1st Space Surveillance Squadron

The United States Air Force's 1st Space Surveillance Squadron (1 SSS) was a space surveillance unit located at Griffiss AFB, New York.

1st Space Surveillance Squadron
Verona Test Annex, New York
Active1989–1995
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleSpace Surveillance Intelligence Collection
Size79 personnel[1]
Part ofAir Force Space Command
Garrison/HQVerona Test Annex, New York
Insignia
1st Space Surveillance Squadron emblem (approved 4 March 1992)[note 1]

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

Stations

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)

See also

References
Notes
  1. 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
  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.
  2. Richelson, J.
  3. "21st Space Wing [21 SW]". Globalsecurity.org. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  4. Rogers,
  5. "Lieutenant General Michael W. Peterson". Air Force Link. February 2006. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  6. US Air Force Air Power Directory

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.
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