Air 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 AFS, California. It has the distinction of being heavily involved in the world's first reconnaissance satellite program, CORONA. Due to geological hazards, and the terrorism threat from its proximity to a major transportation link, the facility's command and control functions were moved to Schriever AFB, Colorado.

History

The Air Force Satellite Control Facility was originally activated at Los Angeles AFS, California 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.
On 15 October 1961, Air Force Systems Command designated the Thule Tracking Station, a Remote Tracking Station of the Air Force Satellite Control Network near Thule Air Base in Greenland. It became Operating Location 5, 6594th Test Wing. The Thule Tracking Station reached operational status on 30 March 1962, with "transportable antenna vans parked in an old Strategic Air Command bomb assembly building." The permanent RTS equipment was emplaced in 1964, and a communications terminal was emplaced on Pingarssuit Mountain—Thule Site N-32.
In 1992 the Thule Tracking Station became Detachment 2, 22nd Space Operations Squadron.

Lineage

; Consolidated Space Test Center
  • Constituted as the Air Force Satellite Control Facility on 18 June 1965
; Satellite Control and Network Systems Group
  • Constituted as the Satellite Control and Network Systems Group on 17 July 2006

Assignments

Stations

Predecessors

; Field Office of Air Force Ballistic Missile Division
; 6594th Aerospace Test Wing

Assignments

Major Command/Field Operating Agency

Elements assigned

Detachments

Spacecraft operated