7th Space Operations Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 7th Space Operations Squadron (7 SOPS) is an Air Force Reserve space operations unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado
.
The previous mission for 7 SOPS was to augment space operation squadrons of the 50th Space Wing
, specifically the 1st Space Operations Squadron
. These activities included satellite emergencies, launch and early orbit, and satellite disposal for the Global Positioning System
and Defense Support Program
satellites. Up until 2007, 7 SOPS operated the Midcourse Space Experiment
satellite, AFSPC's only space-based space surveillance asset and also performed booster launch operations mission, providing telemetry collection/data relay for Delta II launches.
In the 51 year heritage of the 7th, it has performed many roles from training pilots and technicians for photo reconnaissance to the 7th Liaison Squadron providing operations and logistical support for the Inter-American Geodetic Survey in the Panama Canal Zone. The 7th Special Operations Flight was deactivated in 1972 at Hurlburt Field, FL. The squadron was consolidated and redesignated the 27th Special Operations Squadron in 1985 but remained inactive until 7 SOPS was activated 18 March 1993, at Falcon (later, Schriever) AFB, becoming the first Reserve unit to augment Air Force Space Command
.
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 7th Space Operations Squadron (7 SOPS) is an Air Force Reserve space operations unit located at 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 7th Space Operations Squadron operates the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center, a one-of-a-kind satellite operations center focused on rapidly fielding cutting-edge space technologies for warfighters.The previous mission for 7 SOPS was to augment space operation squadrons 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:...
, specifically the 1st Space Operations Squadron
1st Space Operations Squadron
The United States Air Force's 1st Space Operations Squadron is a space operations unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado. The squadron is also responsible for performance launch, on-orbit, emergency, end-of-life testing and disposal operations providing warning, navigation, R&D, surveillance...
. These activities included satellite emergencies, launch and early orbit, and satellite disposal for the Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System
The Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
and Defense Support Program
Defense Support Program
The Defense Support Program is a program of the U.S. Air Force that operates the reconnaissance satellites which form the principal component of the Satellite Early Warning System currently used by the United States....
satellites. Up until 2007, 7 SOPS operated the Midcourse Space Experiment
Midcourse Space Experiment
The Midcourse Space Experiment is a Ballistic Missile Defense Organization satellite experiment to map bright infrared sources in space...
satellite, AFSPC's only space-based space surveillance asset and also performed booster launch operations mission, providing telemetry collection/data relay for Delta II launches.
History
The 7th Space Operations Squadron traces its lineage to the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron which was activated 28 January 1942, at MacDill Field, Tampa, FL. 15 May of that same year, it transferred to Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, CO. The squadron’s primary mission was to train men in the art of photo reconnaissance. While there it flew P-38s, F-4s and F-5s. In June 1942, their name was changed to the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron. In October 1943 the squadron moved to Will Rogers Field, OK.In the 51 year heritage of the 7th, it has performed many roles from training pilots and technicians for photo reconnaissance to the 7th Liaison Squadron providing operations and logistical support for the Inter-American Geodetic Survey in the Panama Canal Zone. The 7th Special Operations Flight was deactivated in 1972 at Hurlburt Field, FL. The squadron was consolidated and redesignated the 27th Special Operations Squadron in 1985 but remained inactive until 7 SOPS was activated 18 March 1993, at Falcon (later, Schriever) AFB, becoming the first Reserve unit to augment Air Force Space Command
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....
.
Lineage
- Constituted 7th Photographic Squadron on 19 Jan 1942
- Activated on 28 Jan 1942
- Redesignated: 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 9 Jun 1942
- Redesignated: 7th Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 Feb 1943
- Redesignated: 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 Aug 1943
- Disbanded on 1 May 1944
- Redesignated: 7th Liaison Squadron and activated on 3 Nov 1945
- Inactivated on 28 Mar 1949
- Redesignated: 7th Liaison Flight and activated on 7 Oct 1949
- Redesignated: 7th Liaison Squadron on 8 Sep 1952
- Inactivated on 18 Jun 1954
- Redesignated: 7th Special Operations Flight and activated on 18 Mar 1969
- Inactivated on 30 Apr 1974
- Redesignated: 27th Special Operations Squadron 19 Apr 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated: 7th Space Operations Squadron and activated on 1 Jan 1993
Assignments
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 28 Jan 1942 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 29 Mar 1942 - 2d Photographic (later Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping; Photographic Reconnaissance) Group2d Reconnaissance GroupThe 2d Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Third Air Force, being stationed at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma. It was inactivated on 1 May 1944....
, 7 May 1942 – 1 May 1944 - 1st Fighter Wing1st Fighter WingThe 1st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Ninth Air Force. It is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va...
, 1 Sep 1947 – 28 Mar 1949 - 5700 Air Base Group, 27 Oct 1949 – 8 Sep 1952
- 1st Special Operations Wing1st Special Operations WingThe 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida is one of two United States Air Force active duty Special Operations wings and falls under the Air Force Special Operations Command ....
, 1 Jul 1969 – 30 Apr 1974 - 302d Operations Group302d Operations GroupThe 302d Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force Reserve 302d Airlift Wing. It is stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado....
, 1 May 1993 – 1 Sep 1997 - 310th Space Group, 1 Sep 1997
- 310th Space Wing310th Space WingThe 310th Space Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force. It is a tenant unit at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo....
, 7 Mar 2008 – present
Stations
- MacDill Field, Florida, 28 Jan 1942
- Peterson FieldPeterson FieldPeterson Field is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Plains, a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. It is privately owned by G. Thomas Peterson.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, 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...
, 15 May 1942 - Will Rogers Field, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 10 Oct 1943 – 1 May 1944 - March Field, California, 3 Nov 1945 – 28 March 1949
- Howard AFB, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 27 Oct 1949 – 8 Sep 1952 - Hurlburt FieldHurlburt FieldHurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
, Florida, 18 Mar 1969 – 30 Apr 1974 - Falcon (later 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...
, 1 Jan 1993 – present
Aircraft & Spacecraft Operated
- DSPDefense Support ProgramThe Defense Support Program is a program of the U.S. Air Force that operates the reconnaissance satellites which form the principal component of the Satellite Early Warning System currently used by the United States....
(1993–2007) - GPSGlobal Positioning SystemThe Global Positioning System is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides location and time information in all weather, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites...
(1993–2007) - MSXMidcourse Space ExperimentThe Midcourse Space Experiment is a Ballistic Missile Defense Organization satellite experiment to map bright infrared sources in space...
(???-2008) - UH-1 (1971–1974)
- C-123C-123 ProviderThe C-123 Provider was an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and subsequently built by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Air Force...
(1970–1973) - U-10 (1969–1971)
- C-47 (1969–1970)
- L-20 (1952–1954)
- L-4 (1948–1949)
- L-13 (1947–1948)
- L-5 (1946–1952)
- B-25/F-10 (1942–1944)
- P-38/F-4 and F-5 (1942–1944)
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 4 September 1997 – 1 November 1998
- 1 July 1969 – 15 April 1971
