5th Space Operations Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 5th Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron (5 ESOPS) is an expeditionary satellite
operations unit administratively assigned to Schriever AFB, Colorado
.
, 50th Space Wing
, before being deactivated in 1995. 5 SOPS was responsible for day-to-day command and control for the DSCS III satellites and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization communications satellite program. The squadron had prime launch responsibility for DSCS III, NATO IV/Skynet
IV and the Inertial Upper Stage
booster.
.
The squadron was provisionally activated as Operating Location-A, 750th Space Group
, on October 1, 1992. This satellite control facility established one of the Air Force's major roles in space: satellite operations. AFSCF was later divided into the 2nd Space Test Group and the Consolidated Space Test Center on October 1, 1987 when AFSPC took over Onizuka Air Force Base, now Onizuka Air Station. OL-A encompassed the CSTC divisions of VOS, VOE, and VOD. 5th SOPS was officially activated November 22, 1993 under the 50th Operations Group and within one year, 21st SOPS absorbed the roles of the 2d Satellite Tracking Group Operations Division and the 1999th Communications Squadron Operations Division. After the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure
Committee directed realignment of Onizuka AFS, 21st SOPS absorbed the roles of the 750th Space Group
and all subordinate units and the 5th Space Operations Squadron.
In a three week span, in late 1993, the squadron flawlessly launched a DSCS III and a NATO IV communication satellite, supported NASA's Hubble telescope repair and activated as the 5th Space Operations Squadron. The squadron has launched the IUS in support of NASA programs including all seven TDRS
and three inter-planetary spacecraft: Galileo (Jupiter), Magellan
(Venus), and Ulysses (Sun).
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 Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron (5 ESOPS) is an expeditionary 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....
operations unit administratively assigned to Schriever AFB, Colorado
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...
.
Mission
The 5th Space Operations Squadron was a component of the 50th Operations Group50th Operations Group
The 50th Operations Group is a component of the 50th Space Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Space Command. The group is stationed at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado....
, 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:...
, before being deactivated in 1995. 5 SOPS was responsible for day-to-day command and control for the DSCS III satellites and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization communications satellite program. The squadron had prime launch responsibility for DSCS III, NATO IV/Skynet
Skynet (satellites)
Skynet is a family of military satellites, now operated by Paradigm Secure Communications on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence, which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the British Armed Forces and to NATO forces engaged on coalition tasks.-Skynet 1:There were two...
IV and the Inertial Upper Stage
Inertial Upper Stage
The Inertial Upper Stage , originally known as the Interim Upper Stage, is a two-stage solid-fueled booster rocket developed by the U.S...
booster.
History
5th SOPS rose out of the rich history of the Air Force Satellite Control FacilityAir 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...
.
The squadron was provisionally activated as Operating Location-A, 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...
, on October 1, 1992. This satellite control facility established one of the Air Force's major roles in space: satellite operations. AFSCF was later divided into the 2nd Space Test Group and the Consolidated Space Test Center on October 1, 1987 when AFSPC took over Onizuka Air Force Base, now Onizuka Air Station. OL-A encompassed the CSTC divisions of VOS, VOE, and VOD. 5th SOPS was officially activated November 22, 1993 under the 50th Operations Group and within one year, 21st SOPS absorbed the roles of the 2d Satellite Tracking Group Operations Division and the 1999th Communications Squadron Operations Division. After the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure
Base 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...
Committee directed realignment of Onizuka AFS, 21st SOPS absorbed the roles of 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...
and all subordinate units and the 5th Space Operations Squadron.
In a three week span, in late 1993, the squadron flawlessly launched a DSCS III and a NATO IV communication satellite, supported NASA's Hubble telescope repair and activated as the 5th Space Operations Squadron. The squadron has launched the IUS in support of NASA programs including all seven TDRS
TDRS
A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite is a type of communications satellite that forms part of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System used by NASA and other United States government agencies for communications to and from independent "User Platforms" such as satellites, balloons, aircraft,...
and three inter-planetary spacecraft: Galileo (Jupiter), Magellan
Magellan probe
The Magellan spacecraft, also referred to as the Venus Radar Mapper, was a 1,035-kilogram robotic space probe launched by NASA on May 4, 1989, to map the surface of Venus using Synthetic Aperture Radar and measure the planetary gravity...
(Venus), and Ulysses (Sun).
Previous designations
- 5th Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron (5 Dec 2007–Present)
- 5th Space Operations Squadron (1993-199?)
Locations
- Schriever 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...
(2007–Present) - Onizuka AFS, 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...
(1993-199?)
Satellites operated
- Defense Satellite Communications SystemDefense Satellite Communications SystemThe Defense Satellite Communications System provides the United States with military communications to support globally distributed military users. DSCS will be replaced by the Wideband Global SATCOM system. A total of 14 DSCS III satellites were launched between the early 1980s and 2003. Two...
III (1993–1995) - NATO III (1993–1995)
- SkyNetSkynet (satellites)Skynet is a family of military satellites, now operated by Paradigm Secure Communications on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence, which provide strategic communication services to the three branches of the British Armed Forces and to NATO forces engaged on coalition tasks.-Skynet 1:There were two...
IV (1993–1995) - Inertial Upper StageInertial Upper StageThe Inertial Upper Stage , originally known as the Interim Upper Stage, is a two-stage solid-fueled booster rocket developed by the U.S...
(1993–1995) - Tracking and Data Relay Satellite