5th Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron

The United States Air Force's 5th Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron is an expeditionary satellite operations unit, assigned to Air Force Space Command to activate or inactivate as needed.

5th Space Operations Squadron
Active1989–1992; 1993–2000
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleSatellite Operations
Part ofAir Force Space Command
Motto(s)Scanning the Globe (1989-1994) Pioneers of Space (1994-present)[1]
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award[2]
Insignia
5th Space Operations Squadron emblem (approved 9 December 1994)[2]
5th Satellite Control Squadron emblem (approved 25 August 1989)[1]

History

The 5th Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron (ESOPS) was formed by the Air Force Satellite Control Facility. The squadron was provisionally activated as Operating Location-A, 750th Space Group, on October 1, 1992. This satellite control facility was established as one of the Air Force's satellite operations locations. AFSCF was later divided into the 2nd Space Test Group and the Consolidated Space Test Center (CSTC)[3] on October 1, 1987, when AFSPC took over Onizuka Air Force Base, now Onizuka Air Station. OL-A encompassed the CSTC divisions of VOS, VOE, and VOD. The 5 ESOPS was officially activated 22 November 1993, under the 50th Operations Group and within one year, the 21st Space Operations Squadron (SOS) absorbed the roles of the 2nd Satellite Tracking Group Operations Division and the 1999th Communications Squadron Operations Division. After 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Committee directed the realignment of Onizuka AFS, the 21st SOS absorbed the roles of the 750th Space Group and all subordinate units and the 5th Space Operations Squadron.

Three weeks later in late 1993, the squadron activated as the 5th Space Operations Squadron and launched a DSCS III and a NATO IV communication satellite, supported NASA's Hubble telescope repair, and activated as the 5th Space Operations Squadron. The squadron has launched the IUS in support of NASA programs including all seven TDRS and three inter-planetary spacecraft: Galileo (Jupiter), Magellan (Venus), and Ulysses (Sun).

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 5th Satellite Control Squadron on 11 April 1989
  • Activated on 1 May 1989
  • Redesignated as the 5th Space Operations Squadron on 30 January 1992
  • Inactivated on 31 July 1992
  • Activated on 22 November 1993
  • Inactivated on 13 June 2000
  • Redesignated as the 5th Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron and converted to provisional status on 5 December 2007[2]

Assignments

Locations

Satellites operated

References

Notes
  1. Endicott, p. 364
  2. Robertson, Patsy (26 February 2008). "Factsheet 5 Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  3. Smith, David. "Consolidated Space Test Center Capability to Support Small Satellites".
  4. Force Enhancement - Air University

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

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