Air Force Satellite Control Facility

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Air Force Satellite Control Facility
Air Force Satellite Control Facility.PNG
Air Force Satellite Control Facility emblem
Active1965–1993
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeSatellite Operations
RoleCommand and Control
Part of Air Force Systems Command/Air Force Space Command
Garrison/HQ Onizuka AFB, California
Motto(s)INVENIEMUS VIAM VEL FACIEMUS – "We find the road or we make it"

The United States Air Force's Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) was a space command and control unit located at Onizuka AFS, California. It has the distinction of being heavily involved in the world's first reconnaissance satellite program, CORONA. Due to geological hazards (i.e. earthquakes), and the terrorism threat from its proximity to a major transportation link (California Highway 101), the facility's command and control functions were moved to Schriever AFB, Colorado.

Contents

History

The Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) was originally activated at Los Angeles AFS, California on 18 Jun 1965. [1] It was first assigned to the Space Systems Division of Air Force Systems Command, with later moves under the Space and Missile Systems Organization, and Space Division organizations. [1]

On 15 October 1961, Air Force Systems Command designated the Thule Tracking Station (TTS, 76°30′57″N68°36′0″W / 76.51583°N 68.60000°W / 76.51583; -68.60000 ), a Remote Tracking Station (callsign: Polar Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (POGO)) of the Air Force Satellite Control Network near Thule Air Base in Greenland. It became Operating Location 5, 6594th Test Wing (Satellite). The Thule Tracking Station reached operational status on 30 March 1962, with "transportable antenna vans parked in an old Strategic Air Command bomb assembly building." [2] The permanent RTS equipment was emplaced in 1964, [2] and a communications terminal was emplaced on Pingarssuit Mountain—Thule Site N-32. [3]

In 1992 the Thule Tracking Station became Detachment 2, 22nd Space Operations Squadron.

Previous designations

Assignments

Major Command/Field Operating Agency

Elements assigned

Detachments

Bases stationed

Spacecraft operated

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 AFHRA FOIA Request 2009-02203, 21 July 2009
  2. 1 2 title tbd (PDF) (Report). MilitaryOneSource.mil. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  3. Fletcher, Harry R. Air Force Bases (PDF) (Report). Vol. II: Air Bases Outside the United States of America. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  4. Air Force Historical Research Agency Fact Sheet: Air Force Space Command factsheet Archived 25 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Fact Sheet: Air Force Systems Command factsheet". Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  6. World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN   1-880588-01-3