20th Space Control Squadron

20th Space Control Squadron
20th Space Control Squadron emblem
Active	1966-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Space Control
Role	Active Space Surveillance
Part of	21st Space Wing
Garrison/HQ	Eglin AFB, Florida
Motto	DETECT - TRACK - IDENTIFY
Decorations	AFOUA

The United States Air Force's 20th Space Control Squadron is a space control unit located at Eglin AFB, Florida.

Mission

The mission of the 20th Space Control Squadron is to detect, track, identify, and report near earth and deep space objects in earth's orbit, and provide space object identification data in support of United States Strategic Command's space control mission.

History

The personnel of the 20th SPCS operate the Air Force Space Surveillance System and maintain the AN/FPS-85 radar, the Air Force's only phased-array radar dedicated to tracking earth-orbiting objects. The AN/FPS-85 radar can track approximately 90 percent of all manmade objects in earth orbit. The radar can track near-earth objects the size of a softball moving at 300 miles (500 km) and deep space objects the size of a basketball moving at 22,300 nautical miles (41,300 km) above earth. Located at Site C-6 on Eglin, the squadron is a geographically separated unit of the 21st Space Wing and the only Air Force Space Command unit on Eglin.

Previous designations

• 20th Space Control Squadron (February 2003–Present)
• 20th Space Surveillance Squadron (May 1992-February 2003)
• 20th Surveillance Squadron (May 1987-May 1992)
• 20th Missile Warning Squadron (???? -May 1987)
• 20th Surveillance Squadron (November 1966-????)

Locations

• Eglin AFB, Florida (1966–Present)

Decorations

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
  • 1 January 2000-31 August 2001^[1]
  • 1 January 1999-31 December 1999^[2]
  • 1 January 1998-31 December 1998^[3]
  • 1 October 1997-30 September 1999^[4]
  • 1 October 1995-30 September 1997^[5]
  • 1 September 1991-31 August 1993^[6]
  • 1 September 1990-31 August 1991^[7]
  • 1 September 1988-31 August 1990^[8]

References

1. ^ AFSPC Special Order GA-10, 2001
2. ^ AFSPC Special Order GA-97, 2000
3. ^ AFSPC Special Order GA-62, 6 December 1999
4. ^ AFSPC Special Order GA-58, 6 December 1999
5. ^ AFSPC Special Order GA-09, 1 November 1997
6. ^ AFSPC Special Order GA-30, 1994
7. ^ AFSPC Special Order GA-95, 1992
8. ^ AFSPC Special Order GA-45, 1990

External links

United States Air Force portal

• 20th SCS Factsheet - Eglin AFB, Florida

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