COP’S CORNER - PAGE 2 Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Vol. 61 No. 9
Space squadron supports record-breaking satellites launch By Kristin Stewart Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The 20th Space Control Squadron’s Charlie Crew successfully tracked India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle Feb. 15. Loaded with 104 satellites, the Indian PSLV set the record for the most spacecraft launched by a single rocket. “This launch is important because we want to ensure our national assets aren’t impacted,” said Lt. Col. Raj Agrawal, 20th SPCS commander. “Part of our role in space superiority is we have to ensure we’re always ready to respond, whether the risk is accidental or intentional.” Using the world’s most powerful phased-array radar, the space surveillance squadron uses an integrated team of military and civilian Airmen to operate several sensors used to track 23,000 near-Earth and deepspace objects each day. The AN/FPS-85 is the only phased array radar capable of tracking objects 40,000 kilometers away. As objects orbit the earth, the AN/FPS-85 radar sweeps for debris within its field of view. If objects are not identified and tracked, they can be a risk for other satellites as well as the crew aboard the International Space Station. “This launch presented a unique challenge for us to track since it was the highest amount of payloads released by a single launch vehicle,” said Capt. Isaiah Montemayor, flight commander of weapons, tactics and training. “It lacked predictability due to the high number of small satellites, which made them difficult to detect.” Due to the magnitude of the Indian PSLV launch, three weeks of planning and testing were required before operational execution. The space surveillance See Satellites page 6
(U.S. Air Force photo/Kristin Stewart)
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — The 20th Space Control Squadron’s Charlie Crew successfully tracked India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle Feb. 15 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Loaded with 104 satellites, the Indian PSLV set the record for the most spacecraft launched by a single rocket. The squadron’s Airmen operate several sensors used to track an estimated 23,000 near-Earth and deep-space objects.
Military Saves Week: Journey to financial freedom By Robb Lingley 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
(U.S. Air Force photo by Robb Lingley)
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Captain Joshua Flynn, 21st Space Wing chaplain, gathers Base Exchange information from Kristie Thomas and Kathy Dugan, Base Exchange employees, during the Financial Fair at The Club, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., Feb. 28, 2017. The Exchange offers savings on commercial and grocery items.
INSIDE News Briefs Crossword Classifieds
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Defending the final frontier Page 3
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The Airman & Family Readiness Center is scheduled to host Military Saves Week Financial Fair, Feb. 27 — Mar. 4, 2017, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Military Saves, a component of America Saves and a partner in the Department of Defense’s Financial Readiness Campaign, is a nonprofit campaign that seeks to motivate, support and encourage military families to save money, reduce debt and build wealth. The goal of Military Saves Week is to encourage service members and their families to take the Military Saves Pledge, a commitment to begin the journey toward financial freedom. The Air Force promotes positive changes in personal financial behavior through the notion that everyone can start small, See Military Saves page 12
AF Chief of Chaplains makes historic visit Page 7
Recreation and Leisure Events Page 14