Snofest 2008 Ends With

COMMANDER’S CORNER: MILITARY COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR SNOFEST – PAGE 3 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Thursday, January 31, 2008 Vol. 52 No. 5 SnoFest 2008 ends with ‘best so far’ title By Senior Airman Stephen Collier 21st Space Wing Public Affairs This year’s SnoFest event is over, but many are already calling this 18th annual event the “best so far.” SnoFest, an annual ski weekend targeted at military members and their families, was kicked off Jan. 25 by the Air Force’s expeditionary en- tertainment group, ‘Tops in Blue,’ who were performing at their second SnoFest event. The Tops in Blue routine was followed by several events Jan. 26, including a National Standard Race, or NASTAR skiing and snowboarding competition, cardboard box derby and a live performance from the Air Force band ‘Pegasus.’ Held in Keystone, Colo., approximately 3,400 servicemembers and their families attended the SnoFest 2008 event. The attendance of disabled veterans who have lost limbs, ranging from combat operations during Operations Iraqi or Enduring Freedom A SnoFest skier flies through the blue Rocky to various accidents, was a highlight for this year’s SnoFest, according Mountain sky during the National Standard to event coordinator Daniel Schofield, 21st Services Squadron. Race, or ‘NASTAR’ event Jan. 26. SnoFest, held “There were several elements that stood out during this year’s SnoFest,” in Keystone, Colo., is an annual ski weekend Mr. Schofield said. “But the involvement of the ‘Wounded Warrior’ pro- targeted at military members and their families. gram was an inspiration to us all.” Approximately 3,400 servicemembers and their Mr. Schofield added the success of SnoFest couldn’t be possible families attended the SnoFest 2008 event. See Snofest page 12 Photo by Todd Ryan Fantastic four remember Explorer 1/ Total Force ‘RAIDRS’ keep Jupiter-C launch on 50th Anniversary high frontier safe, secure By Ken Warren “We were a young bunch back then,” said Ike Rigell, By Capt. Roy Chandler 16th Space Control Squadron 45th SW Public Affairs now 85. He worked the launch from inside the block- PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – When George house at Launch Complex 26 and was in charge of the The Air Force’s newest, defensive Bernard Shaw said, “Youth is wasted on the young...,” electrical network system. Mr. Rigell believes the av- counterspace weapons system, as- he obviously hadn’t met or envisioned twenty-some- erage age of launch team members was late twenties. signed to the 16th Space Control things and thirty-somethings like Norm Perry, Terry “When you’re young you have the attitude, ‘I can do it.’ Squadron at Peterson AFB, will be Greenfield, Ike Rigell and John Meisenheimer. All four We all had great confidence in each other and worked in the hands of a ‘Total Force’ were youthful contributors to the dynamic launch as a team...and we did it.” Reserve unit later this year. team, which on Jan. 31, 1958 launched Explorer 1 – The 380th SPCS, a reserve asso- America’s first satellite. See Four page 10 ciate unit based at Peterson AFB, is expected to maintain and op- erate America’s Rapid Attack, Identification, Detection and Reporting System, or ‘RAIDRS,’ under the direction of the 16th SPCS. In the mean- time, an initial cadre of RAIDRS Reservists has been assigned to the 310th Space Group, Detachment 1. This system, in use since July 2005, is designed to detect and locate sources of interference for thousands of warfighter satellite communication links. According to RAIDRS officials here, the establishment of the 380th SPCS will mark a major milestone in reserve units working side-by-side with their active duty counterparts. The last associate unit in the 21st Space Wing here, the 8th Space Warning Squadron, was transferred in August 2004. The 380th SPCS will be the first RAU to a 21st SW unit since then, and the first-ever associated with a squadron at Peterson. “People should know this is a critical mission,” said Col. Jay Raymond, 21st SW commander. “Both units are on the forefront of defending America’s vital satellite network for the warfighter.” Interference to satellite communication, known as ‘SATCOM,’ is a growing concern in the global war on terror. Lt. Col. Michael Assid, Photo by Ken Warren Ken by Photo 310th SG commander, said, “The U.S. military’s reliance on commer- Explorer 1 veterans (from left) Ike Rigell, Terry Greenfield, Norm Perry and John Meisenheimer Sr. reminisce recently inside the original cial SATCOM for operations in Southwest Asia has increased nearly blockhouse at Launch Complex 26 at Cape Canaveral AFS. All four played critical roles in launching America’s first satellite and believe the mission vaulted America firmly into the Space Age. See RAIDRS page 10 INSIDE Snofest Temperature advisory News 1-5 Injured Airman overcomes Airmen keep mission running Team Pete Commentary 6 disabilities on the slopes despite subzero temperatures Briefs 7 Super Bowl Party Page 4 Page 8 Sports 16 Page 7 Super Bowl Picks 17 SPACE OBSERVER 2 Thursday, January 31, 2008 '03063.*-*5"3: "MM"DUJWF%VUZ Military Save 5% or up UP Challenger homes oﬀers tons of ways to help you buy a new home... Move in today! 8JMEXPPEBU/PSUIHBUF 4UFUTPO3JEHF 8PPENFO3E /1PXFST#MWE 3BOHFXPPE%S 719.598.5192 5 MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM .JMJUBSZ*ODFOUJWFTt4FMMFS'JOBODJOH www.MyChallengerHomes.com 3FOUUP0XOt5SBEF6Q1SPHSBN Now Open! SPACE OBSERVER www.peterson.af.mil Thursday, January 31, 2008 3 21ST SPACE WING 21st Space Wing Commander Col. Jay Raymond COMMANDER’S CORNER Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Toni Tones Front Range military community comes Editorial Staff Chief of Internal Information Senior Airman Stephen Collier together for SnoFest Staff Reporter Commentary by Col. Jay Raymond Contracting Squadron, 21st Space Corey Dahl 21st Space Wing commander Col. Communications Squadron, Visual Assistant Production Manager This past weekend, the 21st Space Wing had Jay Raymond Information, Protocol and 21st Space Wing Jeff Adcox the distinct pleasure of hosting the 18th annual Public Affairs. The hard work and profession- SnoFest event at the Keystone Resort, Colo. It alism displayed by these outstanding teams Published by Colorado Springs Military Newspapers 21st Space Group, 31 E. Platte Avenue, Suite 300, Colorado was a great weekend with more than 3,000 made all the difference and is one of the pri- Springs, 80903, a private firm in no way connected members from Front Range military commu- Wing mary reasons SnoFest was so successful. with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written con- tract with the 21st Space Wing. This commercial nity participating in this year’s festivities. commander I would also like to give a special thanks to enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized pub- Families and personnel from Buckley AFB, Mr. Dan Schofield, 21st Services Squadron lication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Space Observer are not necessarily F.E. Warren AFB, Schriever AFB, the Air Force deputy director, for his role in putting to- the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Academy, Ft. Carson and the entire Team with red carpet and glitz. The stellar gether the entire event. Along with the other Government, the Department of Defense or the evening, topped off with a dazzling per- Department of the Air Force. Peterson community joined together in one SnoFest planning committee members and The appearance of advertising in this publication, of the most incredible events I’ve had the priv- formance by Pegasus, was very enter- the many workers and volunteers from par- including inserts or supplements, does not constitute ilege of being a part of. From the ski and snow- taining. ticipating military installations, their dedica- endorsement by DoD, the Department of the Air Force, or CSMNG, of the products or services board races, cardboard derby and evening This year’s SnoFest included participa- tion and expertise have made SnoFest the advertised. Everything advertised in this publication tion by Adaptive Adventures, a nonprofit or- shall be made available for purchase, use or patron- parties all the way to the performances by Tops premier winter event for our military families. age without regard to race, color, religion, sex, in Blue and the Air Force Academy band ganization aimed at advancing the quality I can’t say enough about the work these folks national origin, age, marital status, physical handi- cap, political affiliation or any other non-merit fac- “Pegasus,” the esprit de corps and camaraderie of life for the physically disabled. One of have done! tor of the purchaser, user or patron. exhibited by those who attended was tremen- the ways it does this is by teaching men and Finally, I need to thank our commercial Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by dous. women to ski within the limitations of their sponsors who were vital in making this year’s the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Office, 775 Loring Ave., Suite 218, Peterson AFB, Colo., 80914- Speaking of Tops in Blue, their high-energy disabilities. More than 15 wounded war- SnoFest the best ever. It was a record year for 1294, (719) 556-4351 or DSN 834-4351, fax (719) riors, severely injured while fighting in the 556-7848 or DSN 834-7848. All photographs are Air musical performance drew a packed house the corporate sponsorship and their generous Force photographs unless otherwise indicated. night of Jan. 25. The show paid tribute to our Global War on Terror or in accidents contributions allowed us to significantly The Space Observer is published every Thursday. Air Force history by combining six decades of beyond their control, participated at defray the costs for all SnoFest participants.

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