The Russian Space Force, which regained its independence on 1 June after having been absorbed into the Strategic Rocket Forces in 1997, has declared itself operational. The force includes the headquarters, 14 radar locations, 11 space measuring stations, a test center, an air defense unit near Moscow, and the cosmodromes at Plesetsk, Svobody, and Baikonur. The commander is Colonel-General Anatoly Perminov.--Stephen V Cole