DLENAHAN@USC-ISIE@sri-unix (09/01/82)
From: Den Lenahan <DLENAHAN at USC-ISIE> SPACE COMMAND: Another Step Toward the Final Frontier? I wasn't on the space net last June, so I don't know if anyone mentioned that on June 21, 1982, Air Force announced the formation of a special command responsible for military space activities. The new Space Command (SPACECOM) became an official command on September 1, 1982. SPACECOM subsumes the functions previously accomplished by Aerospace Defense Command (ADCOM) and the Aerospace Defense Center (ADC), as well as retaining North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) authority and responsibilities. SPACECOM also recovers some people (about 200) and functions passed to Strategic Air Command (SAC) in a reorganization three years ago. September 1, 1982, might be worth noting on your calendar. It may well represent as significant an event to space as was the emergence of a US Air Force on September 18, 1947 (via evolution from the US Signal Corps through the Army Air Forces) to the medium known as air. Consider the evolution of aircraft from '47 to '82, and try, if you can, to envision the spacecraft of 35 years hence! -------