Active 1992-Present Type Space Operations Part of AFSPC/50th Space Wing | Country United States Role GPS C2 | |
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Branch United States Air Force | ||
The 2d Space Operations Squadron (2 SOPS) is a unit of the United States Air Force at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. Its mission is to manage the Navstar Global Positioning System satellite constellation for global navigation, time transfer, and nuclear detonation detection.
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2 SOPS is augmented by Reserve personnel from the 19th Space Operations Squadron, part of the 310th Space Wing.
Mission
The squadron performs the command and control mission for the Global Positioning System satellite constellation. GPS is the world's premiere space-based position, velocity and timing system, capable of providing precision navigation and timing capability simultaneously to an unlimited number of properly equipped users. Continuous GPS availability and unprecedented signal accuracy has resulted in widespread integration of the technology; numerous military, commercial and international users have embraced GPS.
History
2 SOPS was originally constituted as the 2d Surveillance Squadron (Sensor) and activated on 16 January 1962 under North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) at Ent Air Force Base. It was then organized on 1 February 1962 under the 9th Aerospace Defense Division, under which it operated SPACETRACK, the USAF globe-spanning space surveillance network, from 1962 through 1967. The squadron was discontinued and inactivated on 1 January 1967.
It was redesignated the 2d Satellite Control Squadron on 16 July 1985 at Falcon Air Force Station as the first operational squadron of the 2d Space Wing. Activated on 1 October 1985.
2 SOPS has controlled the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite constellation and managed the Nuclear Detonation System in support of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty since 1987.
On 30 January 1992, as part of an Air Force reorganization, 2 SCS was redesignated the 2d Space Operations Squadron.
On June 18, 2004, a 24/7 user focal point, the GPSOC, was established.
In late 2005, several National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency monitor stations were integrated into the network to improve navigation accuracy and signal monitoring.
2 SOPS had one geographically separated unit (GSU), Detachment 1, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. It was responsible for maintenance of a GPS Ground Antenna, Monitor Station, and various operational test assets. It is now discontinued, though contractors remained to perform the mission.