5th Space Surveillance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 5th Space Surveillance Squadron (5 SSS) was a space surveillance unit located at RAF Feltwell
, United Kingdom
.
's Det 4 for SIGINT support. This coverage augmented worldwide coverage of space signals activities at similarly equipped sites at Misawa AB, Japan
, Osan AB, Republic of Korea and at Griffiss AFB in the United States
.
The Deep Space Tracking System uses sensitive, highly accurate 20-foot dish antennas to detect and track S-band radio signals transmitted by radio beacons on most satellites. There were DSTS receivers located at Griffiss AFB, New York
; RAF Feltwell
, Great Britain
; and Misawa AB, Japan
.
The 5 SSS was deactivated in 2003, with administration of RAF Feltwell
transferred to Detachment 4, 18th Intelligence Squadron
.
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 5th Space Surveillance Squadron (5 SSS) was a space surveillance unit located 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...
.
Mission
The mission of the 5 SSS was to operate the Low Altitude Space Surveillance (LASS) system and Deep Space Tracking System (DSTS) to gather space intelligence and track space systems in both near- and far-Earth orbits.History
The dual LASS/DSTS operation supported USAF space intelligence requirements, while being assisted by the 18th Intelligence Squadron18th Intelligence Squadron
The 18th Intelligence Squadron is a space control intelligence organization of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio....
's Det 4 for SIGINT support. This coverage augmented worldwide coverage of space signals activities at similarly equipped sites at Misawa AB, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Osan AB, Republic of Korea and at Griffiss AFB in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The Deep Space Tracking System uses sensitive, highly accurate 20-foot dish antennas to detect and track S-band radio signals transmitted by radio beacons on most satellites. There were DSTS receivers located at Griffiss AFB, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
; 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...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
; and Misawa AB, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The 5 SSS was deactivated in 2003, with administration of 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...
transferred to Detachment 4, 18th Intelligence Squadron
18th Intelligence Squadron
The 18th Intelligence Squadron is a space control intelligence organization of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio....
.
Commanders
- Lt Col John Amrine (Jun 1999-Jul 2000)
- Lt Col John Raymond (Apr 2000 - Jun 2001)
- Lt Col Steven R. Prebeck (28 Sep 1996-???)
- Lt Col James L. Burling, Jr. (Aug 1994-28 Sep 1996)
Equipment Operated
- Low Altitude Space Surveillance (LASS) (1989–2003)
- Deep Space Tracking System (DSTS) (1989–2003)
See also
- 1st Space Surveillance Squadron1st Space Surveillance SquadronThe United States Air Force's 1st Space Surveillance Squadron was a space surveillance unit located at Griffiss AFB, New York.-Mission:...
- 3d Space Experimentation Squadron3d Space Experimentation SquadronThe 3d Space Experimentation Squadron is a space control unit located at Schriever AFB in Colorado.-Mission:The 3d Space Experimentation Squadron is AFSPC's premier organization for space-based demonstrations, pathfinders and experiments. The unit identifies concepts of employment, training,...
- 18th Intelligence Squadron18th Intelligence SquadronThe 18th Intelligence Squadron is a space control intelligence organization of the United States Air Force, located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio....
- 21st Space Wing21st Space WingThe 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...
Decorations
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 1 Jan 2000-31 Aug 2001
- 1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 1999
- 1 Jan 1998-31 Dec 1998
- 1 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1999
- 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1997