Type Long Range Radar Site Built by U.S. Government Height 30 m | Open to
the public No In use 1980-Present Owner United States Air Force | |
 | ||
Controlled by 21st Space Wing
Peterson Air Force Base, CO Built Oct. 26, 1976
construction began;
April 4, 1980,
operations began. Address Flatrock Rd, Sandwich, MA 02563, USA Occupant 6th Space Warning Squadron Similar North Truro Air Force Station, Clear Air Force Station, Cottonwood Air Force Station, Hutchinson Air Force Station, Kirksville Air Force Station | ||
Cape Cod Air Force Station is a US Air Force station located in the northwest corner of Joint Base Cape Cod, United States, on Flatrock Hill in Massachusetts. It consists of one PAVE PAWS radar station and is in continuous operation.
Contents
The facility became operational April 4, 1980 as Cape Cod Missile Early Warning Station, but was renamed Cape Cod Air Force Station on January 5, 1982.
The facility became home to the 6th Space Warning Squadron after the closure of the North Truro Air Force Station in North Truro, Massachusetts.
Mission
Its main mission is to track space debris, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. It also tracked the spy satellite USA-193 before it was shot down. Its secondary mission is tracking Earth-orbiting objects such as the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle, any object that deviates from its known orbit, or any new orbiting objects.