2nd Space Launch Squadron

The 2nd Space Launch Squadron is an active United States Space Force unit. It is located at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, and was reactivated in July 2019 with the merger of the 4th Space Launch Squadron and the 1st Air and Space Test Squadron.

2nd Space Launch Squadron
Titan IV ready to launch
Active1990-2005, 2019-present[1]
Country United States
Branch United States Space Force
RoleLaunch control
Motto(s)Rising Stars (approved 24 May 1995)[2]
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable
commanders		David D. Thompson
Insignia
2nd Space Launch Squadron emblem (approved 15 January 1991)[2]

History

When founded, the two launch squadrons at Vandenberg Air Force Base divided launch duties, with the 4th Space Launch Squadron working with Titan II and Titan IV vehicles while the 2nd worked with Delta II, Atlas, and other launch vehicles. On 18 May 1998, the two squadrons merged into the 2nd SLS. The merged squadron was responsible for all launch operations at Vandenberg AFB. The reason for the merger was the similarity in missions performed by both units. It was inactivated after the last Titan IV launch. In June 2019 the 4th Space Launch Squadron and the 1st Air and Space Test Squadron merged and reactivated as the 2nd Space Launch Squadron. The reestablished unit took on all the missions of both the 1st Air and Space Test Squadron and the 4th Space Launch Squadron. the 2nd Space Launch Squadron was one of only two space launch squadrons in the U.S. Air Force. the other being the 5th Space launch Squadron at Cape Canaveral.[3]

Both space launch squadrons are now part of the U.S. Space Force.

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 2d Space Launch Squadron on 11 September 1990
Activated on 1 October 1990[4]
Inactivated on 31 October 2005[5]
Activated on 1 June 2019[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft and missiles

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

  • 1 November 1991 - 30 September 1993[4]

List of commanders

References
  1. Airman 1st Class Hanah Abercrombie (August 15, 2019). "2nd SLS reactivated following squadron merger". 30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  2. Endicott, p. 330
  3. Air Force Association: "Two Space Squadrons Merge" Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Lineage, including assignments, decorations and stations, through 1995 in Endicott, p. 330
  5. Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, October 2005, Maxwell AFB, AL
  6. Rogers,
  7. World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3
  8. "2nd SLS reactivated following squadron merger".

Bibliography
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