Cape Cod Air Force Station
| Cape Cod Air Force Station
| |
|---|---|
| Part of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) | |
| Bourne, Massachusetts | |
 | |
| Aerial view of the Cape Cod PAVE PAWS c.1986. | |
| Coordinates | 41°45′12″N 70°32′19″W / 41.7532°N 70.5385°W |
| Type | Long Range Radar Site |
| Site information | |
| Owner | United States Air Force |
| Controlled by | 21st Space Wing Peterson Air Force Base, CO |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Site history | |
| Built | Oct. 26, 1976 construction began; April 4, 1980, operations began. |
| In use | 1980-Present |
| Built by | U.S. Government |
| Height | 100 Feet |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander |
Lt. Col. Max E. Lantz II |
| Occupants | 6th Space Warning Squadron |
Cape Cod Air Force Station is a US Air Force station located in the northwest corner of the Massachusetts Military Reservation, USA, on Flatrock Hill. It consists of one PAVE PAWS radar station and is in continuous operation.
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.[1]
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.[citation needed]
Units
Gallery
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Radar screen for the PAVE PAWS at Cape Cod AFS, 1986.
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Computer room for PAVE PAWS at Cape Cod AFS, 1986. Note the four large hard disk units in the foreground.
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The entrance to the station
See also
- List of minor active Air Force Bases
- PAVE PAWS#Environmental and health concerns
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cape Cod Air Force Station. |
- ↑ United States Air Force. 6th Space Warning Squadron fact sheet. Accessed January 1, 2008.
- ↑ Global Security: 6th SWS
External links
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/facility/cape-cod.htm
- http://www.peterson.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4702
- Photos of the station's construction
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