Launch Enterprise Directorate
Launch Enterprise Directorate emblem
Active2015-Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Space Force
Part ofSpace and Missile Systems Center

The United States Space Force's Launch Enterprise Directorate (LE) is a unit located at Los Angeles Air Force Base[1] in El Segundo, California.

Mission

The LE's mission is "to acquire, operate and sustain affordable expendable launch and range capability providing 100 percent mission success."[2]

LE ensures Assured Access to Space for the Department of Defense through the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program.

History

The Delta II rocket was developed when the Air Force decided to return to a mixed fleet of expendable launch vehicles following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and other launch failures. The Delta II entered the Air Force inventory in February 1987 after the Air Force awarded a contract to McDonnell Douglas for the construction of 18 Delta IIs to launch NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, which were originally programmed for Space Shuttle launch. The first Delta II launched a GPS satellite Feb. 14, 1989.

The EELV program is designed to improve our nation's access to space by making space launch vehicles more affordable and reliable. The program is replacing the existing launch system (Delta II) with two families of launch vehicles (Delta IV & Atlas V), each using common components and common infrastructure. EELV's operability improvements over current systems include a standard payload interface and increased off-pad processing. As the Air Force's space-lift modernization program, EELV was designed to reduce launch cost by at least 25 percent over heritage Atlas, Delta and Titan space launch systems.

LTRS consists of ground-based surveillance, navigation, flight operations and analysis, command and control, communications and weather assets located at the Eastern Range (Patrick AFB, FL.), and the Western Range (Vandenberg AFB, CA.). There are two major efforts underway for the LTRS program: modernization and sustainment. Modernization efforts seek to revamp and recapitalize current systems in the Instrumentation, Control and Display and Network segments. The current modernization efforts will replace approximately 20% of the system. Depot support projects enhance the existing systems on the ranges to reduce the operations and sustainment costs.

Organization

LE, located at the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base, CA, is home to than 540 government, military, aerospace, and contractor personnel.

LE was briefly designated as the Launch and Range Systems Wing; however the unit was later re-designated as a directorate.

List of directors

No. Director Term
Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1
Claire Leon
Claire Leon[5][6]October 14, 2015December 15, 20172 years, 62 days
2
Robert Bongiovi
Colonel
Robert Bongiovi[8]		December 15, 2017August 13, 20213 years, 241 days

References

  1. ↑ "LAUNCH ENTERPRISE DIRECTORATE Factsheet". Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  2. ↑ "LAUNCH ENTERPRISE DIRECTORATE Factsheet". Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-10-25.
  3. "SMC Stands up New Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate".
  4. "Dr. Claire Leon".
  5. ↑ "SMC Stands up New Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate".
  6. ↑ "Dr. Claire Leon".
  7. "Los Angeles Air Force Base > Home".
  8. ↑ "Los Angeles Air Force Base > Home".
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