1st Expeditionary Space Control Squadron

1st Expeditionary Space Control Squadron
The squadron guidon is furled during its inactivation ceremony, 9 June 2008
Active1989-2008
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleSpace Control
Part ofAir Force Space Command
Motto(s)Vigilance Over Space
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Commanders
Notable
commanders		B. Chance Saltzman
Insignia
1st Expeditionary Space Control Squadron emblem (approved 15 November 1994)[1]

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.

Before conversion to provisional status, the 1st Space Control Squadron' was a space situational awareness unit last located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The squadron commanded the United States Space Surveillance Network to detect, track, identify and catalog positional data for all human-made objects in Earth orbit. The squadron was established in 1989 as the 1st Command and Control Squadron at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base, Colorado. It was inactivated in 2008 and its personnel and equipment were integrated into the 614th Air and Space Operations Center.[citation needed]

History

Background

The roots of the squadron can be traced to 1961, when the Space Detection and Tracking System Center at opened at Ent Air Force Base, Colorado. The center brought together Air Force and Navy systems designed to track objects in space in all directions, not merely Soviet missiles launched over the North Pole. The center came under the operational control of North American Air Defense Command.[2] There were several subsequent moves, name changes, and changes in personnel, experience, and equipment.

Activation

The Air Force activated the 1st Command and Control Squadron at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado in December 1989 to operate the system.[1] The 1st Command and Control Squadron provided collision avoidance support during each shuttle mission as well as maintaining an extensive satellite catalog (the "SATCAT" or "Box score").[3] This catalog is used by U.S. civilian and military agencies when launching new satellites into space, as well as by U.S. allies.[4]

The 1 SPCS tracked and compiled positional data on thousands of man-made objects in space partly to prevent collisions between newly launched satellites and other objects already orbiting the Earth. Additionally, the unit had the mission to task 30 space sensors within Space Surveillance Network to track satellites for US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) to maintain an accurate satellite catalog (SATCAT) of over 9000 objects orbiting the Earth.,[5][6] To support crewed space flight, 1 SPCS constructs a theoretical box around the Space Shuttle, MIR or ISS, and projects flight path intersections for 36 to 72 hours. If any objects intersects the theoretical box, the unit forwarded the analysis to NASA, allowing them to determine whether to change the spacecraft/space station's flight path. Based on 1 SPCS mission analysis, and its predecessor units, NASA has moved the Space Shuttle 12 times and the International Space Station five times since 1981.[7] In June 1995, the unit tracked the U.S. Space Shuttle Atlantis during its historic rendezvous with the Russian space station Mir. The unit also compiled a catalog of space objects.[8][9]

The 1 SPCS also contained international personnel, such as Canadian military, since SSA was not just a U.S. problem.[6]

Move

In 2006, Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of NORAD directed a study on the continued use of the hardened command post at Cheyenne Mountain in view of what was perceived as diminished threats.[10] The decision to close Cheyenne Mountain required a unit move. The unit moved to Vandenberg Air Force Base, California in 2007 to better coordinate activities with the Joint Space Operations Center, it lost over 150 years of expert civilian experience.[11]

Inactivation

The unit was inactivated on 9 Jun 2008, and its mission and members integrated into the 614th Air and Space Operations Center / Joint Space Operations Center.[12] Unconfirmed sources state that Cheyenne Mountain may retain some capability to cover the 1 SPCS mission, if required.[13]

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 1st Command and Control Squadron on 30 November 1989
Activated on 1 December 1989
Redesignated 1st Space Control Squadron on 1 October 2001
Inactivated c. 9 June 2008
  • Redesignated 1st Expeditionary Space Control Squadron and converted to provisional status on 11 February 2009
Activated 27 February 2009[14]

Assignments

Attached to 21st Space Wing, 27 February 2009[14]

Stations

  • Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base (later Cheyenne Mountain Air Station, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station), Colorado, 1 December 1989
  • Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 31 July 2007 – 9 June 2008
  • Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, 27 February 2009 – present[14]

Commanders

  • Lt David Agee (1989–1991)
  • Lt Col Joseph Wysocki (1991–1992)
  • Lt Col John M. Rabins (1992–1994)
  • Lt Col Michael A. Muolo (1994–1996)
  • Lt Col Joseph G. Baillargeon (1996–1998)
  • Lt Col David A. Strand (14 Aug 1998-2000)
  • Lt Col Craigen B. Anderson (2000-2002)
  • Lt. Col. Scott F. Shepherd (2002–2004)[15]
  • Lt Col Michael Mason (circa 2007),[16]
  • Lt Col Chance Saltzman (July 2007-2008)[12]

Awards

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 December 1989-31 August 1991 1st Command and Control Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 1995-30 September 1997 1st Command and Control Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1998-31 December 1998 1st Command and Control Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 1997-30 September 1999 1st Command and Control Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1999-31 December 1999 1st Command and Control Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 2000-31 August 2001 1st Command and Control Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2004-30 September 2005 1st Space Control Squadron[17]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2005-30 September 2006 1st Space Control Squadron[17]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2006-30 July 2007 1st Space Control Squadron[17]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 31 July 2007-9 June 2008 1st Space Control Squadron[17]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Haulman, Daniel L. (15 April 2008). "Factsheet 1 Space Control Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  2. ^ Sloan p. 98
  3. ^ Wood, Douglas S. (2 August 2005). "Cataloging space junk: Working on the 'world's largest jigsaw puzzle'". CNN. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. ^ "21st Space Wing [21 SW]". Globalsecurity.org. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  5. ^ Miller, James G. (Gil) (2007). "A New Sensor Allocation Algorithm for the Space Surveillance Network". MOR Journal Abstracts. Vol. 12, no. 1. Military Operations Research Society. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  6. ^ a b Bridges, Holly (2007). "Space: the final recruiting frontier". The Maple Leaf. 10 (5). National Defence and the Canadian Forces. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  7. ^ Staff writer(s) (10 June 2003). "SGI Systems Help U.S. Air Force Space Command Detect, Track, Identify And Catalog Man-Made Objects in Space". Archived from the original on 19 November 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  8. ^ Schmalz, Trisha (6 August 2007). "NASA honors 1st Space Control Squadron team". Air Force Space Command Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 26 April 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  9. ^ Kelso, T.S.; Morris, R.F.; DeVere, G.T.; Randolph, J.C.; Bowman, B.R.; Racca, R.A.; Thurston, N.L. "Space Surveillance Contributions to the STS 107 Accident Investigation" (PDF). Celestrak.com. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  10. ^ Zubeck, Pam (16 June 2006). "Cheyenne Mountain's fate may lie in study contents". The Colorado Springs Gazette. Archived from the original on 19 March 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Space News: "Chilton: Progress Is Being Made On Space Situational Awareness," 24 Apr 2007". Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  12. ^ a b Stewart, SRA Erica (9 June 2008). "1st Space Control Squadron inactivates, joins 14th AOC". 30th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  13. ^ de Yoanna, Michelle (3 May 2007). "Bad move? As NORAD leaves Cheyenne Mountain, some worry it's a dangerous mistake". Colorado Springs Independent. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  14. ^ a b c Robertson, Patsy (3 April 2009). "Factsheet 1 Expeditionary Space Control Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Peterson AFB Library Biographies: Col Scott F. Shepherd". 460 Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  16. ^ Scully, Janene (29 October 2007). "Space unit settles in at VAFB". Santa Maria Times. Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 20 May 2017. (search)

Bibliography

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