The US Space Force is investing in a simulation program for training

| January 18, 2024

The US Space Force has turned to Microsoft Corporation to design a simulation program. This simulation program will allow Guardians to conduct realistic training that would help prepare them for real world operations in a space environment. Due to military classifications, not many details are known about what this program will entail. The simulation program will also be adjustable and allow users to incorporate new systems as the US Space Force fields them.

From The Debrief:

Space Force officials have announced that the new space simulation program, which they are calling the “Integrated, Immersive, Intelligent Environment,” or I3E, will work hand in hand with Microsoft’s HoloLens VR headset. The same headset is already in use by the U.S. military for other simulation tools with relatively high levels of success.

The program will also be built on Microsoft Azure. According to a Space Force statement, that platform currently houses a physics-based space environment & satellite simulation, space intelligence collection & scheduling, strategic orbital “wargaming,” and augmented reality space simulation.

As far as operations, the software will reportedly boast a real-time display of orbital objects, allowing users to operate in an “accurately scaled” simulation of Earth’s Low Earth Orbit. The space simulation program will also feature a dynamic, changeable environment that will allow users to insert new capabilities and space assets to see how they might affect the overall ecosystem.

“Picking up a headset and being able to visually interact with the planet and satellites and understand space more in-depth was mind-blowing,” said 1st Lt. Jordan Savage from SSC’s Information Mobility Branch after a session on the I3E space simulation program.

“Leveraging emerging game-changers like I3E enhances our ability to gain situational awareness and enable decision-makers to act at a higher velocity than our adversaries,” added Shannon Pallone, the program’s executive officer for Battle Management Command, Control and Communications, or BMC3. “Within BMC3, we are investing in a digital environment to include I3E to facilitate and expedite the development, assessment, and delivery of improved space capabilities to enhance capability integration across the USSF’s Field Commands and mission partners.”

The Debrief has additional information here.

Category: Space Force

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LC

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ender%27s_Game

(Which, interestingly enough, has often in recommended reading for Marines.)

Old tanker

That’s interesting. Is the sim going to be based on Space Invaders, Star Trek, Star Wars or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy?

Last edited 8 months ago by Old tanker
KoB

I would think that the Guardians would get more stimulation of real world needs from co-ed shower scenes. Oh…wait…it said “simulation”…Never mind.

AW1Ed

Golly.

space-force
Green Thumb

Luke, use the force.

RGR 4-78

How much of the hard/software will have backdoors so the ChiComs can monitor the proceedings at their ease?

AW1Ed

It’s MicroShaft, back doors are a feature.

5JC

The only thing I remember about Star Trek TNG clearly is that the holo-deck always malfunctions. Sometimes in fun and interesting ways and sometimes it will kill red shirts.

fm2176

So, the MIC wins yet again. HoloLens is the basis for the Army’s $22B contract with Microsoft for the IVAS. This sounds very similar. IVAS has a Squad-immersive Virtual Trainer (SiVT) subprogram, which seems similar in concept at least to the I3E. More billions, this time at the expense of the Space Force (let’s face it, at our own taxpayers’ expense). I’m 99.9% certain that none of this has to do with the IVAS reaching its fielding phase and Microsoft/politicians and generals realizing that their cash cow needs a little more feeding. [sarc]

Maybe when our young men and women are engaged in Ukraine, the Middle East, and/or South America later this year, the brass will realize that IVAS itself is a good concept but not quite ready for the modern battlefield, divert remaining resources to turning IVAS into I3E with a hefty new “reward” for Microsoft, and ready the likes of Autin and Milley to take on six-figure jobs in the defense contracting industry.

Docduracoat

The Chinese spaceplane just went up.
Our spaceplane has been up there for a year or more at a time.
What do you suppose there doing up there for so long?
My guess is placing small space mines near Chinese and Russian satellites.
If the balloon goes up, those satellites come down

JustALurkinAround

“Leveraging emerging game-changers like I3E enhances our ability to gain situational awareness and enable decision-makers to act at a higher velocity than our adversaries”,

Whenever I hear the word “leveraging”, everything that follows sounds like the Charlie Brown teacher.

It’s a warning that someone thinks they’re about to say something smart.