18th Space Control Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 18th Space Control Squadron (18 SPCS) was a space
surveillance
unit located at Edwards AFB, California
. Before its inactivation, the 18th SPCS operated optical sensors for the Ground-based Electro Optical Deep Space System (GEODSS).
's Space Surveillance Network. They were responsible for operating four worldwide GEODSS sites, in addition to the Transportable Optical System (TOS), and the Maui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC). The focal point for all optical command and control was centralized at the Optical Command, Control and Communications Facility (OC3F). The 18 SPSS became part of the 1st Space Wing
, Air Force Space Command, on 1 February 1990.
The unit was reassigned from the 1st Space Wing
to the 73d Space Group
on 15 May 1992.
The 18th SPSS relocated to Edwards Air Force Base
, California
in July 1995. The 73rd Space Group was deactivated in May 1995 and all units were then assigned to the 21st Space Wing
. With a force-wide renaming of space units, the 18th SPSS became the 18th Space Control Squadron (18 SCS) in February 2003. This renaming did not last long, however, since the unit was deactivated in June 2004, with all detachments falling under the 21st Operations Group
.
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 18th Space Control Squadron (18 SPCS) 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 Edwards AFB, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Before its inactivation, the 18th SPCS operated optical sensors for the Ground-based Electro Optical Deep Space System (GEODSS).
Mission
The mission of the 18th SPCS is to provide direct support to USCINCSPACE’s space control mission through optical space surveillance. This includes detection, tracking, identification, and special signature collection of near space and deep space objects.History
18th SPSS was the optical portion of the United States Air ForceUnited 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 Space Surveillance Network. They were responsible for operating four worldwide GEODSS sites, in addition to the Transportable Optical System (TOS), and the Maui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC). The focal point for all optical command and control was centralized at the Optical Command, Control and Communications Facility (OC3F). The 18 SPSS became part of the 1st Space Wing
1st Space Wing
The 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:...
, Air Force Space Command, on 1 February 1990.
The unit was reassigned from the 1st Space Wing
1st Space Wing
The 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:...
to the 73d Space Group
73d Space Group
The 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....
on 15 May 1992.
The 18th SPSS relocated to Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in July 1995. The 73rd Space Group was deactivated in May 1995 and all units were then assigned to the 21st Space Wing
21st Space Wing
The 21st Space Wing is a unit of the Air Force Space Command based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The unit is tasked with the operation of early missile warning and space object detection equipment around the world in support of NORAD and USSTRATCOM through a network of command and control...
. With a force-wide renaming of space units, the 18th SPSS became the 18th Space Control Squadron (18 SCS) in February 2003. This renaming did not last long, however, since the unit was deactivated in June 2004, with all detachments falling under the 21st Operations Group
21st Space Wing
The 21st Space Wing is a unit of the Air Force Space Command based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The unit is tasked with the operation of early missile warning and space object detection equipment around the world in support of NORAD and USSTRATCOM through a network of command and control...
.
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....
(1 Feb 1990-2004) - Aerospace Defense Command (??-1 Oct 1975)
- Air Defense Command (1 Nov 1966-??)
Numbered Air Force
- 14th Air Force (1 Feb 1990-2004)
- 14th Aerospace Force (???)
Detachments
- 18 SPSS, Detachment 1 - SocorroSocorro, New MexicoSocorro is a city in Socorro County in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It stands in the Rio Grande Valley at an elevation of . The population was 9,051 at the 2010 census...
, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S... - 18 SPSS, Detachment 2 - Diego GarciaDiego GarciaDiego Garcia is a tropical, footprint-shaped coral atoll located south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean at 7 degrees, 26 minutes south latitude. It is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory [BIOT] and is positioned at 72°23' east longitude....
, British Indian Ocean Territories - 18 SPSS, Detachment 3 - MauiMauiThe island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
, HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... - 18 SPSS, Detachment 4 - Morón AB, SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Previous designations
- 18th Space Control Squadron (??-2004)
- 18th Space Surveillance Squadron (1 Nov 1966-1 Oct 1975; 1 Feb 1990-???)
Bases stationed
- Edwards AFB, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(1 Nov 1994-2004) - Peterson AFB, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
(1 Feb 1990-1 Nov 1994) - Edwards AFB, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(1 Jan 1967-1 Oct 1975)
Equipment Operated
- Ground-based Electro Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (Feb 1990-2004)
- Baker-Nunn satellite tracking cameras (Jan 1967-Oct 1975)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1999
- 1 Jan 1998-31 Dec 1998
- 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1997
- 8 Jul 1970-7 Jul 1971