Cape Cod Space Force Station is a United States Space Force station located in the northwest corner of Joint Base Cape Cod, United States, on Flatrock Hill in Bourne, Massachusetts. Cape Cod Space Force Station began construction in 1976 as Cape Cod Missile Early Warning Station and was renamed Cape Cod Air Force Station in 1982, before assuming its current name in 2021.
On 27 August 1973, the United States Air Force directed the construction of two phased array missile warning radar systems, specifically to defend against the launch of submarine-launched ballistic missiles. On 23 May 1975 it was announced that the east coast site would be located at Otis Air Force Base at Cape Cod and the west coast site would be located at Beale Air Force Base. Construction on the Cape Cod Missile Warning Station began on 26 October 1976. On 1 October 1979, the 6th Missile Warning Squadron and 2165th Communications Squadron were established and the facility became operational on 4 April 1980 under Aerospace Defense Command's 21st Air Division. On 1 December 1979, Aerospace Defense Command's missile warning and space surveillance radars were transferred to Strategic Air Command, with Cape Cod Missile Warning Station becoming part of the 45th Air Division.[1]
On 5 January 1982, Cape Cod Missile Warning Station's name was changed to Cape Cod Air Force Station and became part of Air Force Space Command's 1st Space Wing on 1 May 1983. In 1986, the 2165th Communications Squadron was merged into the 6th Missile Warning Squadron. On 15 May 1992, the 6th Missile Warning Squadron was redesignated as the 6th Space Warning Squadron and reassigned to the 21st Space Wing's 21st Operations Group. On 20 December 2019, the 6th Space Warning Squadron became part of the United States Space Force and on 24 July 2020, the 6th Space Warning Squadron became part of Space Delta 4 and Buckley Garrison became responsible for installation support.[2]
On 11 June 2021, Cape Cod Air Force Station was renamed Cape Cod Space Force Station.[3]
Lt. Gen.Nina Armagno, Rep. Bill Keating, Lt. Col. Timothy “Skip” Sheehan, and other dignitaries including Walter Taylor and Greg Moore attend the installation's redesignation as a Space Force Station.
Member of Air Force Security Forces standing watch in front of the PAVE PAWS installation at Cape Cod SFS, 2021
The entrance to the station while designated an Air Force Station
Radar screen for the PAVE PAWS at Cape Cod AFS, 1986
Computer room for PAVE PAWS at Cape Cod AFS, 1986. Note the four large hard disk units in the foreground.
