3d Space Operations Squadron
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3d Space Operations Squadron
| 3d Space Operations Squadron | |
|---|---|
 3d Space Operations Squadron emblem |
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| Active | 2 February 1990 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Satellite Operations |
| Role | Combat Support |
| Part of | AFSPC/14 AF/50th Space Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Schriever AFB, Colorado |
| Engagements |    |
| Decorations |  AFOUA |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lt Col Chadwick D. Igl |
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The United States Air Force's 3d Space Operations Squadron (3 SOPS) is a satellite operations unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado.
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Contents
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Mission
The mission of 3 SOPS is to ensure reliable space-borne communications to the President, the Secretary of Defense and U.S. and Allied Forces. The mission is accomplished by conducting launch and on-orbit operations for the Defense Satellite Communications System Phase III satellites and Wideband Global Satellite. These satellites provide secure high-rate data communications links to the President, the Secretary of Defense, theater commanders, and strategic and tactical forces worldwide.[1]
History
World War II
Established under the 1st Photographic Group in May 1941. Performed aerial mapping primarily over the southeastern United States prior to the Pearl Harbor Attack using P-39 Aircobra sub-variants (F-2) which were equipped for the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles. After the United States entry into World War II, flew aerial mapping missions over the Caribbean and northern South America, mapping various islands for locations of airfields to support the South Atlantic Transport route and Antilles Air Command antisubmarine mission. In addition, flew aerial mapping missions over Western Canada and the Alaska Territory, mapping uncharted territory to support the building of the Alaska Highway.
Deployed to China-India-Burma theater in December 1943, performing unarmed long-range mapping of remote areas of the Theater over combat areas in support of ground forces and strategic target identification over Indochina and Malay Peninsula for follow-up raids by XX Bomber Command operating from India.
Returned to the United States in early 1944; equipped with very long range B-29 Superfortresses converted to F-13A reconnaissance configuration. Deployed to the Central Pacific Area (CPA) and assigned to XXI Bomber Command (later 20th Air Force). Supported the Strategic Air Offensive over the Japanese Home Islands; on 31 October 1944, a 3rd PRS F-13 became the first American aircraft over Tokyo since the famed Doolittle Raid in 1942. By the end of the war, the 3rd PRS had flown 460 combat missions mainly over Japan. Remained in the Western Pacific performing reconnaissance mapping flights over Japan, Korea and China.
B-29s returned to the United States in early 1946 for storage or reassignment; Inactivated in early 1947.
Modern era
In 1985, the initial cadre of Air Force NATO III and DSCS II satellite operators received training at Sunnyvale Air Force Station, Calif. These personnel relocated to Falcon AFB in 1987 and became Operating Location-AB, Consolidated Space Test Center. These men and women became the nucleus of what would eventually become the 3rd SOPS. On 2 August 1988, OL-AB began 24-hour operations at Falcon AFS. By May 1989, OL-AB was conducting station-keeping maneuvers on NATO III and DSCS II satellites. On 2 February 1990, OL-AB was deactivated with the personnel and mission transferring to the newly activated 3rd SOPS.
In November 1990, the 3rd SCS was directed to relocate a DSCS II from over the Pacific to a position over the Indian Ocean in support of Operation Desert Shield. The series of relocation maneuvers were completed in December 1990 and the satellite was then configured for operational use. Combat crews saved a failing FLTSATCOM spacecraft just as Operation Desert Storm commenced, ensuring the U.S. Navy's two carrier groups had command and control of their aircraft.
On 11 July 1991, in a formal operations turnover ceremony, the squadron accepted complete operational mission transfer of all assigned satellite programs. This transfer officially established operational control of the assigned DOD communications satellites to Air Force Space Command.
On 30 January 1992, as part of a reorganization at Falcon AFB, the 3rd SCS was redesignated the 3rd SOPS.
On 25 March 1993, the first UHF F/O was launched. Unfortunately due to an Atlas II rocket booster malfunction, the satellite was placed in the wrong orbit. Over the next several weeks, 3rd personnel planned and executed a series of 25 maneuvers to move the satellite to a super-synchronous orbit. The commander of Air Force Space Command recognized 3rd SOPS for their heroic efforts.
In June 1996, as part of an Air Force and Navy agreement, operations of the FLTSAT constellation were turned over to the Naval Satellite Operations Center at Pt. Mugu, Calif. In December 1996, 3rd SOPS transferred control of the Milstar constellation to 4th SOPS. On 18 December 1996, 3rd SOPS gained control of five operating locations located in Nebraska, Virginia, Guam, Italy, and Hawaii. The OLs were responsible for running the Air Force's Satellite Management Centers, which monitored and controlled user access to UHF communications satellites. As part of the same agreement that transferred FLTSAT, the SMC's mission was also transferred to the Navy.
On 2 July 1999, as part of the same agreement that transferred FLTSAT to the Navy, operational control of UHF F/O Flights 2–9 transferred to NAVSOC. On 10 February 2000, after several months of on-orbit checkout, 3rd SOPS conducted its last UHF F/O sortie on Flight 10.
As part of the Congressionally mandated Base Realignment and Closure decision of Onizuka Air Force Station in 1996, 3rd SOPS assumed the DSCS III launch mission from 5th SOPS. The most recent DSCS III launch took place in March 2003.
In October 2007, 3 SOPS assumed satellite control authority of one of the DOD's newest and most robust communications satellites, with the launch of WGS-2 Wideband Global SATCOM.
Lineage
- Constituted 3d Photographic Squadron on 15 May 1941
- Activated on 10 June 1941
- Redesignated: 3d Mapping Squadron on 13 January 1942
- Redesignated: 3d Photographic Mapping Squadron on 9 June 1942
- Redesignated: 3d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Heavy) on 19 May 1944
- Redesignated: 3d Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic-RCM) on 19 September 1945
- Redesignated: 3d Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic) on 16 January 1946
- Inactivated on 15 March 1947.
- Redesignated as 3d Satellite Control Squadron and activated on 9 January 1990
- Redesignated as 3d Space Operations Squadron on 30 January 1992
Assignments
- 1st Photographic (later Mapping; Photographic Charting) Group, 10 June 1941
- 11th Photographic Group, 1 December 1943
- 311th Photographic (later Reconnaissance) Wing, 5 October 1944
- Attached to: Twentieth Air Force, 1 November 1944
- Attached to: XXI Bomber Command, December 1944
- Attached to: Twentieth Air Force, 16 July 1945
- Twentieth Air Force, 3 February – 15 March 1947
- 2d Space Wing, 9 January 1990
- 50th Operations Group, 1 January 1992 – present
Stations
- Maxwell Field, Alabama, 10 June 1941
- MacDill Field, Florida, 22 December 1941
- Smoky Hill Army Airfield, Kansas, 16 April – 3 August 1944
- Isley Field, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, 18 September 1944
- Harmon Field, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, 11 January 1945 – 15 March 1947
- Falcon (later Schriever) AFB, Colorado, 9 January 1990 – present
Aircraft/Satellites operated
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Decorations
References
- ^ Schriever AFB Public Affairs: 3d Space Operations Squadron Fact Sheet
- ^ AFSPC – Wideband Global Satellite Factsheet
- ^ AFSPC – DSCS III Factsheet
- ^ JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library: FLTSATCOM
- ^ a b AFHRA: "FOIA Request 09-00718", dated 27 May 2009
- ^ a b AFSPC Special Order GA-08, 2001
External links
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