45th Launch Support Squadron

45th Launch Support Squadron
45th Launch Support Squadron
	45th Launch Support Squadron Patch
Active	30 June 2005 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Launch Support
Role	Mission Assurance
Part of	45th Launch Group
Garrison/HQ	Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Motto(s)	Battlespace Dominance Through Satellite Integration
Commanders
Current; commander	Lt Col Kathryn Cantu

Last updated February 25, 2024

The 45th Launch Support Squadron(45 LCSS) is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. It is assigned to the 45th Launch Group along with its sister squadron the 5th Space Launch Squadron.

Mission

The 45th Launch Support Squadron (LCSS) delivers a broad array of organic launch and launch support capabilities. In partnership with the satellite system directorates, the LCSS provides launch-base mission assurance for satellites by overseeing spacecraft hardware arrival, launch preparations, testing and launch. In addition, the squadron contains a program management office which ensures delivery of mission-critical facilities, launch support services such as training and ordnance management, and programmatic resources to Eastern Range customers. Finally, the LCSS provides a single interface for emerging DoD, civil, and commercial launch providers to access 45 SW services and successfully bring new launch capabilities to the United States.^[1]

History

The 45th Launch Support Squadron was activated on 30 June 2005. The first mission with spacecraft processed by the 45 LCSS was the Micro-satellite Technology Experiment (MiTEx) which launched on 21 June 2006.

Emblem

Description

On a disc Sable, arrayed to chief three deltas Silver Gray each with a contrail Or fimbriated Tenné issuing from behind a terrestrial globe Proper, environed by an orbit of the fourth charged with a sphere of the second, all within a narrow border Orange.

Attached below the disc, a Black scroll edged with a narrow Orange border and inscribed “45TH LAUNCH SUPPORT SQUADRON” in Orange letters.^[2]

Symbolism

Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The black background represents space. The three deltas signify the multiple launch vehicles the Squadron supports and the three Air Force Core Values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do. The earth and orbiting satellite describes the global nature of the unit’s mission.^[3]

List of commanders

Lt Col Scott Traxler
Lt Col John Wagner
Lt Col Erik Bowman
Lt Col Gerard G. Gleckel Jr.
Lt Col Paul P. Konyha III
Lt Col Matthew E. Holston, July 2014 – July 2016^[4]
Lt Col Kathryn Cantu, 15 August 2016 – present

45 LCSS Missions

List of LCSS Launches

No.	Launch Date	Mission	Vehicle	Notes
1	June 21, 2006	MiTEx	Delta II	First mission with spacecraft processed by the 45th Launch Support Squadron.
2	September 25, 2006	GPS IIR-15M	Delta II
3	November 17, 2006	GPS IIR-16	Delta II
4	March 8, 2007	STP-1	Atlas V	First launch of a USAF payload on an Atlas V.
5	October 10, 2007	WGS-1	Atlas V	First of six WGS satellites
6	October 17, 2007	GPS IIR-17	Delta II
7	November 10, 2007	DSP-23	Delta IV	Final launch of a DSP satellite and first operational launch of a Delta IV Heavy
8	December 20, 2007	GPS IIR-18	Delta II
9	March 15, 2008	GPS IIR-19	Delta II
10	March 24, 2009	GPS IIR-20	Delta II
11	April 4, 2009	WGS-2	Atlas V
12	August 17, 2009	GPS IIR-21	Delta II	Final launch of a GPS IIR series satellite.
13	September 8, 2009	PAN	Atlas V
14	September 25, 2009	STSS Demo	Delta II
15	December 5, 2009	WGS-3	Delta IV	Final Block 1 WGS satellite
16	April 2, 2010	OTV-1	Atlas V	First launch of a reusable unmanned space vehicle.
17	May 28, 2010	GPS IIF-1	Delta IV	First launch of IIF block of GPS satellites.
18	June 4, 2010	Falcon 9 Flight 1	Falcon 9	First all commercial launch from CCAFS.
19	August 14, 2010	AEHF-1	Atlas V	First launch of an AEHF military communication satellite.
20	December 8, 2010	COTS Demo Flight 1	Falcon 9	First launch, orbit, and recovery of an operational Dragon capsule.
21	March 5, 2011	OTV-2	Atlas V
22	May 7, 2011	SBIRS GEO-1	Atlas V	First launch of the next generation of missile warning satellites.
23	July 16, 2011	GPS IIF-2	Delta IV
24	January 19, 2012	WGS-4	Delta IV	First launch of the upgrafed Block II satellites
25	February 24, 2012	MUOS-1	Atlas V	First of a kind United States Navy UHF satellite.
26	May 4, 2012	AEHF-2	Atlas V
27	May 22, 2012	COTS Demo Flight 2	Falcon 9	First commercial resupply of the International Space Station
28	Aug 30, 2012	RBSP	Atlas V
29	Oct 4, 2012	GPS IIF-3	Delta IV
30	Oct 7, 2012	CRS-1	Falcon 9
31	Dec 11, 2012	OTV-3	Atlas V

Related Research Articles

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) is an installation of the United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 45, located on Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida.

The Defense Support Program (DSP) is a program of the United States Space Force that operated the reconnaissance satellites which form the principal component of the Satellite Early Warning System used by the United States.

The 21st Space Operations Squadron is a satellite control unit of the Space Delta 6 of the United States Space Force, located at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Prior to July 2020, it was part of the 50th Network Operations Group. It operated Onizuka Air Force Station from its formation in 1991 until the closure of the station in 2010.

The 20th Space Surveillance Squadron is a Space Delta 2 unit located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida with the mission to execute multiplatform, tactical space warfighting domain characterization, recognition, and responsiveness to achieve 21st Space Wing and United States Space Command intent. The unit, formerly designated the 20th Space Control Squadron, was renamed on 25 March 2022.

The 3rd Space Operations Squadron is a United States Space Force unit responsible for conducting on-orbit operations. It is located at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.

The 69th Cyberspace Squadron is a squadron of the United States Space Force located at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. It is responsible for conducting defensive cyberspace operations enabling operations in support of Space Delta 9's orbital warfare mission at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, and Space Delta 6's Satellite Control Network at various locations around the world. The 50th Communications Squadron was redesignated as the 69 Cyberspace Squadron on 15 Oct 2022.

The Wideband Global SATCOM system (WGS) is a high capacity United States Space Force satellite communications system planned for use in partnership by the United States Department of Defense (DoD), Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) and the Australian Department of Defence. The system is composed of the Space Segment satellites, the Terminal Segment users and the Control Segment operators.

The United States Air Force's 1st Expeditionary Space Control Squadron is a provisional squadron attached to the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Space Launch Squadron</span> Military unit

The United States Space Force's 5th Space Launch Squadron is a space launch unit located at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. The 5th SLS is tasked with launch and support of the National Security Space Launch, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles.

The United States Air Force's 114th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron (EWS) is a Florida Air National Guard unit located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. It is operationally gained by the United States Space Force.

The 1st Space Operations Squadron is a United States Space Force unit responsible for space-based space domain awareness. Located at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, the squadron operates the Space Based Space Surveillance system, the Advanced Technology Risk Reduction system, the Operationally Responsive Space-5 satellite, and the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program.

The 6th Space Warning Squadron is located at Cape Cod Space Force Station, in Sagamore, Massachusetts, United States. It operates the PAVE PAWS radar to watch for missiles launched toward North America. The squadron is assigned to Space Delta 4. The squadron was first organized in October 1979 as the 6th Missile Warning Squadron

The Operationally Responsive Space Office is a joint initiative of the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The "stand up" of the office took place 21 May 2007 at Kirtland Air Force Base. The first director of the ORS Office was Col. Kevin McLaughlin, who was also the commander of the Space Development and Test Wing located at Kirtland. The ORS Office focuses on providing quick-response tactical space-based capabilities; utilizing smaller satellites, such as the Tactical Satellite Program and smaller launch vehicles.

The 11th Space Warning Squadron is a United States Space Force missile warning squadron, located at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.

The 45th Operations Group was a United States Space Force unit. It was assigned to 45th Space Wing, stationed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. In May 2021, it was inactivated upon the redesignation of the 45th Space Wing to Space Launch Delta 45.

The 7th Space Warning Squadron (SWS) is the premier Space Domain Awareness sensor on the West Coast. The unit was originally established to guard the U.S. West Coast against sea-launched ballistic missiles from the eastern outskirts of Beale Air Force Base approximately 8 miles (13 km) east of Marysville, California. 7 SWS is a geographically separated unit of Space Delta 4.

The 12th Space Warning Squadron is a United States Space Force ground-based radar used for missile warning, missile defense, and space situation awareness, stationed at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland.

The 23rd Space Operations Squadron is a satellite control unit of the United States Space Force. It is part of Space Delta 6 and is located at New Boston Space Force Station, New Hampshire. Prior to July 2020, part of the 50th Network Operations Group, itself a part of the 50th Space Wing.

The 45th Launch Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 45th Space Wing, stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Space Base Delta 2 is a unit in the United States Space Force. It is assigned to Space Operations Command and headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, United States.

References

↑ "Factsheet: 45th Launch Group". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
↑ The Institute of Heraldry ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
↑ The Institute of Heraldry ^{[ permanent dead link ]}
↑ "Colonel Matthew e. Holston".

External links

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Factsheet: 45th Launch Group". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2012.

[2] The Institute of Heraldry ^{[ permanent dead link ]}

[3] The Institute of Heraldry ^{[ permanent dead link ]}

[4] "Colonel Matthew e. Holston".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]