U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
3RD SPACE OPERATIONS SQUADRON
The 3rd Space Operations Squadron is a
component of the 50th Operations Group, 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air
Force Base, Colo. The squadron was activated at Schriever Feb. 2,
1990.
It conducts launch and on-orbit operations for military communications satellites for the Department of Defense.
MISSION
The
mission of the 3rd SOPS is to ensure reliable space-borne
communications to the President, the Secretary of Defense and U.S. and
Allied Forces. The mission is accomplished by conducting launch and
on-orbit operations for the Defense Satellite Communications System
Phase III satellites. DSCS-III provides secure high-rate data
communications links to the President, the Secretary of Defense,
theater commanders, and strategic and tactical forces worldwide.
HISTORY
The
squadron was first activated on June 10, 1941, as the 3rd Photographic
Squadron. During the first half of World War II, the squadron conducted
airborne mapping operations of the United States, the West Indies,
South America, Canada, and the famous "Hump" region in Asia. On May 19,
1944, the unit was redesignated the 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance
Squadron (PRS) and began training for aerial reconnaissance operations
using highly modified B-29 Superfortress bombers. On Oct.
31, 1944, a 3rd PRS F-13 became the first American aircraft over Tokyo
since the famed Doolittle Raid in 1942. By the end of the war, the 3rd
PRS had flown 460 combat missions mainly over Japan.
In
1985, the initial cadre of Air Force NATO III and DSCS II satellite
operators received training at Sunnyvale Air Force Station, Calif.
These personnel relocated to Falcon AFB in 1987 and became Operating
Location-AB, Consolidated Space Test Center. These men and women became
the nucleus of what would eventually become the 3rd SOPS. On Aug. 2,
1988, OL-AB began 24-hour operations at Falcon AFS. By May 1989, OL-AB
was conducting station-keeping maneuvers on NATO III and DSCS II
satellites. On Feb. 2, 1990, OL-AB was deactivated with the personnel
and mission transferring to the newly activated 3rd SOPS. In
November 1990, the 3rd SCS was directed to relocate a DSCS II from over
the Pacific to a position over the Indian Ocean in support of Operation
Desert Shield. The series of relocation maneuvers were completed in
December 1990 and the satellite was then configured for operational
use. Combat crews saved a failing FLTSATCOM spacecraft just as
Operation Desert Storm commenced, ensuring the U.S. Navy's two carrier
groups had command and control of their aircraft.
On July
11, 1991, in a formal operations turnover ceremony, the squadron
accepted complete operational mission transfer of all assigned
satellite programs. This transfer officially established operational
control of the assigned DOD communications satellites to Air Force
Space Command.
On Jan. 30, 1992, as part of a reorganization at Falcon AFB, the 3rd SCS was redesignated the 3rd SOPS.
On
March 25, 1993, the first UHF F/O was launched. Unfortunately due to an
Atlas II rocket booster malfunction, the satellite was placed in the
wrong orbit. Over the next several weeks, 3rd personnel planned and
executed a series of 25 maneuvers to move the satellite to a
super-synchronous orbit. The commander of Air Force Space Command
recognized 3rd SOPS for their heroic efforts. In June
1996, as part of an Air Force and Navy agreement, operations of
the FLTSAT constellation were turned over to the Naval Satellite
Operations Center at Pt. Mugu, Calif. In December 1996, 3rd SOPS
transferred control of the Milstar constellation to 4th SOPS. On Dec.
18, 1996, 3rd SOPS gained control of five operating locations located
in Nebraska, Virginia, Guam, Italy, and Hawaii. The OLs were
responsible for running the Air Force's Satellite Management Centers,
which monitored and controlled user access to UHF communications
satellites. As part of the same agreement that transferred FLTSAT, the
SMC's mission was also transferred to the Navy.
On July 2,
1999, as part of the same agreement that transferred FLTSAT to the
Navy, operational control of UHF F/O Flights 2-9 transferred to NAVSOC.
On Feb. 10, 2000, after several months of on-orbit checkout, 3rd SOPS
conducted its last UHF F/O sortie on Flight 10.
As part of
the Congressionally-mandated Base Realignment and Closure decision of
Onizuka Air Force Station in 1996, 3rd SOPS assumed the DSCS III launch
mission from 5th SOPS. The most recent DSCS III launch took place in
March 2003.
In 2005, 3rd SOPS will assume satellite
control authority of one of the DOD's newest and most robust
communications satellites, the Wideband Gapfiller System.
| |
|
|