22d Space Operations Squadron

22d Space Operations Squadron
Active	1991–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Space Operations
Part of	Air Force Space Command
Garrison/HQ	Schriever AFB
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award [1]
Insignia
22d Space Operations Squadron emblem (approved 13 April 1995) [2] [note 1]

Last updated March 10, 2019

The 22d Space Operations Squadron is a United States Air Force unit of the 50th Network Operations Group, itself a part of the 50th Space Wing, and is located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces, and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially formed as a part of the United States Army on 1 August 1907, the USAF was established as a separate branch of the U.S. Armed Forces on 18 September 1947 with the passing of the National Security Act of 1947. It is the youngest branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, and the fourth in order of precedence. The USAF is the largest and most technologically advanced air force in the world. The Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.

The 50th Network Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit of the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. 50th NOG is the single focal point for operating and maintaining the $8.2 billion Air Force Satellite Control Network and all 50 SW communications and computer systems (C-CS). Specific mission responsibilities are accomplished through the group's four squadrons, six detachments, and the Program Management Office.

The 50th Space Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force under the major command of Air Force Space Command. It was activated on 30 January 1992, replacing the 2nd Space Wing, which was inactivated on the same date.

Mission

The squadron develops, publishes, executes, and enforces the network operations tasking order, as well as operating and maintaining worldwide remote tracking stations and associated communications systems comprising the Air Force Satellite Control Network. It additionally coordinates launch and on-orbit operations of Department of Defense and other national agencies' satellites in support of warfighters, the President, and the Secretary of Defense. Last, the squadron supports NASA's space mission.^[3]

The Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) provides support for the operation, control, and maintenance of a variety of United States Department of Defense and some non-DoD satellites. This involves continual execution of Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding (TT&C) operations. In addition, the AFSCN provides prelaunch checkout and simulation, launch support, and early orbit support while satellites are in initial or transfer orbits and require maneuvering to their final orbit. The AFSCN provides tracking data to help maintain the catalog of space objects and distributes various data such as satellite ephemeris, almanacs, and other information.

The Department of Defense is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the United States Armed Forces. The department is the largest employer in the world, with nearly 1.3 million active duty servicemen and women as of 2016. Adding to its employees are over 826,000 National Guardsmen and Reservists from the four services, and over 732,000 civilians bringing the total to over 2.8 million employees. Headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., the DoD's stated mission is to provide "the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security".

President of the United States (POTUS) is the title for the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.

History

Constituted 22d Space Operations Squadron on 10 July 1991, it was activated on 1 Oct 1991. It operated as part of the 2d Satellite Tracking (later, 750th Space) Group. In 2004 it changed from being under the 50th Operations Group to the 50th Network Operations Group. As part of 22 SOPS, the Colorado Tracking Station enjoys a unique status as the only on-base satellite tracking facility. Originally built in the late 1980s, the station has undergone a number of upgrades that continue even today.

The United States Air Force's 750th Space Group was a space operations unit located at Onizuka Air Force Station, California.

In late 2006, the station is scheduled to receive a new equipment core, which will allow further automation of the satellite operations. The new core, part of the Remote Tracking Station Block Change includes computer processor upgrades, and new hardware/software to allow the tracking station equipment to better interface with the upgraded satellite operations centers. This system also involves a 13-meter diameter, 3-axis antenna. This new antenna adds the capability to track low earth orbiting satellites "over the top".

Beginning October 1, 2006, the tracking station began reduced operations, owing to "fiscal constraints".

Geographically separated units

All the following are remote tracking stations for the Air Force Satellite Control Network).

Detachment 1: Vandenberg Tracking Station (COOK), Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Transitioning to 21 SOPS.
Detachment 2: Diego Garcia Tracking Station (REEF), Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
Detachment 3: Thule Tracking Station (POGO),^[4] Thule Air Base, Greenland
Detachment 4: Hawaii Tracking Station (HULA), Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, Hawaii
Detachment 5: Guam Tracking Station (GUAM), Guam
OL-AE: Telemetry and Command Station (LION),^[5] RAF Oakhanger, United Kingdom
Colorado Tracking Station (PIKE), Schriever Air Force Base

Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base 9.2 miles (14.8 km) northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command (AFSPC).

California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States. With 39.6 million residents, California is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions, with 18.7 million and 8.8 million residents respectively. Los Angeles is California's most populous city, and the country's second most populous, after New York City. California also has the nation's most populous county, Los Angeles County, and its largest county by area, San Bernardino County. The City and County of San Francisco is both the country's second-most densely populated major city after New York City and the fifth-most densely populated county, behind only four of the five New York City boroughs.

Diego Garcia British atoll in the Indian Ocean

Diego García is an atoll just south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean, and the largest of 60 small islands comprising the Chagos Archipelago. It was first discovered and named by the Portuguese, settled by the French in the 1790s and transferred to British rule after the Napoleonic Wars. It was one of the "Dependencies" of the British Colony of Mauritius until it was detached for inclusion in the newly created British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) in 1965.

Lineage

Constituted as the 22d Space Operations Squadron on 10 July 1991

Activated on 1 October 1991^[2]

Assignments

2d Satellite Tracking Group (later 750th Space Group)^[2]
50th Operations Group, June 1999^[3]
50th Network Operations Group, March 2004 – present^[3]

The 50th Operations Group is a component of the 50th Space Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Space Command. The group is stationed at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

Stations

Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, 1 October 1991 – present^[2]

Awards

The Aldridge Trophy 1996 (Guardian Challenge)

Outstanding Unit Awards:

September 90 - August 91
September 93 - August 95
October 98 - September 00
October 00 - September 1
October 1 - October 2
October 2 - October 3

Related Research Articles

Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) is a major command of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of space operations. Operationally, AFSPC is an Air Force major command subordinate to U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), a unified combatant command. As of 2019 it is the primary space force for the U.S. Armed Forces.

The United States Air Force's Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) was a space command and control unit located at Onizuka AFB, California. It has the distinction of being heavily involved in the world's first reconnaissance satellite program, CORONA. Due to geological hazards, and the terrorism threat from its proximity to a major transportation link, the facility's command and control functions were moved to Schriever AFB, Colorado.

Schriever Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located approximately 10 miles east of Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States.

The 2d Space Operations Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. Its mission is to manage the Navstar Global Positioning System satellite constellation for global navigation, time transfer, and nuclear detonation detection.

The 2d Space Wing was a wing of the United States Air Force. It activated on 8 July 1985 as the host wing at Falcon Air Force Station. The wing took operational control of the Air Force Satellite Control Network in October 1987. It was inactivated on 30 January 1992 when the 50th Space Wing took its place.

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The 6th Space Operations Squadron is an Air Force Reserve satellite command and control squadron located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. The squadron is a backup to NOAA for Defense Meteorological Satellite Program operations.

The 21st Space Operations Squadron is a satellite control unit of the 50th Network Operations Group of the United States Air Force located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. It operated Onizuka Air Force Station from its formation in 1991 until the closure of the station in 2010.

3d Space Operations Squadron Former US Air Force squadron

The United States Air Force's 3d Space Operations Squadron was a satellite operations unit located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

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The United States Air Force's 18th Space Control Squadron is a space control unit located at Vandenberg AFB, California. Reactivated in 2016, the 18th SPCS is tasked with providing 24/7 support to the space sensor network (SSN), maintaining the space catalog and managing United States Strategic Command’s (USSTRATCOM) space situational awareness (SSA) sharing program to United States, foreign government, and commercial entities. The squadron also conducts advanced analysis, sensor optimization, conjunction assessment, human spaceflight support, reentry/break-up assessment, and launch analysis.

The 19th Space Operations Squadron is an Air Force Reserve space operations unit, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

The 17th Test Squadron is a United States Air Force test and evaluation unit, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. The squadron is tasked with testing and evaluating space systems and associated support equipment.

The 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 50th Operations Group at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, where it was inactivated on 16 July 2002.

The 14th Test Squadron is a United States Air Force unit located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. It is an Air Force Reserve unit that augments the 17th Test Squadron. The squadron is responsible for testing and evaluating space systems and associated support equipment. The unit was originally established in 1972 as the 14th Missile Warning Squadron. The missile warning squadron was an active duty unit that operated early warning radars at eight locations around the United States until it was inactivated in 1980. The squadron was reactivated and given its current space test mission in 2000.

References

Notes

↑ Its description is: Sable, an opinicus passant argent between in chief a mullet of the like and in base, a Mercator projection of the globe azure gridlined of the second, land masses of the first, and charged on the "United States" with a mullet or; all within a diminished bordure of the like.

Citations

↑ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved May 9, 2017. (search)
1 2 3 4 Endicott, p. 493
1 2 3 "Schreiver Air Force Base Library: Fact Sheets: 22nd Space Operations Squadron". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
↑ "Thule Air Force Base Library: Fact Sheet Detachment 2, 22nd Space Operations Squadron". Thule Air Force Base Public Affairs. Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
↑ Braun, SMS Brent (13 June 2006). "17th TS contributes to AFSCN versatility". Air Force Space Command Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2017.

Bibliography

Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2 . Retrieved July 2, 2014.

External links

"Factsheet 22d Space Operations Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved May 10, 2017.

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[3] Its description is: Sable, an opinicus passant argent between in chief a mullet of the like and in base, a Mercator projection of the globe azure gridlined of the second, land masses of the first, and charged on the "United States" with a mullet or; all within a diminished bordure of the like.

[1] "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved May 9, 2017. (search)

[Endicott-2] 1 2 3 4 Endicott, p. 493

[22ndSOS-4] 1 2 3 "Schreiver Air Force Base Library: Fact Sheets: 22nd Space Operations Squadron". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2017.

[5] "Thule Air Force Base Library: Fact Sheet Detachment 2, 22nd Space Operations Squadron". Thule Air Force Base Public Affairs. Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2017.

[6] Braun, SMS Brent (13 June 2006). "17th TS contributes to AFSCN versatility". Air Force Space Command Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2017.