US Space Command hosts Global Sentinel 2025 exercise

Published May 6, 2025
By LaDonna Davis
U.S. Space Forces - Space

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- U.S. Space Command kicked off its premier space security cooperation capstone event, Global Sentinel 2025, bringing together nearly 30 partner nations plus NATO, April 28.

The two-week event, held at Vandenberg Space Force Base, focuses on strengthening international partnerships, enhancing operational collaboration and promoting responsible behavior in space.

Army Maj. Gen. Richard L. Zellmann, Combined Joint Force Space Component deputy commander, welcomed the multinational group of space operators, highlighting the importance of their expertise in space situational and domain awareness.

“It's very rare that you get an occasion where you get this many people together that all understand space situational awareness and space domain awareness to that level that you all do,” Zellmann said.

“Over the course of the next couple of weeks, you're going to have the opportunity to run through twelve different threads, everywhere from a normal, standard launch all the way to direct ascent, satellite weapons and everything in between.”

Space operators sit at computer workstations — Romanian service members collaborate during a space operations scenario during exercise Global Sentinel 2025 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., April 30, 2025. The exercise aims to strengthen partnerships and improve coordination among allied spacefaring nations. (U.S. Space Command photo)

Building upon the success of Global Sentinel 2024, this year's event expanded participation to 29 nations and NATO, adding Chile, Denmark, Greece and India to the roster. Returning participants include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Embedded within Regional Space Operations Centers, participants maintain national command and control of their sensors for planning, tasking and analysis. The exercise leverages a dedicated Global Sentinel version of Space-Track.org for capstone modeling and simulation gameplay, mirroring the platform used for real-world events and daily unclassified space operations. In addition to the exercises, the program includes leadership panels, tours and workshops to foster greater collaboration among international partners.

More than 250 participants will participate in the Capstone Modeling & Simulation gameplay on a GS-branded Space-Track.org site that mirrors the site used in Real-World Events and other daily unclassified space operations. Over the course of the event, partner nations will also have the opportunity to participate in leadership panels, tours and workshops designed to build greater collaboration between international partners.

Participants for GS25 include: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the United States and members from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters, with new participants from Chile, Denmark, Greece and India.