1st Space Surveillance Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 1st Space Surveillance Squadron (1 SSS) was a space surveillance unit located at Griffiss AFB, New York.
's Det 1 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 RAF Feltwell
and RAF Edzell in the United Kingdom.
decision regarding Griffiss AFB, AFSPC
deactivated the 1 SSS during 1995, distributing surveillance mission requirements to other units. The equipment held at the Verona Test Annex, N.Y. was also distributed to units with similar capabilities.
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 1st Space Surveillance Squadron (1 SSS) was a space surveillance unit located at Griffiss AFB, New York.
Mission
The mission of the 1 SSS was to operate the Low Altitude Space Surveillance (LASS) system to gather space intelligence and track space systems in near-Earth orbits. The LASS 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 1 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 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...
and RAF Edzell in the United Kingdom.
History
Due to the creation of mobile versions of the space surveillance systems in 1992 and the BRACBase 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...
decision regarding Griffiss AFB, AFSPC
Air Force Space Command
Air 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....
deactivated the 1 SSS during 1995, distributing surveillance mission requirements to other units. The equipment held at the Verona Test Annex, N.Y. was also distributed to units with similar capabilities.
Emblem Significance
The dragon is the vigilant sentinel mascot of the 1st Space Surveillance Squadron, on guard for deep space satellites. The dragon is tightly holding a black, inverted equilateral triangle of deep space indicative of the unit's surveillance tracking coverage. The four pointed star represents a geosynchronous satellite within tracking coverage of the squadron. The dragon's eye reflects the star and sheds light on the darkness of space through the unit's surveillancemission and contributions to space warning, space control and space force management. The background represents the global aerospace projection of the Air Force.Previous designations
- 1st Space Surveillance Squadron (May 15, 1992 – Sep 30, 1995)
- 1st Surveillance Squadron (May 1, 1990 – May 15, 1992)
- 1st Deep Space Surveillance Squadron (Feb 10, 1989 – May 1, 1990)
Assignments
- 21st Operations Group21st 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...
(Apr 26, 1995 – Sep 30, 1995) - 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....
(Apr 1, 1989 – Apr 26, 1995)
Commanders
- Jun 1993 – Jun 1995, Lt Col Stephen L. Lanning
- Aug 1992 – Jun 1993, Lt Col Michael Peterson
See also
- 3d Space Surveillance Squadron
- 5th Space Surveillance Squadron5th Space Surveillance SquadronThe United States Air Force's 5th Space Surveillance Squadron was a space surveillance unit located at RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom.-Mission:...
- 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....
- Griffiss AFB, New York