21ST SPACE WING

The 21st Space Wing is the Air Force's only organization providing missile warning and space control to unified commanders and combat forces worldwide. The 21st SW provides missile warning and space control to NORAD and U.S. Strategic Command through a network of command and control units and ground and space-based sensors operated by geographically separated units around the world.

Members of the 21st SW operate and maintain a complex system of U.S. and foreign-based radars. These space warriors detect and track ballistic missile launches; deploy new space systems; and provide data on foreign ballistic missile events.

Today, ballistic missile warning is critically important to U.S. military forces. At least 20 nations currently have nuclear, biological or chemical weapons and the technology to deliver them over long distances. According to intelligence estimates, during the next 10 years, several Third World countries will develop the technology and capability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles in the United States.

Missile Warning

The 21st SW's ground-based missile warning sites employ solid state phased-array radar systems. Their mission is to detect sea-launched ballistic missile and ICBM attacks against the continental United States and Canada and determine the potential number and probable destination of these missiles. The wing has Space Warning Squadrons at Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass.; Beale AFB, Calif.; Cavalier Air Force Station, N.D.; Thule Air Base, Greenland; and Clear AFS, Alaska. The wing has a liaison at the missile warning site at Royal Air Force Fylingdales, United Kingdom, as well. All these sites provide continual space control information as part of an integrated global network of missile warning systems. Missile warning data from these sites are sent to U.S. Strategic Command's Missile Correlation Center at Cheyenne Mountain Air Station, Colo. Data is also sent to the National Military Command Center and USSTRATCOM's Global Operations Center.

Three of the missile warning sites employ a specific type of phased-array radar called the Pave Phased-Array Warning System (Pave PAWS). The radar works by sending out a beam formed from several transmitters eliminating the need to move or rotate the radar. The Pave PAWS radar can electronically change its point of focus m milliseconds, while conventional dish-shaped radar may take up to a minute to mechanically swing from one area to another. Raytheon builds the Pave PAWS radars and deployed the first AN/FPS-115 model during the early 1980s. These roughly 90-foot diameter circular-panel radars are mounted on two or more walls of a triangular-shaped pyramid structure. Pave PAWS radars can detect and track targets at ranges approaching 3,000 miles. There were originally four continental United States sues. Two of the original CONUS sues, the 6th SWS at Cape Cod AFS, and the 7th SWS at Beale AFB are still in operation, and their radars were recently upgraded to the higher-power, more-capable AN/FPS-123 model. The 7th SWS recently completed a weapon system update called Upgraded Early Warning Radar. UEWR added the corollary mission of missile defense in support of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. This program's objective is the defense of the United States against a threat of a limited strategic ballistic missile attack through the use of intercept missiles located at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., and Fort Greely, Alaska. The other two CONUS sues at Robins AFB, Ga., and Eldorado AFS, Texas, have now ceased operations. The radar from Eldorado AFS was relocated to the 13th SWS at Clear AFS, replacing the older Ballistic Missile Early Warning System mechanical radar there. The Clear AFS Pave PAWS radar also has been upgraded to the AN/FPS-123 model. Similar radars replaced the BMEWS mechanical radars at the 12th SWS at Thule AB, and at RAF Fylingdales. Thule AB received an AN/FPS-120 model, while RAF Fylingdales received an AN/FPS-126 model. The AN/FPS-126 is unique, having three radar faces covering 360 degrees in azimuth, while the AN/FPS-120 and AN/FPS-123 models each have two radar faces covering 240 degrees in azimuth. Even though none of the BMEWS mechanical radars are still in operation, for programmatic reasons Thule AB is still referred to as BMEWS Site 1, Clear AFS is referred to at BMEWS Site 11, and Fylingdales is referred to as BMEWS Site III.

The 10th SWS at Cavalier AFS uses a slightly different type of phased-array radar called a Perimeter Attack Radar Characterization System, or PARCS. Its single face points northward over the Hudson Bay, covering 120 degrees in azimuth. It provides tactical warning, and attack characterization and assessment of SLBMs and ICBMs. This includes the number and types of missiles in a raid and the earliest and next impact times for locations in the continental U.S. It is the only missile warning sensor that reports this type of information.

Space Control

Space control is defined as the combat, combat support and combat service support operations necessary to ensure freedom of action in space for the United States and its allies when directed, to deny an adversary freedom of action in space. Space surveillance is a critical part of the 21st SW's space control mission and will be vitally important in supporting future theater missile operations and assuring availability of U.S. space forces. Operation IRAQI FREEDOM proved once again that whoever controls the high ground has definite military advantage. Space surveillance involves detecting, tracking, cataloging and identifying man-made objects orbiting Earth, i.e. active/inactive satellites, spent rocket bodies or fragmentation debris. Space surveillance accomplishes the following:

• Predicts when and where a decaying space object will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere;
• Prevents a returning space object, which to radar looks like a missile, from triggering a false alarm in missile-attack warning sensors of the U.S. and other countries;
• Charts the present position of space objects and plots their anticipated orbital paths;
• Detects new man-made objects in space;
• Produces a running catalog of man-made space objects;
• Determines which country owns a re-entering space object;
• Informs NASA whether or not objects may interfere with the Space Shuttle and International Space Station.

These tasks are accomplished using the Space Surveillance Network, which consists of U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force-operated ground-based radars and optical sensors at roughly 20 sites worldwide. The 21st SW operates and/or has a presence at 12 of these sites.

The SSN has been tracking space objects since 1957, when the Soviets opened the space age with the launch of Sputnik 1. Since then, the SSN has tracked more than 24,500 space objects orbiting Earth. Of that number, the SSN currently tracks more than 9,500 orbiting objects. The rest have re-entered Earth's turbulent atmosphere and disintegrated or survived re-entry and impacted the Earth. The space objects now orbiting Earth range from satellites weighing several tons to pieces of spent rocket bodies weighing only 10 pounds. Only about seven percent of the space objects are operational satellites; the rest are debris. USSTRATCOM is primarily interested in the active satellites, but also tracks space debris to avoid collisions with operational satellites. The SSN tracks space objects which are 10 centimeters in diameter (baseball size) or larger.

The SSN uses a "predictive" technique to monitor space objects; it spot checks rather than tracks them. This technique is used because of the limits of the SSN (number of sensors, geographic distribution, capability and availability).

Below is a brief description of each type of sensor in the network.

Phased-array radars can maintain tracks on multiple satellites simultaneously and scan large areas of space in a fraction of a second. These radars have no moving mechanical parts to limit the speed of the radar scan; the radar energy is steered electronically.

Conventional radars use mobile detection and tracking antennas. The detection antenna transmits radar energy into space in the shape of a large fan. When a satellite intersects the fan the energy is reflected back to the antenna, triggering the tracking antenna. The tracking antenna then locks its narrow beam of energy on the target and follows u in order to establish orbital data.

The Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) consists of three telescope sensors linked to a video camera. The video cameras feed their space pictures into a nearby computer which drives a display scope. The image is transposed into electrical impulses and recorded on magnetic tape. This is the same process used by video cameras. Thus, the image can be recorded and analyzed in real-time.

Combined, these types of sensors make up to 80,000 satellite observations each day; the observations consist of metric data and Space Object Identification (SOI) data. Metric data are positional data on Earth orbiting objects. Photometric SOI is the analysis of the total intensity of the reflected light from the observed satellite. The metric data are transmuted directly to the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC), formerly the Space Control Center (SCC) via satellite, ground wire, microwave and phone. The JSpOC uses metric data for all the space situational awareness purposes listed in bullets on page 16, one of which is shuttle conjunction assessment. The JSpOC also maintains an extensive satellite catalog that is used by U.S. civilian and military agencies, as well as by U.S. allies, when launching new satellites into space.

Until recently, the 1st Space Control Squadron (SPCS) operated the SCC, the Cheyenne Mountain AFS center providing daily tasking to the SSN sensors for USSTRATCOM's space surveillance and space defense mission. On May 1, 2005, 1 SPCS was transferred from the 21st Operations Group (OG) to the 614th Space Operations Group (SOPG). This aligned the space surveillance command and control capability with the 614th SOPG's broader operational level C2 responsibilities in the 14th AF Air and Space Operations Center (Space AOC). The 614th SOPG provides the 14th AF Space AOC command and control of assigned and attached AFSPC space forces in support of USSTRATCOM's global and theater space missions. The Space Air Operations Center has now become the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC), the USSTRATCOM operations center that will exercise command and control of joint space forces. The 21st OG still operates the Alternate Space Control Center at Dahlgren, Va.

The 21st SW's radar sues at Beale, Cape Cod, Clear, Thule, Fylingdales and Cavalier support the SSN by providing surveillance, tracking and SOI data on near-earth objects at a range of nearly 3,000 nautical miles. Since space surveillance is their secondary mission, these sites are called collateral sensors. The 21st SW also operates six dedicated sues in the SSN whose primary mission is space surveillance. These sues are the 20th Space Control Squadron (SPCS) at Eglin AFB, Fla., the 20th SPCS Detachment 1 at Dahlgren, Va., and the four 21st OG detachments: Det. 1 at Socorro, N.M., Det. 2 at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territories, Det. 3 at Maui, Hawaii and Det. 4 at Moron, Spain.

The 20th SPCS provides space surveillance using the only active phased-array radar system dedicated to tracking over 9,500 near-earth and deep-space objects. Commencing operation in December 1968, the AN/FPS-85 was the first phased-array radar developed to perform all-weather, day-night detection and tracking of man-made objects in space. The AN/FPS-85 covers 120 degrees in azimuth and more than 22,000 nautical miles in range.

The 20th SPCS's Det. 1 in Dahlgren, Va., operates another dedicated sensor called the Air Force Space Surveillance System, also known as "the Fence." The Navy, the original operators of the Fence, transferred operations to the Air Force in October 2004. Designed and constructed in 1958, the Fence is the nation's oldest sensor built to track satellites and debris in orbit. The system has nine field stations along the 33rd parallel with three transmitter sites at Lake Kickapoo, Texas, Jordan Lake, Ala., and Gila River, Ariz., and six receiver sues at Fort Stewart, Ga., Hawkinsville, Ga., Silver Lake, Miss., Red River, Ark., Elephant Butte, N.M., and San Diego, Calif. The field stations comprise a bi-static radar that points straight up into space and produces a "fence" of electromagnetic energy The system can detect basketball-sized objects in orbit around the Earth out to an effective range of 15,000 nautical miles. More than 5 million satellite detections, or observations, are collected by the Fence sensor each month. Data are transmitted to a computer center at Dahlgren, where they are used to constantly update a database of spacecraft orbital elements. 20th SPCS, Det. 1 also operates the Alternate Space Control Center (ASCC), which serves as the backup computational and command and control node for the JSpOC.

The 21st SW also controls and operates four dedicated optical space tracking sues as well. Three of the sues are part of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance system or GEODSS: Det. 1, Socorro, NM; Det. 2, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territories; and Det. 3 at Maui, Hawaii. Like the other sensors in the SSN, GEODSS provides metric data to the JSpOC and ASCC and photometric SOI data.

GEODSS is an optical system that uses low-light level TV cameras, computers and large telescopes. GEODSS tracks objects in deep space, or from about 2,600 nautical miles out, to beyond geosynchronous altitudes, more than 19,000 nautical miles out. GEODSS requires nighttime and clear weather tracking because of the inherent limitations of an optical system. Each sue has three telescopes. The telescopes have a 40-inch aperture and a two-degree field of view. The telescopes are able to "see" objects 160,000 times dimmer than the human eye can detect. This sensitivity, and the fact that the daytime sky background masks satellites' reflected light, dictates that the system operate at night. As with any ground-based optical system, cloud cover and local weather conditions directly influence its effectiveness. GEODSS employs Sidereal and Rate track to perform its Space Surveillance Mission. In Sidereal track, the telescopes scan the sky at the same rate as the stars appear to move. In Rate Track, telescopes follow the path of the satellite as u passes overhead.

Det. 4 operates the $5 million state-of-the-art Moron Optical Space Surveillance System (MOSS), another optical telescope that detects and tracks earth-orbiting objects in deep space. While resources for the space surveillance piece of the space control mission have been around for over 40 years, the DoD is still in the early stages of developing counterspace measures. Counterspace operations are critical to success in modern warfare. Combatant commanders leverage space capabilities such as communication, position, navigation, timing, missile warning, environmental sensing and reconnaissance to maintain a combat advantage over their adversaries. As demonstrated by the Iraqi deployment of Global Positioning System (GPS) jammers during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, adversaries will target space capabilities in an attempt to deny that combat advantage. The U.S. must also be prepared to deprive an adversary of the benefits of space capabilities when American interests and lives are at stake. The space superiority mission ensures the freedom to operate in the space medium while denying the same to an adversary and, like air superiority, cannot be taken for granted. The 4th SPCS at Holloman AFB, N.M., and the 16th SPCS and 76th SPCS at Peterson AFB, Colo., are vital to guaranteeing U.S. space superiority.

The 4th SPCS is responsible for delivering offensive counterspace capabilities and space situational awareness, as appropriate, to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile effects in support of global and theater campaigns.

The 16th SPCS is AFSPC's first defensive counterspace unit. The unit is responsible for operating space control capabilities to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater campaigns and USSTRATCOM's space superiority mission.

The 76th SPCS is responsible for delivering defensive and offensive counterspace capabilities and space situational awareness, as appropriate, to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile effects in support of global and theater campaigns.

The 21st OG is responsible for all of the 21st SW's 16 operations units and detachments; all but three of the 21st OG's units are geographically separated units.

The group is Air Force Space Command's largest, most weapon-system perse and most widespread organization. Its mission is to provide real-time missile warning, attack assessment and space control to the President, Secretary of Defense, JCS, combatant commands and foreign allies. The group also establishes operational requirements and manages the training, and standardization and evaluation programs for their weapon systems. This comprises conducting command-directed evaluations and staff assistance visits. Globus 11 assigned to the 21st OG in February 2005, another 21st OG GSU is located in Vardo, Norway. The 21st OG was assigned responsibility for the Globus 11 radar in February 2005. Globus 11 is an X-Band mechanical radar that contributes earth-orbiting satellite observations for collection by the SSN. Additionally, the 21st OG develops and maintains operational procedures and regulations for all its field units.

The 21st Operations Group includes:

• The 21st Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation division
• The 21st Operations Support Squadron
• Five Missile Warning Squadrons
• International Partner Operations at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fylingdales
• International Partner Operations at Norway's Globus II Surveillance Radar
• Five Space Control Detachments
• Four Space Control Squadrons

Standardization and Evaluation division

The 21st Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation division monitors the wing's space operations and periodically conducts Operations Standardization Team visits at its GSUs. Operations assessments are provided to the GSU, group and wing commander. The division also selects the 21st Space Wing's Top Operations Crew, Top Instructor and Evaluator of the Year and operations competitors for Guardian Challenge, AFSPC's bi-annual competition to determine the best operators and units in missile warning and space control.

The 21st Operations Support Squadron

The 21st Operations Support Squadron provides day-to-day operations support for Air Force Space Command's worldwide network of 16 ground-based missile warning, space surveillance and space control units and accomplishes the following:

• Provides oversight, support and guidance for all force structure, testing and system modification actions involving 21st SW operational units.
• Provides real-world and exercise senior staff support to 21st SW leadership.
• Provides Configuration Management for software and hardware changes to 21st SW operational systems.
• Manages the 21st SW's weapons and tactics, war fighter education and combat systems improvement and integration programs.
• Oversees, standardizes, and provides guidance for all 21st SW operations training programs.
• Manages Peterson AFB's airfield operations and

   

  provides flight records management services.
• Provides precision measurement equipment laboratory support which supports 180 organizations and 6,448 pieces of test, measurement and diagnostic equipment.
• Provides Integrated Management Data System support and Maintenance Data Collection analysis for maintenance actions and equipment.
• Provides contract oversight of Transient Alert which services more than 2,500 transient aircraft each year, of which 41 percent are distinguished visitors.
• Provides environmental support (space and terrestrial) to NORAD-USNORTHCOM Command Centers, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Peterson Air Force Base units and 21st SW staff/GSUs.
• Provides intelligence and administrative support to 21st SW, 21st OG and operations squadron commanders.

4th Space Control Squadron

The 4th SPCS is responsible for delivering offensive counterspace capabilities and space situational awareness, as appropriate, to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile effects in support of global and theater campaigns.

6th Space Warning Squadron

The primary mission of the 6th Space Warning Squadron, Cape Cod AFS, Mass., is to guard the U.S. East Coast against SLBMs and ICBMs. The unit is a GSU of the 21st OG operating the Pave PAWS radar system. Raytheon builds Pave PAWS and deployed the first AN/FPS-115 model during the early 1980s. These ninety-foot diameter circular-panel radars are mounted on two walls of a triangular-shaped pyramid structure covering 240 degrees in azimuth. The antennas are designed to operate at a frequency of 420 to 450 MHz. Pave PAWS radars can detect and track targets at ranges approaching 3,000 miles. The radar at Cape Cod AFS was recently upgraded to the higher-power, more-capable AN/FPS-123 model. The site provides continual space control information as part of an integrated global network of missile warning systems. Missile warning data from the 6th SWS are sent to the MCC at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo. Data are also sent to the National Military Command Center and USSTRATCOM. Being a collateral sensor in the SSN, 6th SWS has a secondary mission of space surveillance. The site detects and tracks near-earth objects at a range of nearly 3000 nautical miles and sends its observations to the JSpOC. The site also provides SOI data.

7th Space Warning Squadron

The 7th SWS at Beale AFB, Calif., a geographically separated unit assigned to the 21st OG, operates the Pave Phased Array Warning System radar and provides 24 hour coverage over the Pacific Ocean, executing its primary mission of missile warning and corollary mission of missile defense against sea-launched ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missile (SLBM and ICBM) threats.

Raytheon built the Pave PAWS radars and deployed the first AN/FPS-115 model during the early 1980s. These 90-foot diameter circular-panel radars are mounted on two walls of a structure covering 240 degrees in azimuth. The antennas are designed to operate at a frequency of 420 to 450 MHz. Pave PAWS radars can detect and track targets at ranges approaching 3,000 miles. The radar at Beale AFB was recently upgraded to the higher-power, more-capable AN/FPS-123 model. The site provides continual space control information as part of an integrated global net-work of missile warning systems. Fulfilling its primary mission of missile warning, the 7th SWS sends data to the Missile Correlation Cen¬ter at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., the National Military Command Center and USSTRATCOM. The 7th SWS corollary mis¬sion of Missile Defense supports the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. This program's objective is the defense of the United States against a threat of a limited strategic ballistic missile attack. Mission accomplishment is made possi¬ble through the use of the Upgraded Early Warning Radar, which detects, acquires and tracks inbound missiles to provide the necessary data to classify and engage the target. This target data allows the GMD Fire Control and Commu¬nications element to generate a weapons task plan, allowing for the engagement, interception and negation of a threat ballistic missile reentry vehicle in the exoatmospheric region of space. Also, being a collateral sensor in the Space Surveillance System, the 7 SWS has a second-ary mission of space surveillance. The site detects and tracks 9,500 near-earth objects at a range of nearly 3,000 nautical miles for the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. The site also provides Space Object Identification data.

10th Space Warning Squadron

The 10th SWS at Cavalier AFS, N.D., uses a type of radar called a Perimeter Attack RADAR Characterization System, or PARCS. Its single-faced phased-array radar is pointed northward over the Hudson Bay covering 120 degrees in azimuth. It provides tactical warning, and attack characterization and assessment of SLBM and ICBM attack against the United States and Canada. This includes the number and types of missiles in a raid, and the earliest/next impact times for locations in the continental U.S. It is the only missile warning sensor that reports this type of information to the MCC at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo. This information is also sent to the National Military Command Center and USSTRATCOM. Being a collateral sensor in the SSN, 10 SWS also has a secondary mission of space surveillance. The site detects and tracks 9,500 near-earth manmade objects at a range of nearly 3000 nautical miles for the JSpOC. The site also provides space object identification data.

12th Space Warning Squadron

The 12th Space Warning Squadron, Thule Air Base, Greenland, the 21st OG's northern-most GSU, provides tactical detection, warning and tracking of intercontinental and sea-launched ballistic missile attacks and forwards that information to the MCC at Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colo., the President, SECDEF, JCS, NORAD, National Military Command Center and unified commands. The unit also contributes to the space control mission by tracking and providing metric data on the more than 9,500 man-made objects orbiting the Earth as part of the Space Surveillance Network. The squadron provides metric data and 501. The site operates a solid-state, phased-array radar. The AN/FPS-120 model, which has two radar faces covering 240 degrees in azimuth, replaced the BMEWS mechanical radar at Thule in 1987. However, for programmatic reasons, the 12th SWS is still referred to as BMEWS Site 1. Clear Air Force Station is BMEWS Site 11 and Fylingdales is BMEWS Site III.

13th Space Warning Squadron

The primary mission of the 13th Space Warning Squadron, located at Clear AFS, Alaska, is to provide early warning of ICBMs and SLBMs to the NORAD's MCC located at Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colo. Its secondary mission is to provide space surveillance data on earth-orbiting objects to the JSpOC-SSAOC. Because of its excellent tracking capabilities, this type of radar is very useful for tracking near-earth satellites. The data they generate ensures the JSpOCSSAOC is able to accurately keep track of objects in orbit. This allows them to keep manned objects, like the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, out of harm's way and to closely monitor objects re-entering the atmosphere, which might impact populated areas.

The 13th SWS accomplishes these missions using a solid state phased-array radar, which is housed in a triangular-shaped 11 story building on site. Raytheon builds the Pave PAWS radars, and deployed the first AN/FPS-115 model during the early 1980s. The antennas are designed to operate at a frequency of 420 to 450 MHz. The AN/FPS-123 model radar was originally located at Eldorado Air Station, Texas as part of the Pave PAWS program and was transplanted to Alaska in 2001 to replace the U.S.'s last mechanical missile warning radar site. The radar system has two faces which together form a coverage area 240 degrees wide and 3,000 miles deep into space. The coverage extends from the Arctic Ocean all the way to the West Coast of the lower 48 states. For programmatic reason, Clear is still referred to as BMEWS Site II. Thule AB is BMEWS Site I, and Fylingdales is BMEWS Site III. The 13th SWS is another GSU of the 21st OG.

16th Space Control Squadron

The 16 SPCS is AFSPC's first dedicated defensive counterspace unit. The unit is responsible for operating space control capabilities to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater campaigns and USSTRATCOM's Space Superiority mission.

20th Space Control Squadron

The 20th SPCS, Eglin AFB, Fla., a GSU assigned to the 21st OG, operates and maintains the Air Force's only phased-array space surveillance radar system dedicated to tracking more than 9,500 near-earth and deep-space objects as part of the SSN. Commencing operation in December 1968, the AN/FPS-85 RADAR was the first phased-array radar developed to perform all-weather, day-night detection and tracking of man-made objects in space. The AN/FPS-85 covers 120 degrees in azimuth and in excess of 22,000 nautical miles in range. The squadron also supports USSTRATCOM and theater war fighter requirements through continuous detection, identification and reporting of orbital satellite positional and 501 data.

20th Space Control Squadron, Det. 1

20th Space Control Squadron, Det. 1, in Dahlgren, Va., operates another dedicated sensor of the SSN called the Air Force Surveillance System, also known as "the Fence." The Navy, the original operators of the Fence, transferred operations to the Air Force in October 2004. Designed and constructed in 1958, "the Fence" is the nation's oldest sensor built to track satellites and debris in orbit. The system has nine field stations located along the 33rd parallel with three transmitter sues at Lake Kickapoo, Texas, Jordan Lake, Ala., and Gila River, Ariz., and six receiver sues at Fort Stewart, Ga., Hawkinsville, Ga., Silver Lake, Miss., Red River, Arkansas, Elephant Butte, N.M., and San Diego, Calif. The field stations comprise a bistatic radar that points straight up into space and produces a "fence" of electromagnetic energy. The system can detect basketball-sized objects in orbit around the Earth out to an effective range of 15,000 nautical miles. More than 5 million satellite detections, or observations, are collected by the surveillance sensor each month. Data collected by "the Fence" is transmuted to a computer center at Dahlgren, where it is used to constantly update a database of spacecraft orbital elements. 20th SPCS, Det 1 also operates the ASCC, which serves as the backup computational and command and control node for JSpOC-SSAOC.

76th Space Control Squadron

The 76th SPCS is responsible for delivering defensive and offensive counterspace capabilities and space situational awareness, as appropriate, to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile effects in support of global and theater campaigns.

RAF Fylingdales

The missile warning unit at RAF Fylingdales provides tactical warning of an ICBM attack against North America, the UK and Europe. The unit also supports the SSN by detecting and tracking near-Earth space vehicles. The site is unique because it operates the only Pave PAWS radar covering 360 degrees in azimuth. For programmatic reasons, Fylingdales is still referred to as BMEWS Site III. Thule is BMEWS Site 1, and Clear is BMEWS Site 11.

The U.S. Air Force presence at Fylingdales is a liaison officer who reports through the 21st OG. The liaison officer is a bridge to U.S. operations, maintaining mission ready status and advising the RAF station commander on U.S. Air Force operational issues. The USAFLO also serves as a resource advisor and the quality assurance evaluator for the U.S. communications contractor.

21st Operations Group/ Detachments 1-4

The 21st OG also controls and operates four dedicated optical space tracking sues in the SSN. Three of the sues are part of the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance system, or GEODSS: Det. 1, Socorro, N.M.; Det. 2, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territories and Det. 3 at Maui, Hawaii. Like the other sensors in the SSN, GEODSS provides metric data to JSpOC and photometric SOI data.

GEODSS is an optical system that uses low-light level, electro-optical cameras, high speed computers and powerful telescopes. GEODSS tracks objects in deep space or from about 3000 miles out, to beyond geosynchronous altitudes, more than 22,500 miles out. GEODSS requires nighttime and clear weather tracking because of the inherent limitations of an optical system. Each sue has three telescopes. The telescopes have a one meter aperture and a 1.68 degree field of view The telescopes are able to "see" objects 160,000 times dimmer than the human eye can detect. This sensitivity, and the fact that the daytime sky background masks satellites' reflected light, dictates that the system operate at night. As with any ground-based optical system, cloud cover and local weather conditions directly influence its effectiveness. GEODSS employs Sidereal and Rate track to perform its Space Surveillance Mission. In Sidereal track the telescopes scan the sky at the same rate as the stars appear to move. In Rate Track telescopes follow the path of the satellite as it passes overhead. GEODSS is also now capable of robust area and object searches resulting in an enhanced battle space picture through detection of uncorrelated targets and normally difficult-to-track cataloged objects.

Det. 4 operates the $5 million state-of-the-art Moron Optical Space Surveillance System in Moron, Spain. MOSS is an optical telescope that detects and tracks earth-orbiting objects in deep space. MOSS is another dedicated sensor in the SSN.

21ST MISSION SUPPORT GROUP

The 21st Mission Support Group provides expeditionary combat support personnel and equipment to our nation's combatant commanders worldwide. Group members support the projection of combat power by our nation's premier air, ground, maritime and special operations forces. In addition, the group provides world-class mission and quality-of-life support to a population of more than 50,000 military members, civilians, retirees, contractors and their families using Peterson AFB. The 21st Mission Support Group is comprised of more than 1,700 warriors from six squadrons, all dedicated to protecting and caring for the Air Force's most valuable resource—you!

21st Contracting Squadron

The 21st Contracting Squadron acquires, negotiates, awards and manages contracts directly supporting missile warning and space surveillance for the 21st Space Wing at its geographically-separated units around the world, as well as providing contract support to the Wing's tenants, including HQ AFSPC, NORAD-USNORTHCOM and the 302 AW. The 21 CONS also provides contract support in a partnering relationship to other military installations, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, Schriever AFB and Fort Carson Army Post. Annual contract expenditures exceed $500 million, while on-going contract actions are worth over $4 billion. The squadron, the largest in the Air Force, is spread over four locations on base and a detachment in Copenhagen, Denmark. The squadron's administrative offices are located in Building 350.

The 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Building 1324, manages and controls resources involving about $1.3 billion in real property and 1,286 acres of land at Peterson AFB.

Unit missions:

• Train military members for worldwide mobility contingencies.
• Construct, maintain and repair essential facilities and utility infrastructure systems to include electrical power systems, water and natural gas distribution systems, base roads and pavements.
• Provide fire emergency services, protection and prevention.
• Administer environmental and privatized family housing programs.
• Provide comprehensive technical engineering and environmental support including contract management and mobile quality assurance to 27 wing geographically separated units.
• Provide Explosive Ordnance Disposal support to Team Pete, Secret Service, Ft. Carson, Buckley AFB and local authorities.

21st Security Forces Squadron

The security forces mission is to safeguard the people, property and resources located on Peterson and Colorado's Front Range. The squadron maintains the second largest military working dog kennel in the United States and deploys combat ready, warrior Airmen worldwide. The security forces desk can be reached at (719) 556-4000 for routine business. For emergencies or to report a crime in progress, call 911 or Crime Stop at (719) 556-4357.

21st Logistics Readiness Squadron

The 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron provides a complete spectrum of logistics services to Peterson AFB, Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Schriever AFB and 41 worldwide missile warning, space surveillance and contract space communications units. The 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron is responsible for all aspects of the 21st Space Wing's perse deployment missions including planning and cargo movement operations, air terminal operations and ensures safe and efficient refueling operations for all transient aircraft. The squadron is also responsible for managing the complex maintenance and operations requirements for the installation's fleet of over 525 motor vehicles and also ensuresaccountability and appropriate issue of supply assets for 21 SW 50 SW and all associate units.

21st Communications Squadron

Supporting the Air Force's commitment to information superiority, the 21st Communications Squadron provides responsive communications, information, mission systems and postal support services to its customers around the globe. 21st CS is responsible for the maintenance and program support of $79 million in communications/computer systems servicing 10,000 users at Peterson AFB. This includes equipping, training and providing personnel to operate and maintain ground communications, electronics, telephone and computer systems and facilities supporting NORAD-USNORTHCOM, USSTRATCOM, HQ AFSPC, SMDC/ ARSTRAT, HQ DISA, the 302nd AW, the 21st SW and its world-wide geographically separated units and the numerous other Team Pete organizations. In addition, the 21st CS provides meteorological services to Cheyenne Mountain, the U.S. Air Force Academy and Fort Carson. The squadron also provides COMSEC accounting, information assurance, hardware/software configuration control, records/publication management and Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act support. The squadron fulfills these responsibilities through its three flights—Operations, Readiness and Space Control.

21st Force Support Squadron

The 21st Force Support Squadron's programs, facilities and services enhance force readiness and esprit de corps. The squadron's administrative offices are in Building 350. The staff strives to provide the best leisure and recreational services ranging from sports and fitness to outdoor adventure. The squadron also manages the transient quarters and lodging facilities and provides mortuary affairs services and honor guard teams. FSS keeps the military community informed of programs, activities and upcoming events through a direct-mail newsletter and an informative Web site, www.21FSS.com. The direct-mail program sends notice of programs to your home address bi-monthly and sends club coupons to club members. Call the marketing and publicity office at (719) 556-4598 or DSN 834-4598 to subscribe. Services events are published weekly in the Space Observer and the Peterson Web site. Patrons can also subscribe to eNews at www.21FSS.com for the information they want and only the information they want.