Mission Need
“Space is the most important domain. It will enable everything terrestrial,” said Lt. Gen. Tom James, USSPACECOM deputy commander, at the 2025 Space Warfighter Forum. For the U.S. Space Force (USSF), integrating, deconflicting and synchronizing technologies enables current and future missions. This vital task includes maintaining a fleet of satellites and the extensive ground systems that support them. The Engineering, Development, Integration, and Sustainment (EDIS) program delivers engineering and sustainment needed for ground infrastructure to support national defense.
Ground infrastructure is crucial, providing the necessary support for satellite operations and ensuring seamless communication and control. Yet legacy systems were slowing responsiveness and hindering security compliance. Configuration changes could take hours, vulnerabilities proliferated, and a key system component was facing an impending End of Life/End of Support date. In this critical mission, integrated technology and collaboration among stakeholders are not optional – they are mission-essential.
Solution
Identifying a low-cost risk, SAIC proposed a solution, partnered with the USSF and then spearheaded the development and integration of modernized satellite ground architecture through the GEMMA ground system. GEMMA was a key innovation, bringing formerly disparate components under a single authorizing official and instantiating a modernized architecture that included virtualized Front-End Processors (FEPs) and servers as well as modern cryptographic devices.
Coming in under budget and ahead of the need date, GEMMA was a resounding success. Rigorous testing validated 1,162 procedure steps during acceptance testing, giving USSF leadership full confidence in system readiness. The team eliminated operational bottlenecks: contact configuration is now 93.33% faster than with the legacy system. Through meticulous engineering and stakeholder collaboration, the GEMMA project delivered a ground system that is secure, efficient, and built to evolve through modularization of system components.
Mission Impact
Through the integration of SAIC’s GEMMA ground system, the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Support Complex (RSC), located at Kirtland AFB, N.M., ensures continuous and reliable prototype operations of on-orbit satellites. The partnership fulfilled 55 system performance requirements, reduced operational downtime, and strengthened mission data resiliency. Vulnerabilities were also reduced by an order of magnitude, strengthening cyber posture across the enterprise.
These advances translated into measurable savings, eliminating inefficiencies that once cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per month. By integrating technologies, virtualized architectures, and streamlined oversight under a single authority, SAIC and USSF not only modernized RSC but ensured it will remain mission-ready for years to come. The outcome: faster operations, stronger defenses, and a future-proofed infrastructure that keeps the U.S. a step ahead—safeguarding national security and ensuring continued global leadership in the critical domain of space.