3d Space Experimentation Squadron

3d Space Experimentation Squadron
3d Space Experimentation Squadron emblem
Active	1990-2002; 2006–Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Space Control
Role	Experimentation
Part of	AFSPC/21st Space Wing
Garrison/HQ	Schriever AFB, Colorado
Motto	Unequalled excellence
Decorations	AFOUA

The 3d Space Experimentation Squadron (3 SES) is a space control unit located at Schriever AFB in Colorado.

Mission

The 3d Space Experimentation Squadron is AFSPC's premier organization for space-based demonstrations, pathfinders and experiments. The unit identifies concepts of employment, training, education and technical skill sets required to field selected future AFSPC missions. The 3d SES will develop a core cadre of space professionals to serve as subject matter experts for all future AFSPC space-based endeavors, demonstrate operational utility of selected demonstrations and apply lessons learned from demonstrations and pathfinders for use in future initiatives.

History

The 3d SES began its existence as the 3d Surveillance Squadron on August 10, 1990, at Misawa AB, Japan. It was later renamed Det. 3, 73d Space Group in January 1991. The home for the 3d SS (project name RINGO) was completed on March 16, 1991. Two antennas, an operations building, support building, pump housing and entry control point were constructed beginning on October 1, 1991, and was completed on May 31, 1992. Later that year, the unit was redesignated 3d Space Surveillance Squadron, while their Deep Space Tracking System obtained initial operating capability in April 1994.

The current designation of the unit, the 3d Space Experimentation Squadron began on March 10, 2006, with its new home at Mod 9, Schriever AFB, Colorado.

The squadron is one of two Deep Space Tracking System squadrons located throughout the world. The DSTS tracks objects orbiting more than 22,300 miles above the Earth. More than 9,500 man-made objects orbit the Earth, ranging in size from a baseball to the Mir space station.

The 3d SPSS forwards this data to the 1st Command and Control Squadron and the Space Control Center, Cheyenne Mountain Air Station, CO. The 1st CACS and the center use this information, along with other data, to catalog and identify all man-made Earth-orbiting objects. Several agencies use this information for everything from collision avoidance to intelligence. Because of its mission, the 3d SPSS works closely with Det. 3, 18th Intelligence Squadron, Schriever AFB, CO. The detachment provides specialized intelligence information necessary for the 3d SPSS to perform its deep space surveillance mission. Though Det. 3 is controlled by the 18th IS at Schriever AFB, it is an administrative subordinate of the 544th Intelligence Group at Peterson. The 3d Space Surveillance Squadron was originally constituted as the 3d Surveillance Squadron on August 10, 1990. The squadron stood up as

Assigned to the 73d Space Group, the 3d was tasked with operating passive sensors for the Deep Space Tracking System.

Lineage

• Constituted as 3d Photographic Squadron on 15 May 1941

Activated on 10 Jun 1941

Re-designated: 3d Mapping Squadron on 13 Jan 1942

Re-designated: 3d Photographic Mapping Squadron on 9 Jun 1942

Re-designated: 3d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Heavy, on 19 May 1944

Re-designated: 3d Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range (Photographic-RCM), on 19 Sep 1945

Re-designated: 3d Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Photographic, on 15 Jan 1946

Inactivated on 15 Mar 1947

• Consolidated (13 Oct 1994) with the 3d Satellite Control Squadron, which was constituted on 9 Jan 1990.

Activated on 2 Feb 1990

Re-designated: 3d Space Operations Squadron on 30 Jan 1992.

Re-designated: 3d Space Experimentation Squadron, 10 March 2006

Assignments

• 1st Photographic (later, 1 Mapping; 1 Photographic Charting) Group, 10 Jun 1941
• 11th Photographic Group, 1 Dec 1943
• 311th Photographic (later, 311th Reconnaissance) Wing, 5 Mar 1944

Attached to Twentieth Air Force, 1 Nov-13 Dec 1944

Attached to XXI Bomber Command, 14 Dec 1944-15 Jul 1945

Attached to Twentieth Air Force, 16 Jul 1945-2 Feb 1947

• Twentieth Air Force, 3 Feb-15 Mar 1947
• 2d Space Wing, 2 Feb 1990
• 50th Operations Group, 30 Jan 1992
• 73d Space Group, October 1, 1992
• 21st Operations Group on April 26, 1995-Present

Detachments

• Detachment 1, 3d Space Surveillance Squadron - Osan AB, Republic of Korea

Stations

• Maxwell Field, AL, 10 Jun 1941
• MacDill Field, FL, 22 Dec 1941
• Smoky Hill Army Airfield, KS, 16 Apr-3 Aug 1944
• Isley Airfield, Saipan, Mariana Islands, 18 Sep 1944

• Harmon Airfield, Guam, Mariana Islands, 11 Jan 1945-15 Mar 1947
• Falcon (later, Schriever) AFB, CO, 2 Feb 1990
• Misawa AB, Japan (1 Oct 1992–20 Feb 2002)
• Schriever AFB, Colorado (10 Mar 2006 – present)

Aircraft and Space Systems

• Included F-2, 1942; B-25/F-10, 1942-1944
• B-24, 1943-1945
• B-17/F-9, 1944, 1946-1947
• B-29/F-13, 1944-1947
• Satellites, 1990-Present
• Deep Space Tracking System (1992–2002)

Commanders

• Lt Col Joseph Prue
• Lt Col Jeff Hokett
• Lt Col Jim Maestas
• Lt Col Richard Lucas (Misawa)
• Lt Col Robert Preston (Misawa - 1st Commander)

Decorations

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
  • 1 Jan 2000-31 Aug 2001
  • 1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 1999
  • 1 Jan 1998-31 Dec 1998
  • 1 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1999
  • 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1997

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.