Air Force Satellite Control Facility
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) 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 (i.e. earthquakes), and the counterterrorism threat from its proximity to a major transportation link (California Highway 101), the facility's command and control
functions were moved to Schriever AFB, Colorado
.
on 18 Jun 1965. It was first assigned to the Space Systems Division of Air Force Systems Command
, with later moves under the Space and Missile Systems Organization, and Space Division organizations.
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 Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) was a space command and control unit located at Onizuka AFB, California
California
California 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...
. It has the distinction of being heavily involved in the world's first reconnaissance satellite program, CORONA
Corona (satellite)
The Corona program was a series of American strategic reconnaissance satellites produced and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency Directorate of Science & Technology with substantial assistance from the U.S. Air Force...
. Due to geological hazards (i.e. earthquakes), and the counterterrorism threat from its proximity to a major transportation link (California Highway 101), the facility's command and control
Command and Control (military)
Command and control, or C2, in a military organization can be defined as the exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commanding officer over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission...
functions were moved 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...
.
History
The Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) was originally activated at Los Angeles AFS, CaliforniaCalifornia
California 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...
on 18 Jun 1965. It was first assigned to the Space Systems Division of Air Force Systems Command
Air Force Systems Command
Air Force Systems Command is a former United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland...
, with later moves under the Space and Missile Systems Organization, and Space Division organizations.
Previous designations
- Consolidated Space Test Center (2 Oct 1987-27 Aug 1993)
- Air Force Satellite Control Facility (18 Jun 1965-1 Oct 1987)
- 6594th Aerospace Test Wing (1 Nov 1961-1 Jul 1965)
- 6594th Test Wing (Satellite) (15 Jan 1960-1 Nov 1961)
- 6594th Test Wing (6 Apr 1959-15 Jan 1960)
- Field Office of Air Force Ballistic Missile Division (15 Aug 1958-6 Apr 1959)
Major Command/Field Operating Agency
- Air Force Space CommandAir Force Space CommandAir 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....
(??-27 Aug 1993) - Air Force Systems CommandAir Force Systems CommandAir Force Systems Command is a former United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland...
(1 Jul 1965-27 )
Elements assigned
- 6594th Aerospace Test Wing (6 Apr 1959-1 Jul 1965)
- Detachment 1, Donnelly Radio Relay Site, Delta Junction, Alaska (15 Apr 1962-1 Jul 1965)
- 6594th Support Group (1 Jul 1965-1 Oct 1987)
- 6594th Recovery Control Group6594th Test GroupThe 6594th Test Group was a United States Air Force Unit stationed in Hawaii at Hickam Air Force Base from 1958 until it was deactivated in 1986....
(1 Jul 1965-30 Sep 1986) - 6594th Launch Squadron (1 Jun 1959-15 Jul 1961)
- 6594th Data Processing Squadron (1 Jul 1959-1 Oct 1960)
- 6596th Instrumentation Squadron (1 Jul 1959-1 Jul 1965)
- 6594th Instrumentation Squadron (1 Oct 1959-1 Jul 1965)
- 6595th Test Squadron (20 Feb 1961-1 Jul 1965)
Detachments
- Det 1 - SunnyvaleSunnyvaleSunnyvale may refer to:*Sunnyvale, California, a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States, and the most populous place with this name*Sunnyvale, Auckland, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand*Sunnyvale, Otago, a suburb of Dunedin, New Zealand...
, 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...
(1 Jul 1965-1 Jul 1977) - Det 2 - VandenbergVandenbergVandenberg is a variation on the Dutch and Flemish surname "van den Berg", literally meaning "from the mountain", "from the hill". It may refer to:-People:* Adrian Vandenberg, Dutch guitarist who has worked with Whitesnake...
Tracking Station, 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...
(1 Oct 1979-1 Oct 1987) - Det 3 - ThuleThuleThule Greek: Θούλη, Thoulē), also spelled Thula, Thila, or Thyïlea, is, in classical European literature and maps, a region in the far north. Though often considered to be an island in antiquity, modern interpretations of what was meant by Thule often identify it as Norway. Other interpretations...
Tracking Station, GreenlandGreenlandGreenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
(1 Oct 1979-1 Oct 1987) - Det 4 - Mahe, SeychellesSeychellesSeychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
(15 Jul 1972-1 Oct 1987) - Det 5 - GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
Tracking Station, GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
(1 Oct 1979-1 Oct 1987) - Det 6 - HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
Tracking Station, HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
(1 Oct 1979-1 Oct 1987) - Det 7 - Sunnyvale AFS (later 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...
(17 Apr 1987-30 Sep 1987) (later moved to Los Angeles 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...
from 30 Sep 1987 until deactivation on 15 Jul 1991)
Bases stationed
- Sunnyvale AFS (later, Onizuka AFS/AFB), 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...
(8 Jul 1977-27 Aug 1993) - Los Angeles 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...
(18 Jun 1965-8 Jul 1977)
Spacecraft Operated
- KH-1/2/3/4 CORONACorona (satellite)The Corona program was a series of American strategic reconnaissance satellites produced and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency Directorate of Science & Technology with substantial assistance from the U.S. Air Force...
(1959–1972) - Various satellites of the Space Test ProgramSpace Test ProgramThe Space Test Program is the primary provider of spaceflight for the United States Department of Defense space science and technology community. STP is conducted by the Space Development and Test Wing of the United States Air Force...
See also
- 6594th Test Group6594th Test GroupThe 6594th Test Group was a United States Air Force Unit stationed in Hawaii at Hickam Air Force Base from 1958 until it was deactivated in 1986....
- National Reconnaissance OfficeNational Reconnaissance OfficeThe 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:...
- Onizuka Air Force StationOnizuka Air Force StationOnizuka 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...