Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center and the 460th Space Wing have confirmed the Remote Sensing Systems Directorate's ongoing success of the Space-Based Infrared System's Block 10 Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT and E) Readiness comprehensive evaluation.

Beginning Jan. 5, the 460th Operations Group personnel conducted the evaluation from the Mission Control Station at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado. On Jan. 6, crews from the 460th Space Wing began sending live mission messages for the first time from the Block 10 floor.

Col. Michael Jackson, 460th Operations Group commander said, "As you might expect, crew morale is sky high! January 6 is truly a historic day for the OPIR mission, and I am humbled by what our Airmen have accomplished."

The comprehensive evaluation test will continue through Jan. 19.

This is the final Block 10 Increment 2 system test prior to the formal evaluation by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center. Block 10 consolidates operational Command and Control of Defense Support Program satellites, Space-based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting and Highly Elliptical Orbit sensors under one primary Mission Control Station. This consolidation is also known as Full Constellation.

This evaluation gives the operational crews an opportunity to 'test drive' the Block 10 consolidated ground system. The test is an approximately two-week "day in the life" event that serves as a dry run leading up to the IT and E.

It provides crews the chance to practice normal operations and get a feel for the Block 10 system before entering dedicated operational testing.