45th Space Wing
Encyclopedia
The 45th Space Wing is a United States Air Force
unit. It is assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force
, stationed at Patrick Air Force Base
, Florida. It is also the host unit at Patrick AFB.
. The wing currently operates a number of rockets and missiles, including the Delta IV
and Atlas V
, and provides support for the Department of Defense
, NASA
, and commercial manned and unmanned space
programs. The wing formerly operated the recently-discontinued Titan IV
rocket.
Organized to maintain and operate the proving ground facilities in coordination and collaboration with other agencies of the national guided missile program. Provided static and flight testing to meet requirements of Army, Navy, and Air Force research and development programs, including operational experimentation and training.
From May 1950 to May 1951 had separate operating agency status, assigned directly to the United States Air Force. Maintained and operated the Eastern Test Range and affiliated facilities in support of Department of Defense (DOD), National Air and Space Administration, US Air Force, and other test and evaluation agencies, 1951-1977 and after 1979.
Operated "Down-Range" facilities at Antigua, Ascension Island, and Cape Canaveral, Florida, 1951-1977 and after 1979.
After Oct 1979 launched DOD payloads into orbit and collected flight data for evaluation of ballistic missile systems launched from Eastern Launch sites for DOD, NASA, and commercial customers. Gave support for DOD, NASA, and commercial manned and unmanned space programs while providing host-base responsibilities at Patrick AFB, FL.
45th Space Wing accomplshments are:
Groups
Squadrons
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...
unit. It is assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force
Fourteenth Air Force
The Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, stationed at Patrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It was named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick. An Air Force Space Command base, it is home to the 45th Space Wing...
, Florida. It is also the host unit at Patrick AFB.
Overview
The mission of the 45th Space Wing (45 SW) is to assure access to the high frontier and to support global operationsMilitary operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
. The wing currently operates a number of rockets and missiles, including the Delta IV
Delta IV rocket
Delta IV is an active expendable launch system in the Delta rocket family. Delta IV uses rockets designed by Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems division and built in the United Launch Alliance facility in Decatur, Alabama. Final assembly is completed at the launch site by ULA...
and Atlas V
Atlas V
Atlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance...
, and provides support for the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, and commercial manned and unmanned space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
programs. The wing formerly operated the recently-discontinued Titan IV
Titan IV
The Titan IV family of space boosters were used by the U.S. Air Force. They were launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. At the time of its introduction, the Titan IV was the "largest unmanned space booster used by the Air Force."The...
rocket.
Units
Major units assigned to the 45 SW are:- 45th Launch Group45th Launch GroupThe 45th Launch Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 45th Space Wing, stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.-Overview:...
- The 45th Launch Group participates in receipt, inspection, processing, test, and launch of all flight hardware to ensure the successful launch of satellites to support national and Combatant Commander requirements
- 5th Space Launch Squadron5th Space Launch SquadronThe United States Air Force's 5th Space Launch Squadron is a space launch unit located at Patrick AFB, Florida. The 5th SLS is tasked with launch and support of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles.-History:...
- 45th Operations Group
- Located at Cape Canaveral Air Force StationCape Canaveral Air Force StationCape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
, Florida, the 45th Operations Group operates the Eastern Range and launches space vehicles for Department of Defense (DoD), NASA, the United States, and international commercial customers.
- 45th Medical Group
- 45th Mission Support Group
History
- See also: 45th Operations Group; 45th Launch Group45th Launch GroupThe 45th Launch Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 45th Space Wing, stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.-Overview:...
; 6555th Aerospace Test Group6555th Aerospace Test GroupThe 6555th Aerospace Test Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Eastern Space and Missile Center and stationed at Patrick AFB, Florida...
for additional lineage and history.
Organized to maintain and operate the proving ground facilities in coordination and collaboration with other agencies of the national guided missile program. Provided static and flight testing to meet requirements of Army, Navy, and Air Force research and development programs, including operational experimentation and training.
From May 1950 to May 1951 had separate operating agency status, assigned directly to the United States Air Force. Maintained and operated the Eastern Test Range and affiliated facilities in support of Department of Defense (DOD), National Air and Space Administration, US Air Force, and other test and evaluation agencies, 1951-1977 and after 1979.
Operated "Down-Range" facilities at Antigua, Ascension Island, and Cape Canaveral, Florida, 1951-1977 and after 1979.
After Oct 1979 launched DOD payloads into orbit and collected flight data for evaluation of ballistic missile systems launched from Eastern Launch sites for DOD, NASA, and commercial customers. Gave support for DOD, NASA, and commercial manned and unmanned space programs while providing host-base responsibilities at Patrick AFB, FL.
45th Space Wing accomplshments are:
- Completing the Initial NAVSTAR II Constellation
- U.S. Military Technology Missions
- Foreign Military Missions
- Civilian/Commercial Space Launches
- Missions have included:
-
- X-Ray, Gamma Ray, Infrared, Microwave Anisotropy, and Extreme Ultraviolet Astronomy Missions
- Solar Wind Missions
- Asteroid Probes and Comet Encounters
- Missions to Mars and Mercury
- Kepler Spacecraft ‘Planetary Search’ Mission
- PALAPA B2R and PALAPA B4
- Britain’s BSB-R2 and Telenor’s THOR II and THOR III
- ASC-2, AURORA II and SATCOM 4
- INMARSAT-2 F-1 and INMARSAT-2 F-2
- DFS KOPERNIKUS 3
- GALAXY I-R and GALAXY IX
- KOREASAT-1 and KOREASAT-2
- BONUM-1
- GLOBALSTAR-1 through GLOBALSTAR-7
- DELTA III, Delta IV, Titan IV and Atlas V Missions
- NASA Space Shuttle launches
- Atlas V Carrying X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle
- NASA'S Geostationary Environmental Satellite (GOES-P)
- Atlas V launch of Solar Global Observatory
- Delta IV launch of Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) high-capacity communications satellites
- Intelsat-14 commercial communications satellite
- NASA Ares 1-X launch
- USAF Delta II final launch in 2009, inactivation of 1st Space Launch Squadron (45th LG)
-
Lineage
- Established as Air Force Division, Joint Long Range Proving Ground, and organized, on 1 Oct 1949
- Re-designated: Long Range Proving Ground Division on 16 May 1950
- Re-designated: Air Force Missile Test Center on 30 Jun 1951
- Re-designated: Air Force Eastern Test Range on 15 May 1964
- Inactivated on 1 Feb 1977
- Re-designated Eastern Space and Missile Center, and activated, on 1 Oct 1979
- Re-designated: 45th Space Wing on 12 Nov 1991.
Assignments
- Headquarters Command, USAF, 1 Oct 1949
- United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe 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...
, 16 May 1950 - Air Research and Development (later, Air Force Systems) CommandAir Force Systems CommandAir Force Systems Command is a former United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland...
, 14 May 1951 - National Range Division, 15 May 1964
- Air Force Systems CommandAir Force Systems CommandAir Force Systems Command is a former United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland...
, 1 Feb 1972-1 Feb 1977 - Space and Missile Test Organization, 1 Oct 1979
- Space Systems Division, 1 Oct 1989
- 9th Space Division, 1 Oct 1990
- 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 Oct 1991 - Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 20 Sep 1993-Present
Components
Wings- 4800th Guided Missile Wing (later, 6555th Guided Missile Wing; 6555th Guided Missile Group): 30 Dec 1950-7 Sep 1954
- 6541st Missile Test (later, 6541 Operations Group [Range]): 4 Sep 1951-7 Sep 1954
Groups
- 45th Launch Group45th Launch GroupThe 45th Launch Group is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 45th Space Wing, stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.-Overview:...
: 1 Dec 2003- - 45th Operations Group: 12 Nov 1991-
- 6550th Test Group (Missile): 1 Jul-1 Oct 1955
- 6555th Guided Missiles Group (Test and Evaluation) (later, 6555th Aerospace Test): 15 Aug-21 Dec 1959; 1 Oct 1979-1 Oct 1990
Squadrons
- 1st Space Launch: 1 Oct 1990-12 Nov 1991
- 1st Pilotless Bomber: 1 Oct 1951-1 Feb 1952 (detached)
- 6550th Operations Squadron: 7 Sep 1954-1 Jul 1955; 1 Oct 1955-1 Feb 1960
- 6555th Guided Missile (later, 6555 Guided Missiles) Squadron: 7 Sep 1954-1 Jul 1955; 1 Oct 1955-15 Aug 1959.