Onizuka Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Onizuka Air Force Station was a United States Air Force
installation in Santa Clara County, California
, just outside the city limits of Sunnyvale
, at the intersection of U.S. Route 101 and State Route 237
. Its main building, known locally as the Blue Cube, is large, pale blue, and windowless, with an array of parabolic dish antennas used for communication with remote tracking stations used to control military satellite
s. Onizuka AFS was operated by the 21st Space Operations Squadron
, a geographically separated unit (GSU) of the 50th Space Wing
. Onizuka AFS was closed on July 28, 2010, and operations were moved to the new Ellison Onizuka Satellite Operations Facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base
.
purchased from Lockheed
, the station was originally known as the Air Force Satellite Test Center. It was later renamed the Air Force Satellite Control Facility
, and Sunnyvale Air Force Station. It was also Lockheed "Building 100". In 1986, the base was renamed Onizuka Air Force Base in honor of Lt Col
Ellison Onizuka
, USAF, one of the astronaut
s who, on January 28, 1986, died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
. On January 26, 1994, Onizuka Air Force Base was renamed Onizuka Air Force Station.
. In summary, the 750th Space Group
was to be deactivated and its functions relocated to Falcon AFB, CO
. Detachment 2 of the Space and Missile Systems Center
would relocate to Falcon AFB (now Schriever AFB), CO and Kirtland AFB
, NM
, while some other undisclosed tenants would remain in the existing facilities for some time. On May 13, 2005, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recommended closing
the Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale as part of a fifth round of military base closures and re-sizing
. The date by which the realignment and closure must be completed is September 15, 2011.
In April 2007, the mission of the National Reconnaissance Office
at Onizuka AFS ended after 46 years.
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...
installation in Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
, just outside the city limits of Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley located in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, at the intersection of U.S. Route 101 and State Route 237
California State Route 237
State Route 237 runs from El Camino Real in Mountain View to Interstate 680 in Milpitas. It runs south of the San Francisco Bay, connecting the East Bay to the Peninsula.This route is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System....
. Its main building, known locally as the Blue Cube, is large, pale blue, and windowless, with an array of parabolic dish antennas used for communication with remote tracking stations used to control military satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s. Onizuka AFS was operated by the 21st Space Operations Squadron
21st Space Operations Squadron
The 21st Space Operations Squadron is a satellite control unit of the 50th Network Operations Group of the United States Air Force located at Onizuka Air Force Station, California...
, a geographically separated unit (GSU) of the 50th Space Wing
50th Space Wing
The 50th Space Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force under the major command of Air Force Space Command . It was activated on 30 January 1992, replacing the 2d Space Wing, which was deactivated on the same date.-Overview:...
. Onizuka AFS was closed on July 28, 2010, and operations were moved to the new Ellison Onizuka Satellite Operations Facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
.
History
Built in 1960 on land near Moffett FieldMoffett Federal Airfield
Moffett Federal Airfield , also known as Moffett Field, is a joint civil-military airport located between northern Mountain View and northern Sunnyvale, California, USA. The airport is near the south end of San Francisco Bay, northwest of San Jose. Formerly a United States Navy facility, the former...
purchased from Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
, the station was originally known as the Air Force Satellite Test Center. It was later renamed the Air Force Satellite Control Facility
Air Force Satellite Control Facility
The United States Air Force's Air Force Satellite Control Facility was a space command and control unit located at Onizuka AFB, California. It has the distinction of being heavily involved in the world's first reconnaissance satellite program, CORONA. Due to geological hazards The United States...
, and Sunnyvale Air Force Station. It was also Lockheed "Building 100". In 1986, the base was renamed Onizuka Air Force Base in honor of Lt Col
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
Ellison Onizuka
Ellison Onizuka
was a Japanese American astronaut from Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii, who successfully flew into space with the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-51-C, before losing his life to the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger, where he was serving as Mission Specialist for mission STS-51-L...
, USAF, one of the astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s who, on January 28, 1986, died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...
. On January 26, 1994, Onizuka Air Force Base was renamed Onizuka Air Force Station.
Closure
Realignment of Onizuka Air Force Station was recommended and accepted as part of the 1995 round of the Base Realignment and Closure ProgramBase Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
. In summary, the 750th Space Group
750th Space Group
The United States Air Force's 750th Space Group was a space operations unit located at Onizuka Air Force Station, California.-History:The 750 SG deactivated in June 1999, following the recommendation of the 1995 Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure commission...
was to be deactivated and its functions relocated to Falcon AFB, CO
Colorado
Colorado 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...
. Detachment 2 of the Space and Missile Systems Center
Space and Missile Systems Center
The Space and Missile Systems Center is a part of Air Force Space Command of the United States Air Force. SMC is the Air Force’s product center for the development and acquisition of space and missile systems...
would relocate to Falcon AFB (now Schriever AFB), CO and Kirtland AFB
Kirtland Air Force Base
Kirtland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque, New Mexico urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. The base was named for the early Army aviator Col. Roy C. Kirtland...
, NM
New Mexico
New 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...
, while some other undisclosed tenants would remain in the existing facilities for some time. On May 13, 2005, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recommended closing
Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
The preliminary 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list was released by the United States Department of Defense on May 13, 2005. It is the fifth Base Realignment and Closure proposal generated since the process was created in 1988. It recommends closing 33 major United States military bases and...
the Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale as part of a fifth round of military base closures and re-sizing
Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
The preliminary 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list was released by the United States Department of Defense on May 13, 2005. It is the fifth Base Realignment and Closure proposal generated since the process was created in 1988. It recommends closing 33 major United States military bases and...
. The date by which the realignment and closure must be completed is September 15, 2011.
In April 2007, the mission of the National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Office
The National Reconnaissance Office , located in Chantilly, Virginia, is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government.-Mission:...
at Onizuka AFS ended after 46 years.
See also
- Air Force Satellite Control FacilityAir Force Satellite Control FacilityThe United States Air Force's Air Force Satellite Control Facility was a space command and control unit located at Onizuka AFB, California. It has the distinction of being heavily involved in the world's first reconnaissance satellite program, CORONA. Due to geological hazards The United States...