1st Space Surveillance Squadron

1st Space Surveillance Squadron
1st Space Surveillance Squadron
	Verona Test Annex, New York
Active	1989–1995
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Space Surveillance Intelligence Collection
Size	79 personnel
Part of	Air Force Space Command
Garrison/HQ	Verona Test Annex, New York
Insignia
1st Space Surveillance Squadron emblem (approved 4 March 1992)

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]

Lineage

Constituted as the 1st Deep Space Surveillance Squadron on 10 February 1989

Activated on 1 April 1989

Redesignated 1st Surveillance Squadron on 1 May 1990

Redesignated 1st Space Surveillance Squadron on 15 May 1992

Inaxtivated on 30 September 1995^[4]

Assignments

73d Space Surveillance Group (later 73d Space Group), 1 April 1989
21st Operations Group, 26 April 1995 – 30 September 1995)^[2]

Stations

Verona Test Annex, New York, 1 April 1989 – 30 September 1995

Commanders

Jun 1993 – Jun 1995, Lt Col Stephen L. Lanning
Aug 1992 – Jun 1993, Lt Col Michael Peterson^[5]

Equipment Operated

Low Altitude Space Surveillance System^[6] (1989–1995)

References

Notes

^ Symbolism: 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. USAFPatches.com: 1st Space Surveillance Squadron

Citations

^ ^a ^b "Air Force Announces Force Structure Changes". U.S. Department of Defense. 30 June 1995. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
^ ^a ^b Richelson, J. ^{[page needed]}
^ "21st Space Wing [21 SW]". Globalsecurity.org. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
^ Rogers, ^{[page needed]}
^ "Lieutenant General Michael W. Peterson". Air Force Link. February 2006. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
^ US Air Force Air Power Directory^{[page needed]}

Bibliography

Richelson, Jeffrey (1999). The US Intelligence Community (4th ed.). New York, NY: Avalon Publishing. ISBN 978-0813368931.
Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
US Air Force Air Power Directory (World Airpower Journal). London, UK: Aerospace Publishing, Ltd. 1992. ISBN 978-1874023258.

External links

Peterson AFB: 21st Space Wing homepage

[2] Symbolism: 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. USAFPatches.com: 1st Space Surveillance Squadron

[defenselink.mil-1] "Air Force Announces Force Structure Changes". U.S. Department of Defense. 30 June 1995. Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2017.

[books.google.com-3] Richelson, J. ^{[page needed]}

[4] "21st Space Wing [21 SW]". Globalsecurity.org. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2017.

[5] Rogers, ^{[page needed]}

[6] "Lieutenant General Michael W. Peterson". Air Force Link. February 2006. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2017.

[7] US Air Force Air Power Directory^{[page needed]}

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