10th Space Operations Squadron
| 10th Space Operations Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron emblem | |
| Active | 1962–present[1] |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Space Force |
| Role | Satellite communications |
| Part of | Space Delta 8 |
| Headquarters | Point Mugu, California, U.S. |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Lt Col Jason Sanders |
| Insignia | |
| Naval Satellite Operations Center (1990-2022) |  |
| Navy Astronautics Group (1962-1990) |  |
The 10th Space Operations Squadron (10 SOPS) is the United States Space Force unit responsible for operating the Mobile User Objective System and Ultra-High Frequency Follow-On satellite constellations, providing global communications to the United States Armed Forces.[1][2]
History
[edit]Navy (1962-2022)
[edit]
The first military space operations command in history,[3] the Navy Astronautics Group (e or NAG) was established on May 22, 1962 under the command of CDR J.C. Quillen, Jr.[4] Tasked with operating the Navy's satellites, the unit commanded the Navy Navigational Satellite System, also known as Transit, the world's first satellite navigation system.[5] The Navy Astronautics Group was redesignated as the Naval Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC) in June 1990.
Space Force (2022-present)
[edit]
In September 2021, it was announced that NAVSOC would be transferred from the Navy to the newly-independent US Space Force under Space Delta 8.[6][7][8] On 6 June 2022, NAVSOC was formally disestablished and 10 SOPS assumed its mission, personnel, resources, and heritage in total.[9] According to Space Delta 8, the squadron was given its number to honor its heritage under 10th Fleet.[10]
Constellations
[edit]The unit has operated various types of military satellites, including:
| Constellation | Abbreviation | First launch | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transit | NAVSAT or NNSS | 1959 | Navigation |
| Fleet Satellite Communications System | FLTSATCOM or FLTSAT | 1978 | Communication |
| Geodetic Satellite[3] | GEOSAT | 1985 | Earth observation |
| Ultra High Frequency Follow-On | UFO | 1993 | Communication |
| Geodetic Satellite Follow-On[11] | GFO | 1998 | Earth observation |
| Mobile User Objective System | MUOS | 2012 | Communication |
Command Structure
[edit]- Headquarters, Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California
- Detachment A, Prospect Harbor, Maine
- Detachment C, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Dededo, Guam
- Detachment D, Schriever SFB, El Paso County, Colorado
Former site:
List of commanders
[edit] |
- Lt Col Jason Sanders, 6 June 2022
References
[edit]- ^ a b "(U) NAVSOC". www.wslfweb.org.
- ^ "50th Space Wing's satellites, ground systems buoy NAVSOC". Schriever Space Force Base.
- ^ a b "From the Sea to the Stars A Chronicle of the U.S. Navy's Space and Space-related Activities, 1944-2009". Naval History and Heritage Command. 2010.
- ^ "Naval Aviation News" (pdf). February 1963. p. 9. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Navy operates on Schriever". Schriever Space Force Base. 13 October 2016.
- ^ "Space Force reveals which Army and Navy units are moving to the space branch". SpaceNews. 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Army, Navy SATCOM Mission Areas Shifting to U.S. Space Force". United States Space Force.
- ^ "Army, Navy satellite operations to consolidate under Space Force". SpaceNews. 23 June 2021.
- ^ "Space Delta 8". www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Navy Satellite Center Disestablished, Transferred to U.S. Space Force". SeaPower Magazine. 9 June 2022.
- ^ "GFO (GEOSAT Follow-On) Satellite". eoPortal Directory. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
External links
[edit]
Media related to 10th Space Operations Squadron at Wikimedia Commons
