About This Career

Space operations officers manage space flight planning, training, mission control, and other activities involved in launching and recovering spacecraft. They provide consultation and oversight of space systems functions related to operations, development and acquisition, and policy planning. They perform space operations activities including orbital analysis, surveillance, and space warning. They conduct satellite position predictions and perform spacelift operations, including flight control and launch-processing activities.

This career is part of the Government and Public Administration cluster National Security pathway.

A person in this career:

• Advises leaders and staff on the development and acquisition of space systems and effectiveness of space operations systems
• Consults with decision makers on combat readiness and the development of operational plans
• Operates and manages space operations systems related to orbital analysis and surveillance, spacelift booster, space warning, and satellite status and control
• Disseminates space situation data to all users
• Develops policies, procedures, and directives for current and future space systems
• Establishes organizational structure and determines performance standards for all systems
• Makes decisions on personnel requirements for mission accomplishment
• Coordinates with national and international space agencies on satellite launching and related space activities
• Performs space application training, and assesses effectiveness of space systems training and evaluation programs
• Plans and directs programs to ensure resource efficiency for successful operations and mission accomplishment

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Judging how far away an object is, or which of several objects is closer or farther away
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Seeing objects or movement to one's side when looking forward
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overnight travel