The 2nd Space Warning Squadron Is part of the

Space Delta 4 , colors = , march = , mascot = , battles = , decorations = , notable_commanders = , anniversaries ...

Buckley Space Force Base Buckley Space Force Base is a United States Space Force base in Aurora, Colorado named after United States Army Air Service First Lieutenant John Harold Buckley. The base is run by Space Base Delta 2, with major units including the U.S. Space For ...

, Colorado. It operates the

Space-Based Infrared System The Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) is a United States Space Force system intended to meet the United States' Department of Defense infrared space surveillance needs through the first two to three decades of the 21st century. The SBIRS prog ...

satellite A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotope ...

s conducting global monitoring for significant

infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...

events. The squadron's mission is to operate and maintain the

. Additionally, it reports

ballistic missile A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles stay within the ...

and

space launch Space launch is the earliest part of a flight that reaches space. Space launch involves liftoff, when a rocket or other space launch vehicle leaves the ground, floating ship or midair aircraft at the start of a flight. Liftoff is of two main t ...

es,

nuclear Nuclear may refer to: Physics Relating to the nucleus of the atom: * Nuclear engineering *Nuclear physics *Nuclear power *Nuclear reactor *Nuclear weapon *Nuclear medicine *Radiation therapy *Nuclear warfare Mathematics *Nuclear space *Nuclear ...

detonations, and infrared data of operational value to the

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...

, Secretary of Defense,

combatant commander A unified combatant command (CCMD), also referred to as a combatant command, is a joint military command of the United States Department of Defense that is composed of units from two or more service branches of the United States Armed Forces, ...

intelligence agencies An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, public safety, and foreign policy objectives. Means of informatio ...

, and global warfighters.

Operations

On 7 January 2020 2nd Space Warning Squadron detected the launches of more than a dozen missiles against US and coalition partners. This provided crucial warning to the warfighters, which helped them to take cover.

History

The squadron has operated

ground stations A ground station, Earth station, or Earth terminal is a terrestrial radio station designed for extraplanetary telecommunication with spacecraft (constituting part of the ground segment of the spacecraft system), or reception of radio waves fro ...

set up to control the

Defense Support Program The Defense Support Program (DSP) is a program of the United States Space Force that operated the reconnaissance satellites which form the principal component of the ''Satellite Early Warning System'' used by the United States. DSP satellite ...

(DSP) and

, space-based surveillance systems configured to detect and report ballistic missile launches, space launches, and nuclear detonations since 1992.

Lineage

* Constituted as the 2d Space Communications Squadron on 1 May 1992 : Activated on 15 May 1992 : Redesignated 2d Space Warning Squadron on 1 May 1993

Assignments

* 21st Operations Group, 15 May 1992 *

21st Space Wing The 21st Space Wing (21 SW) was the United States Space Force's ground–based missile warning and space control wing. The 21st Space Wing was assigned to Space Operations Command and headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The 21st ...

, 21 July 1995 *

460th Operations Group The 460th Space Wing was the United States Space Force's space-based infrared surveillance, tracking, and missile warning wing. the 460th Space Wing was assigned to Space Operations Command and stationed at Buckley Air Force Base. The 460th Sp ...

, unknown – present

Stations

* Buckley Air National Guard Base (now

), Colorado, 15 May 1992 – present

Systems Operated

satellites (200x-present) *

satellites (1992–present)

List of commanders

* Lt Col Francois Roy, July 2013 * Lt Col April Wimmer, 7 July 2015 *Lt Col Shannon DaSilva, 11 May 2017 * Lt Col Brandon Davenport, 5 June 2019 * Lt Col Michael Mariner, 1 July 2021

References

Bibliography

External links

460th Operations Group Fact Sheet
{{USAF Space Command Squadrons of the United States Space Force Military units and formations in Colorado