310TH SPACE WING (AFRC) (310 SW) - Schriever Air Force Base

16
to include Job Control, plans and scheduling, analysis and
material control. Additionally, as a major DISA node, the
squadron provides communication services to multiple sites
worldwide.
Th e 50 SCS also provides cryptographic maintenance,
computer network services, publications, records
management, computer equipment control, small computer
maintenance and administrative telephone operations and
maintenance. Th rough the application of information
systems operations, maintenance and protection, the 50 SCS
earns its reputation as America’s “fi rst link to space.”
21st Space Operations Squadron
Th e 21st Space Operations Squadron is a
geographically separated unit of the 50th
Space Wing at Schriever Air force Base,
Colo. located at Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif. Th e mission of 21 SOPS is to plan
and conduct specialized communications for a
wide spectrum of Department of Defense, allied,
civil and commercial space systems. 21 SOPS provides
operational control node fault isolation and detection
capabilities aff ecting AFSCN common-user resources
and readiness for multiple users and command centers.
In addition, 21 SOPS provides operational oversight for
AFSCN remote tracking stations: Det 1, Diego Garcia
Tracking Station at British Indian Ocean Territory; Det 2,
Guam Tracking Station at Guam; Det 3, Hawaii Tracking
Station at Kaena Point Hawaii and Vandenberg Tracking
Station collocated at Vandenberg AFB. 21 SOPS also
provides maintenance assurance and sustainment support
for Global Positioning Satellite resources collocated with
its geographically separated units, to include an Operating
Location at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Finally,
21 SOPS provides and maintains backup operations centers
for several of the 50 SW missions.
22nd Space Operations Squadron
Th e 22nd Space Operations Squadron at
Schriever AFB executes space support
command and control of the $6.2 billion Air
Force Satellite Control Network, schedules
AFSCN antenna resources for 400-450 daily
satellite supports, and develops, publishes
and enforces network tasking order supporting
29 satellite operations centers. Th e squadron executes more
than 150,000 missions per year providing telemetry, tracking
and commanding operations for more than 150 Department
of Defense, allied and national agency satellites in support of
warfi ghters, the President, NASA and research/development
missions. 22nd SOPS leads eff orts to ensure assured access
to space overseeing operational mission integration, AFSCN
confi guration modifi cations, and contingency operations.
Th e squadron acts as a satellite operation “911” for the
Department of Defense responding in real time to satellite
vehicle emergencies. Orbital analysis from 22 SOPS informs
frequency interference and space safety data provided to
the satellite operations community and the Joint Space
Operations Center. 22 SOPS also coordinates on launch
“go” or “no-go” decisions providing booster, payload and
early orbit support for many launches at Cape Canaveral
AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
22 SOPS oversees AFSCN operations at eight tracking
stations and one checkout facility:
• 21 SOPS, DOO Flight, Vandenberg AFB, Calif (COOK)
• 21 SOPS, Det. 1, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean
Territory (REEF)
• 21 SOPS, Det. 2, Andersen AFB, Guam (GUAM)
• 21 SOPS, Det. 3, Kaena Point, Hawaii (HULA)
• 22 SOPS, MAOP Flight, Colorado Tracking Station,
Schriever AFB, Colo. (PIKE)
• 23 SOPS, New Boston Air Station, N.H. (BOSS)
• 23 SOPS, Det. 1, Th ule Air Base, Greenland (POGO)
• 23 SOPS, Operating Location-A, Telemetry and
Commanding Squadron, Oakhanger, United Kingdom
(LION)
• 23 SOPS, Eastern Vehicle Checkout Facility, Cape
Canaveral AFS, Fla. (BEACH)
23d Space Operations Squadron
Th e 23d Space Operations Squadron is located
at New Boston Air Force Station, N.H.,
and was activated Nov. 1, 1991 but has
been performing satellite operations since
1960. 23 SOPS is the largest of eight
AFSCN remote tracking stations providing
United States Strategic Command with critical
satellite command and control capability to more than
150 Department of Defense, national and civilian satellites
performing intelligence, weather, navigation, early-warning,
and communications operations. Th e squadron operates
and maintains a 2,826-acre installation with $106 million
infrastructure and is the largest geographically separated unit
in the 50th Space Wing.
©2012 Benchmark Publications, Inc.