The 22d Space Operations Squadron is a satellite control unit of the
United States Space Force. It is part of Space Delta 6 and is located at
Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. Prior to July 2020 it was part of the
50th Network Operations Group
The 50th Network Operations Group (50 NOG) was a United States Air Force group assigned to the 50th Space Wing at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. 50 NOG operated the Air Force Satellite Control Network and was responsible for the 50th Space ...
, itself a part of the
50th Space Wing
The 50th Space Wing was the United States Space Force's space and cyber warfare wing. The 50th Space Wing was assigned to Space Operations Command and headquartered at Schriever Air Force Base.
It was activated in 1949 as the 50th Fighter Win ...
.
Mission and operations
The 22nd Space Operations Squadron (22nd SOPS) operates the
Satellite Control Network (SCN) by developing, executing and enforcing the Space Access Tasking Order (SpATO) and providing space safety analysis to conduct satellite operations. The 22nd SOPS coordinates the launch and on-orbit operations of more than 190
Department of Defense, national intelligence, civil and Allied nation's satellites, including in support of global warfighters, intelligence community users, the President and Secretary of Defense.
The 22nd SOPS's Operations Center at
Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, develops, publishes and enforces the SpATO, and directs and monitors all aspects of enterprise operations for SCN users through a combination of military commanders, civilian professionals and contract support. The squadron's orbit analysts coordinate
ephemeris
In astronomy and celestial navigation, an ephemeris (pl. ephemerides; ) is a book with tables that gives the trajectory of naturally occurring astronomical objects as well as artificial satellites in the sky, i.e., the position (and possibly vel ...
data, launch and early orbit analysis determination, and tracking station look angles to support space operations for some 29 different space operations centers.
The 22nd SOPS also provides a limited predictive and investigative
radio frequency interference and
collision avoidance
In transportation, collision avoidance is the maintenance of systems and practices designed to prevent vehicles (such as aircraft, motor vehicles, ships, cranes and trains) from colliding with each other. Examples include:
* Airborne collision avo ...
capability to all SCN users. It also implements defensive counter-space actions to ensure continued "access to space" and protect the ability to create "space effects".
The unit staffing consisted of officers, enlisted, DOD civilians and contractor personnel performing SCN operations and maintenance 24/7 around the globe.
History
Constituted 22d Space Operations Squadron on 10 July 1991, it was activated on 1 Oct 1991. It operated as part of the
2d Satellite Tracking (later, 750th Space) Group.
In 1992 the Thule Tracking Station (TTS, ) near
Thule Air Base in
Greenland transferred to Detachment 3, 22nd Space Operations Squadron. It was originally the
6594th Test Wing's Operating Location 5 made operational in 1961-62. The installation was a
Remote Tracking Station
The Satellite Control Network (SCN), operated by the United States Space Force's Space Delta 6, provides support for the operation, control, and maintenance of a variety of United States Department of Defense and some non-DoD satellites. This in ...
(callsign: Polar Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (POGO)) of the U.S. Space Force's
Satellite Control Network. It includes a "fully equipped mini-fitness center".
The stations "C-side" of electronics was removed in summer 2011 and the upgrade to an
Automated Remote Tracking Station was forecast to be completed in 2015.
In 2004 the squadron was transferred from being under the 50th Operations Group to the 50th Network Operations Group. The 50th Network Operations Group brought together all the 50th Space Wing's squadrons responsible for Air Force Satellite Control Network operations and maintenance as well as communications.
As part of 22 SOPS, the Colorado Tracking Station enjoyed a unique status as the only on-base satellite tracking facility. Originally built in the late 1980s, the station underwent a number of upgrades. In late 2006, the station was scheduled to receive a new equipment core, which would have allowed further automation of the satellite operations. The new core, part of the Remote Tracking Station Block Change, includes computer processor upgrades, and new hardware/software to allow the tracking station equipment to better interface with the upgraded satellite operations centers. This system also involves a 13-meter diameter, 3-axis antenna. This new antenna adds the capability to track low earth orbiting satellites "over the top".
The squadron operated several detachments at tracking stations around the globe, each forming part of the
Satellite Control Network.
* Detachment 1: Vandenberg Tracking Station (COOK),
Vandenberg Air Force Base,
California.
* Detachment 2: Diego Garcia Tracking Station (REEF),
Diego Garcia,
British Indian Ocean Territory
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 ...
* Detachment 3: Thule Tracking Station (POGO), near
Thule Air Base, Greenland
* Detachment 4: Hawaii Tracking Station (HULA),
Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station
Kaena Point Space Force Station is a United States Space Force installation in Kaena Point on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It is a remote tracking station of the Satellite Control Network responsible for tracking satellites in orbit, many of w ...
, Hawaii
* Detachment 5: Guam Tracking Station (GUAM),
Guam
* OL-AE: Telemetry and Command Station (LION),
RAF Oakhanger, United Kingdom
*New Boston Tracking Station (BOSS) New Hampshire
Beginning October 1, 2006, the Colorado Tracking Station began reduced operations, owing to "fiscal constraints".
On Nov. 1, 2010, command of six of the squadron’s seven remote tracking stations was transferred to the 21st Space Operations Squadron (Vandenberg, Diego Garcia, Hawaii and Guam) and 23rd Space Operations Squadron (Thule, Oakhanger and the Eastern Vehicle Checkout Facility). On July 16, 2012, operations at the Colorado Tracking Station ceased.
The squadron was realigned to Space Delta 6 of the United States Space Force on 24 July 2020.
Lineage
* Constituted as the 22d Space Operations Squadron on 10 July 1991
: Activated on 1 October 1991
[Endicott, p. 493]
Assignments
* 2d Satellite Tracking Group (later 750th Space Group)
[
* ]50th Operations Group
The 50th Operations Group was a subordinate unit of the 50th Space Wing, and assigned to Air Force Space Command from 1991-2019. The group, redesignated as Space Delta 8 on 24 Jul 2020 is stationed at Schriever Space Force Base, previously Schr ...
, June 1999[
* Space Delta 6, 24 July 2020 – present]
Stations
* Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, 1 October 1991 – present[
]
Awards
* The Aldridge Trophy 1996 (Guardian Challenge The United States Air Force's Global Strike Challenge is an annual competition where different sections of the Air Force compete in a series of challenges to prove their speed and readiness. Until 201 it was known as the Guardian Challenge.
See al ...
)
* Outstanding Unit Awards:
** September 1990 – August 1991
** September 1993 – August 1995
** October 1998 – September 2000
** October 2000 – September 2001
** October 2001 – October 2002
** October 2002 – October 2003
List of commanders
* Lt Col Dave Arnold, ~Jul 2007
* Lt Col Steven Staats, 1 Feb 2008
* Lt Col Eric Dorminey, 5 August 2009
* Lt Col William Angerman, 6 July 2011
References
; Notes
; Citations
Bibliography
*
External links
*
{{USAF Space Command
Squadrons of the United States Space Force
Military units and formations in Colorado