Dear Readers,

Journal of Space Operations & Communicator, a quarterly online publication, serves as a forum for those involved in the space operations field to communicate with one another, share ideas and information that improve the way operations are carried out in space. The poll in the last JSOC issue showed 67% of our readers describe themselves as ChatGPT users, 68% of whom utilize the AI tool in research. Moreover, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently become a focal area of discussion in AIAA and more specifically, during Space Operation & Support technical committee meetings. This issue is devoted to exploring AI importance in space missions to the moon, in commercial/ industrial operations, and to discovering future AI roles through a SpaceOps 2023 presentation reviewing a roadmap on “AI for Automation” developed by European Space Agency. The editors realize AI value for the future and aim to share such aspirations herein.

Congratulations, Journal of Space Operations & Communicator 20th Anniversary! in 2004, the AIAA and SOSTC signed agreements to include joint sponsorship of the Space Operations Journal and Communicator. Trevor Sorensen and Paul John Douglas were the founding editors, Dave Welch succeeded them years later. Who has not been mentioned from the beginning JSOC operations is the publication’s webmaster, Christine Chubenko.

Journal is a cross-disciplinary scholarly publication designed to advance space communication as a profession and as an academic discipline. The Journal is distributed electronically without charge to users on a global basis. JSOC contains peer-reviewed articles, comments and case notes written by leading scientists, professors, and practitioners in their respective fields of aerospace expertise. The editorial board seeks articles that demonstrate exemplary academic research of emerging trends in space technology and space operations fields. Many people congregated at conferences, symposia, and workshops last quarter either face-to-face or virtual.

Hopefully, you will find this issue informative and worthwhile reading.

Sincerely,
Ronald H. Freeman, PhD
Editor-in-Chief
April 1, 2024