The

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Si ...

's 148th Space Operations Squadron (148 SOPS) is a satellite control unit located at

Vandenberg AFB Vandenberg Space Force Base , previously Vandenberg Air Force Base, is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from th ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. The 148th SOPS is tasked with back-up command and control of the

MILSTAR Milstar (Military Strategic and Tactical Relay) is a constellation of military communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit, which are operated by the United States Space Force, and provide secure and jam-resistant worldwide communications ...

satellite constellation.

Mission

The 148 SOPS mans the Primary Satellite Operations Center- Vandenberg (PSOC-V), one of two fixed

Milstar Milstar (Military Strategic and Tactical Relay) is a constellation of military communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit, which are operated by the United States Space Force, and provide secure and jam-resistant worldwide communications ...

Ground Stations. Unique to Milstar is its

ground segment A ground segment consists of all the ground-based elements of a space system used by operators and support personnel, as opposed to the space segment and user segment. The ground segment enables management of a spacecraft, and distribution of pay ...

for control of the constellation. Milstar has two fixed ground stations, Primary Satellite Operations Center (PSOC), at 4 SOPS and Primary Satellite Operations Center – Vandenberg or PSOC-V. Each site is fully capable of complete constellation control and operates 24/7. The Milstar Ops Center-Vandenberg is operated by the 148 SOPS, a California Air Guard Unit, and does control 2 Milstar satellites full-time.

History

The 148 SOPS was originally established as the 148th Combat Communications Squadron at Compton, California. The unit was redesignated the 148th Space Operations Squadron and relocated to Vandenberg AFB, California on 31 October 2000.

Previous designations

* 148th Space Operations Squadron (2000–present) * 148th Combat Communications Squadron (1976–2000) * 148th Mobil Communications Squadron (1960–1976) * 148th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (1948–1960)

Locations

Vandenberg SFB Vandenberg Space Force Base , previously Vandenberg Air Force Base, is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from th ...

(2000–present) *

March ARB March Air Reserve Base (March ARB), previously known as March Air Force Base (March AFB) is located in Riverside County, California between the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's ...

(1997–2000) * Ontario ANGS,

(1984–1997) *

Compton, California Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, situated south of downtown Los Angeles. Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and, on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city in Los Angeles County to incorporat ...

(1948–1951) as the 148th Aircraft Control and Warming Squadron. * Oklahoma Air Force Station, OK (1 May 1951 – 31 January 1953) Oklahoma Air Force Station, OK. * Compton ANG Station, CA (1953–1960) as 148th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron. * Compton ANGB, CA (1960–1976) as the 148th Mobil Communications Squadron. * Compton ANGB, CA (1976–1984) as 148th Combat Communications Squadron. * Ontario ANGB, CA ( 1984–1997) as 148th Combat Communications Squadron. Title: 50th Anniversary-History of 148th Combat Comm Squadron.

Decorations

References

External links

{{US Air Force navbox Squadrons of the United States Air National Guard Space Operations 0148 Military units and formations in California