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SMC expands test capabilities on Western Range
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Space and Missile System Center hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Aug. 27 here to celebrate the completion of the Western Range Software Maintenance Facility expansion project.
The Spacelift Range System Contract, Diani Construction, and Western Range Operations Communication and Information team members were able to complete this project two months ahead of schedule and under cost at a direct savings of more than $200,000 to the Western Range and the Air Force.
The main function of the Software Maintenance Facility is to reproduce an operational systems environment within a closed network to provide dedicated platforms that allow for the evolution and sustainment of Western Range systems. The previous Software Maintenance Facility location was housed in a 2,700 square-feet lab that contained a collection of 11 legacy and two Range Standardization and Automation IIA hardware and software systems. The new Software Maintenance Facility lab consists of 8,300 square feet that will house previous systems and adds more than 5,000 square feet in size and critical use capability. As a result, a new ROSA test bed, a new Command test bed, a larger common services workspace and a project build up area will now be included. In addition, future Software Maintenance Facility capabilities will allow for migration of the five remaining RSA IIA systems and additional legacy sustainment systems.
"This expanded facility will reduce test and development costs and reduce our need for valuable range time as we test in the SMF vice on the operational Range," said Dave Brown of the SMC/LRL.
The new facility will expand on previous site capabilities by providing critical support for dry-run testing, enhancing available simulated environments, developing a hardware preparation-checkout environment while supporting ongoing Western Range sustainment and creating an instrumental base for personnel training.
"It's outstanding to see the team efforts between all the key players on the Western Range, including Detachment 2, SLRSC and our WROCI contractors," said Dave Rentschler, the 30th Operations Group technical director. "Thanks to the efforts of many people, we have enhanced our Range simulated environment."