1st Space Operations Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Space Operations Squadron


caption= 1st Space Operations Squadron emblem
dates= 19xx-Present
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
type= Space Operations
role= On-orbit Command and Control
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ceremonial_chief=
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The United States Air Force's 1st Space Operations Squadron (1 SOPS) is a space operations unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado.

Mission

7 SOPS conducts command and control (C2) for four distinct constellations: Defense Support Program (DSP), Global Positioning System (GPS), Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) and a NASA research and development (NASA R&D) program, in low earth to deep space orbits, and is Air Force Space Command's only multi-mission Satellite Operations Control Center. [http://www.patriotfiles.com/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=1678&page=1 PatriotFiles.com: 1st Space Operations Squadron Factsheet]

History

Previous designationsRogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0

* Wing ()

Assignments

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Bases stationed

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Aircraft & Missiles OperatedWorld Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

* (???-Present)

Lineage

Constituted 1st Aerospace Surveillance and Control Squadron, and activated, on 6 Feb 1961. Organized on 14 Feb 1961. Redesignated 1st Aerospace Control Squadron on 1 Jul 1962. Inactivated on 21 Apr 1976. Redesignated 1st Satellite Control Squadron on 25 Sep 1987. Activated on 5 Oct 1987. Redesignated 1st Space Operations Squadron on 30 Jan 1992.

Assignments

Air Defense Command, 6 Feb 1961; 9th Aerospace Defense Division, 1 Oct 1961; Fourteenth Aerospace Force, 1 Jul 1968-21 Apr 1976. 2d Space Wing, 5 Oct 1987; 50th Operations Group, 30 Jan 1992-.

Stations

Ent AFB, CO, 14 Feb 1961; Cheyenne Mountain Complex, CO, Apr 1966- 21 Apr 1976. Falcon AFS (later, AFB), CO, 5 Oct 1987-.

Space Systems

Satellites, 1961-1976. Satellites, 1987-.

Operations

Operated Space Detection and Tracking System Center, tracking and cataloging man-made objects in space, 1961-1976. Satellite command and control for the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, and the Defense Support Program, 1987-.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1961-15 Sep 1963; 1 Jun 1973- 30 Jun 1974; 1 Dec 1987-30 Nov 1989; 1 Sep 1990-31 Aug 1991.

Emblem

On a disc Azure, three bars arched to base Or, superimposed at fess point by a stylized satellite of the like charged with a mullet of the first between in fess two polestars and pointing to chief a flight symbol at honor point all Argent. MOTTO: ALWAYS IN CONTROL. Approved on 12 Nov 1993 (DFSC 94-02412); replaced emblems approved on 30 Jun 1988 (DFSC 88-08481) and 6 Feb 1962 (K 12986).

The 1st Space Operations Squadron (1 SOPS) is a component of the 50th Operations Group, 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. The squadron was activated on Jan. 30, 1992 and is supported by the a USAFR unit, the 7th Space Operations Squadoron (7 SOPS).

The squadron is also responsible for performance launch, on-orbit, emergency, end-of-life testing and disposal operations providing warning, navigation, R&D, surveillance and weather to the president and the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff and nine combatant commanders worldwide.

=Mission [http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3912 1SOPS Fact Sheet] =

The squadron operates and maintains 24-hour Air Force Satellite Control Network command and control capability for GPS, DSP and MSX constellations. 1st SOPS also operates and maintains a research and development space system providing vital space weather data worldwide.

1st SOPS performs launch and early-orbit operations for GPS and DSP systems including satellite activation, initial checkout and transfer to mission orbit. 1st SOPS plans and executes tracking, telemetry and commanding functions for GPS, DSP, MXS and a NASA R&D satellite to maintain spacecraft state-of-health, sustain on-orbit operations and accomplish mission taskings. They respond to all satellite emergencies, and support end-of-life testing and disposal operations for GPS, DSP and MSX and R&D spacecraft as required.

The squadron maintains DSP spacecraft positional knowledge and distributes data to worldwide users. 1st SOPS also completes 100 percent of MSX and R&D training and evaluation.

The Multi-Mission Space Operations Center (MMSOC) is a revolutionary approach to space operations -- an operations center focused on forging a one-of-a-kind operations/acquisition team to demonstrate and field emerging space missions and satellite C2 technologies in a rapid, decisive manner. The MMSOC is structured to operate a variety of satellite missions, including satellite initiatives without a program office, satellite missions of small scale (small constellations), new missions transitioning from concept toward full-scale operations, and all research, development, test and evaluation satellites with operational utility remaining after test and evaluation are complete.

Mission control crew shifts conduct 24-hour operations supporting the three major functions of satellite control; telemetry, tracking and commanding. Orbital analysts and program engineers provide program specific knowledge and support to the crews. The operators perform pre-contact planning, real time contact and post-contact evaluation. The squadron conducts more than 2,000 contacts a month.

Chain of command

* United States Department of Defense
* United States Air Force
* Air Force Space Command
* 14th Air Force
* 50th Space Wing
* 50th Operations Group

=History [http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3912 1SOPS Fact Sheet] =

The unit was originally activated Feb. 14, 1961, as the 1st Aerospace Control Squadron, which was in operation until April 1976. On Oct. 5, 1987, the squadron was reactivated, renamed the 1st Satellite Control Squadron, and began its ever-growing satellite control mission. On Feb. 16, 1988, the squadron began its first commanding on the DSP constellation.

The Space Operations Center (SOC) was operationally turned over to AFSPC on Dec. 21, 1989. The SOC increased its mission on Feb. 20, 1990, when the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program mission was operationally turned over. In May 1996, satellite command authority for the first research and development satellite controlled by AFSPC, Technology for Autonomous Operational Survivability, was given to 1st SOPS.

On Dec. 4, 1998, the squadron assumed command and control capability on the Midcourse Space Experiment, which became an operational program on Oct. 1, 2000, with the first-ever transfer of operations from the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to AFSPC.

References

External links

* http://www.schriever.af.mil