COLORADO SPRINGS — U.S. Space Command and the Australian Defence Space Command on April 20 signed an enhanced space cooperation memorandum of understanding.
The MOU was signed at the Space Symposium by Gen. James Dickinson, head of U.S. Space Command; and Royal Australian Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts, commander of the Australian Defence Space Command.
The non-legally binding agreement “deepens military cooperation in the space domain,” the commands said in a statement. “Through these cooperative efforts, the U.S. and Australia will continue to improve coordination and interoperability to maintain freedom of action in space, optimize resources, and enhance mission assurance and resilience.”
Italian officer assigned to U.S. Space Command
U.S. Space Command also announced a new agreement with the Italian Defence General Staff that assigns an Italian liaison officer to U.S. Space Command, based in Colorado Springs.
Dickinson and Italian Air Force Brig. Gen. Davide Cipelletti, chief of the space policy office of the Italian Defence General Staff, also signed the agreement at the Space Symposium.
“In order to strengthen the U.S.-Italian military partnership in the space domain, the liaison officer will provide Italian armed forces expertise and insights to U.S. Space Command, facilitate communications among Italian and U.S. space units, support U.S.- Italy space-related partnership opportunities, and perform tasks that are mutually beneficial for the U.S.-Italian defense cooperation,” Space Command said.
“The Italian liaison officer will serve as the national representative for all aspects of U.S.-Italy cooperation with regard to the military use of space, and share insight and recommendations to improve bilateral and multilateral relationships.”
Agreement with Peru
U.S. Space Command also inked a new agreement with the Peruvian National Commission on Aerospace Research and Development (CONIDA), and the Peruvian Air Force.
This was a space situational awareness data sharing agreement signed by Dickinson and Lt. Gen. Carlos Enrique Chávez Cateriano, Peruvian Air Force chief of staff, and Peruvian Air Force Maj. Gen. José Antonio García Morgan, CONIDA director.
This agreement, too, was signed at the Space Symposium.
The U.S.-led data sharing program “enhances the safety, stability, security, and sustainability of spaceflight for all,” said U.S. Space Command.
The command has established 170 space situational awareness sharing agreements with partners from the commercial sector, academia, and foreign and intergovernmental agencies that share views about responsible behaviors in space.
