17th Space Surveillance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 17th Space Surveillance Squadron (17 SSS) was a space
surveillance
unit located at RAF Edzell
, Scotland
. Before its inactivation, the 17th SSS
operated sensors for the Low-Altitude Surveillance System (LASS).
missile launches
and southerly launches from the Soviet Union from Thailand, until its deactivation in May 1976. Reactivating as the 17th Surveillance Squadron (17th SS) on 1 Aug 1982, the unit provided low-altitude space surveillance until its subsequent deactivation in June 1989. Reactivating again in Oct 1993, the newly designated 17th Space Surveillance Squadron (17th SSS) operated sensors for the Low-Altitude Space Surveillance System, until its final deactivation and closure of RAF Edzell
in 1996. With the inactivation of the 73rd Space Group and closure of RAF Edzell, Scotland, in October 1996, the 5th Space Surveillance Squadron
, at RAF Feltwell
, United Kingdom
incorporated the LASS mission.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 17th Space Surveillance Squadron (17 SSS) was a space
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
unit located at RAF Edzell
RAF Edzell
RAF Edzell is a former Royal Air Force station located in one mile east of Edzell, Angus, Scotland.It was active for over fifty years, first as a RAF base during World War II, and later on lease to the United States Navy, From 1960 until its decommissioning in 1996, and final closure in 1997.Its...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Before its inactivation, the 17th SSS
operated sensors for the Low-Altitude Surveillance System (LASS).
History
The 17th Space Surveillance Squadron (17 SSS) was originally constituted as the 17th Radar Squadron (17th RS), and activated, on 1 Nov 1966. The 17th SS operated a radar sensor for the USAF Spacetrack System, first in New Jersey then later tracking People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
missile launches
and southerly launches from the Soviet Union from Thailand, until its deactivation in May 1976. Reactivating as the 17th Surveillance Squadron (17th SS) on 1 Aug 1982, the unit provided low-altitude space surveillance until its subsequent deactivation in June 1989. Reactivating again in Oct 1993, the newly designated 17th Space Surveillance Squadron (17th SSS) operated sensors for the Low-Altitude Space Surveillance System, until its final deactivation and closure of RAF Edzell
RAF Edzell
RAF Edzell is a former Royal Air Force station located in one mile east of Edzell, Angus, Scotland.It was active for over fifty years, first as a RAF base during World War II, and later on lease to the United States Navy, From 1960 until its decommissioning in 1996, and final closure in 1997.Its...
in 1996. With the inactivation of the 73rd Space Group and closure of RAF Edzell, Scotland, in October 1996, the 5th Space Surveillance Squadron
5th Space Surveillance Squadron
The United States Air Force's 5th Space Surveillance Squadron was a space surveillance unit located at RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom.-Mission:...
, at RAF Feltwell
RAF Feltwell
RAF Feltwell is a Royal Air Force station in Norfolk, East Anglia that is currently used by the United States Air Forces Europe. The station is located about 10 miles west of Thetford, and is in the borough of King's Lynn at approximate Ordnance Survey grid reference .A former Second World War...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
incorporated the LASS mission.
Major Command
- Air Force Space CommandAir Force Space CommandAir Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
(1992–Present) - Aerospace Defense Command (????)
- Air Defense Command (????)
Wing/Group
- 73d Space Group73d Space GroupThe 73d Space Group is an inactive United States Air Force space surveillance organization. Its last assignment was with Fourteenth Air Force, being stationed at Falcon Air Force Base, Colorado. It was inactivated on 26 April 1995....
(15 Nov 1993-????) - 1st Space Wing1st Space WingThe 1st Space Wing was a wing of the United States Air Force active from 1983 to 1992 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado as part of Air Force Space Command.-History:...
(1 May 1983–1 Jun 1989) - 73d Aerospace Surveillance Wing73d Space GroupThe 73d Space Group is an inactive United States Air Force space surveillance organization. Its last assignment was with Fourteenth Air Force, being stationed at Falcon Air Force Base, Colorado. It was inactivated on 26 April 1995....
(1 Jan 1967–31 Dec 1969)
Previous designations
- 17th Space Surveillance Squadron (1993–1996)
- 17th Surveillance Squadron (1983–1989)
- 17th Radar Squadron (1966–1976)
Bases stationed
- RAF EdzellRAF EdzellRAF Edzell is a former Royal Air Force station located in one mile east of Edzell, Angus, Scotland.It was active for over fifty years, first as a RAF base during World War II, and later on lease to the United States Navy, From 1960 until its decommissioning in 1996, and final closure in 1997.Its...
, ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(15 Nov 1993–????) - San MiguelSan MiguelSan Miguel, Spanish for Saint Michael, describes numerous locations.-Argentina:*San Miguel Partido*San Miguel, Buenos Aires*San Miguel Arcángel , a Volga German colony in Adolfo Alsina Partido, Buenos Aires Province...
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(1 Aug 1982–1 Jun 1989) - Ko Kha RTAS, ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(1 Sep 1971–31 May 1976) - MoorestownMoorestown Township, New Jersey-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 19,017 people, 6,971 households, and 5,270 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,287.3 per square mile . There were 7,211 housing units at an average density of 488.1 per square mile...
, NJNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
(1 Jan 1967–31 Dec 1969)
Equipment Operated
- Low Altitude Space Surveillance System (1982–1996)
- USAF Spacetrack System (1967–1976)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1997
- 1 Aug 1982–31 Jul 1983
- 14 Sep 1973–17 Feb 1975