COMMANDER’S CORNER: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: GEODSS CELEBRATES 35 YEARS - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Vol. 61 No. 43
16th SPCS Defenders of critical satellite communications Dave Smith 21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — More than 1,800 unclassified spacecraft are being tracked as they orbit earth, according to Space-tracl.org, the public data base for such items. They are communicating with receivers on the ground as well as each other. Who is watching to make sure none of those signals are nefarious, aimed at disrupting communications between the satellites and the warfighters in various theaters who rely on those signals to conduct their missions? The 16th Space Control Squadron, located on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is monitoring the situation. The squadron is at the forefront of the Air Force’s defensive space control efforts, utilizing multiple weapons systems with a nearly global reach in defending critical satellite communication links. The 16th SPCS defends access to the space domain by identifying, characterizing, and geolocating sources of electromagnetic interference on U.S. military and commercial satellites. That means the squadron externally monitors signals being broadcast, but does not listen in to the broadcast. Airmen from the squadron operate defensive space control weapon systems in-garrison
from Peterson AFB, as well as, deploy in combat-ready crews to employ defensive space control capabilities for theater combatant commanders. “We monitor, characterize and geolocate satellite communications for global support,” said 2nd Lt. Dan Vasquez, 16th SPCS crew commander. “We support unified combatant commands like U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Strategic Command to name a few.” Defensive space control capabilities supplied by the squadron have protected satellite communication links used by carrier strike groups, B-52 bomber missions, and special operations forces operating in the harshest locations. The 16th SPCS doesn’t have a main customer for the data it gathers. In fact, the squadron disseminates information across a wide spectrum of services and not much can evade their detection. “Who we provide information for is pretty spread out,” Vasquez said. Because equipment capable of transmitting UHF signals is fairly inexpensive and very portable, the 16th SPCS detects Courtesy photo signals of interest from all over the globe PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — 2nd Lt. Dan Vasquez, 16th Space Control Squadron crew commander, along and sends reports accordingly in support See 16th SPCS page 8
with some of the equipment used by the 16th SPCS, Oct. 20, 2017 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The 16th SPCS defends access to the space domain by identifying, characterizing, and geolocating sources of electromagnetic interference on U.S. military and commercial satellites.
20th SPCS serves as example for Japanese SSA development Capt. Kyle Barone 20th SPCS crew commander
Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. — Three members of the Japanese Space Situational Awareness Policy office visited Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 4, 2017, as part of an effort to encourage Japan’s development of its SSA mission area and dedicated space surveillance squadron. The visitors, Maj. Yuta Onda and
Maj. Kazuhiko Matsuo of the Japan Air Staff Defense Force and Shinji Fukui of the Japan Ministry of Defense, were accompanied by Lt. Col. Darrell Myers, Air Force branch chief for international engagement during the trip to view the 20th Space Control Squadron space surveillance capabilities. The delegation, as well as an earlier See 20th SPCS page 10
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fl. — Three members of the Japanese Space Situational Awareness Policy office visit the 20th Space Control Squadron, Oct. 4, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The members went to the 20th SPCS as part of an effort to encourage Japan’s development of its space situational awareness mission area and dedicated space surveillance squadron.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fl. — Three members of the Japanese Space Situational Awareness Policy office visit the 20th Space Control Squadron, Oct. 4, 2017, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The three visitors including Lt. Col. Darrell Myers (left), Air Force branch chief for international engagement, were educated on the utilization of equipment and weapons systems used by the 20th SPCS.
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Riding a wave of innovation Page 5
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