- 5th Space Operations Squadron
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 5th Space Operations Squadron
caption= 5 SOPS emblem
dates= 1993–1995
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Combat Support
role= Satellite Operations
size= 35 military
command_structure=USAF Group
current_commander=
garrison=Onizuka Air Force Station
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Pioneers of Space
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=The
United States Air Force 's 5th Space Operations Squadron (5 SOPS) was asatellite operations unit located atOnizuka AFS ,California . The 5th Space Operations Squadron was a component of the50th Operations Group ,50th Space Wing , before being deactivated in 1995. 5 SOPS was responsible for day-to-day command and control for theDSCS III satellites and theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization communications satellite program. The squadron had prime launch responsibility for DSCS III,NATO IV/Skynet IV and theInertial Upper Stage booster.History
5th SOPS rose out of the rich history of the
Air Force Satellite Control Facility . The squadron was provisionally activated as Operating Location-A,750th Space Group , onOctober 1 ,1992 . This satellite control facility established one of the Air Force's major roles in space: satellite operations. AFSCF was later divided into the 2nd Space Test Group and the Consolidated Space Test Center onOctober 1 ,1987 when AFSPC took over Onizuka Air Force Base, now Onizuka Air Station. OL-A encompassed the CSTC divisions of VOS, VOE, and VOD. 5th SOPS was officially activatedNovember 22 ,1993 under the 50th Operations Group and within one year, 21st SOPS absorbed the roles of the2d Satellite Tracking Group Operations Division and the1999th Communications Squadron Operations Division. After the 1995Base Realignment and Closure Committee directed realignment of Onizuka AFS,21st SOPS absorbed the roles of the750th Space Group and all subordinate units and the 5th Space Operations Squadron.In a three week span, in late 1993, the squadron flawlessly launched a DSCS III and a NATO IV communication satellite, supported NASA's Hubble telescope repair and activated as the 5th Space Operations Squadron. The squadron has launched the IUS in support of NASA programs including all seven
TDRS and three inter-planetary spacecraft: Galileo (Jupiter), Magellan (Venus), and Ulysses (Sun).Previous designations
* 5th Space Operations Squadron (1993-199?)
Locations
*
Onizuka AFS ,California (1993-199?) [http://www.onizuka.af.mil/ Onizuka AFS Home Page]atellites operated
*
Defense Satellite Communications System III (1993–1995)
*NATO III (1993–1995) [http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/au-18/au18004b.htm Force Enhancement - Air University]
* SkyNet IV (1993–1995)
*Inertial Upper Stage (1993–1995)
* Tracking and Data Relay SatelliteReferences
External links
* [http://www.schriever.af.mil/onizuka/history.asp Onizuka AFS Chronology]
* [http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3918 21SOPS Fact Sheet]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/agency/5sops.htm Globalsecurity.org 5SOPS page]
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