivers Analytics, on behalf of the US Space Force. This award demonstrates the strong relationship we have with our customer and prime contractor Five Rivers Analytics, as well as the expertise in delivering this capability to the end user, the US Space Force.

“Serco has proven expertise and capabilities in engineering and asset management and this contract award will further strengthen our strategic position within the UK space industry, complementing our European and US capabilities in the civil and defence space markets. We look forward to growing and providing further services and access to the UK military and civil space markets.”

The Satellite Control Network is operated by the US Space Force’s Space Operation Command where the 23rd Space Operations Squadron (23SOPS) provides seamless access to space through the operation, control and maintenance of a variety of United States Department of Defense and some non-DoD satellites and space vehicles. This involves the operating, maintaining and continual execution of Telemetry, Tracking and Commanding operations of the ground stations within the network. In addition, 23SOPS provides prelaunch checkout and simulation, launch support and early orbit support while satellites are in initial or transfer orbits and require manoeuvring to their final orbit. The Space Command also provides tracking data to help maintain the catalogue of space objects and distributes various data such as satellite ephemeris, almanacs and other information.

This contract enhances Serco’s growing capabilities in the Space sector. Its work in the US includes a recent contract to manage the facility repairs and upgrades of the back-up electrical plant at the Pituffik Space Base (PSB), in Greenland. Serco have strong operations in Europe supporting space agencies including the European Space Agency (ESA) and EUMETSAT. With over 60 years of global experience and involvement in more than 50 successful customers’ space missions, Serco delivers critical expertise across the entire space control chain, with services ranging from ground segment infrastructure operations and spacecraft control to Earth observation, data analysis, engineering services and programme delivery and support.