1st Space Surveillance Squadron

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1st Space Surveillance Squadron
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Active 1989–1995
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Space Surveillance
Role Intelligence Collection
Size 79[1]
Part of AFSPC/73d Space Group
Garrison/HQ Griffiss AFB, New York

The United States Air Force'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 Squadron's Det 1 for SIGINT support.[2] 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.[3]

History

Due to the creation of mobile versions of the space surveillance systems in 1992 and the BRAC decision regarding Griffiss AFB, AFSPC inactivated 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.[1]

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.[4]

Previous designations[5]

  • 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

Commanders

  • Jun 1993 – Jun 1995, Lt Col Stephen L. Lanning[6]
  • Aug 1992 – Jun 1993, Lt Col Michael Peterson[7]

Bases stationed

Equipment Operated[8]

  • Low Altitude Space Surveillance (LASS) system (1989–1995)

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Richelson, J. The US Intelligence Community, 4th Edition
  3. ↑ GLOBALSECURITY.ORG: 21st Space Wing
  4. ↑ USAFPatches.com: 1st Space Surveillance Squadron Fact Sheet
  5. ↑ Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. ISBN 1-85780-197-0
  6. ↑ "AFLink: Brigadier General Stephen L. Lanning"
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

External links

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