5th Space Surveillance Squadron

5th Space Surveillance Squadron
5th Space Surveillance Squadron emblem
Active	1989-2003
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Space Surveillance
Role	Data Acquisition
Size	132 American/3 British
Part of	AFSPC
Garrison/HQ	RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom
Motto(s)	TRACKING THE DEEP
Decorations	AFOUA

The United States Air Force's 5th Space Surveillance Squadron (5 SSS) was a space surveillance unit located at RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom.

Mission

The mission of the 5 SSS was to operate the Low Altitude Space Surveillance (LASS) system and Deep Space Tracking System (DSTS) to gather space intelligence and track space systems in both near- and far-Earth orbits.

History

The dual LASS/DSTS operation supported USAF space intelligence requirements, while being assisted by the 18th Intelligence Squadron's Det 4 for SIGINT support.^[1] This coverage augmented worldwide coverage of space signals activities at similarly equipped sites at Misawa AB, Japan, Osan AB, Republic of Korea and at Griffiss AFB in the United States.^[2]

The Deep Space Tracking System uses sensitive, highly accurate 20-foot dish antennas to detect and track S-band radio signals transmitted by radio beacons on most satellites. There were DSTS receivers located at Griffiss AFB, New York; RAF Feltwell, Great Britain; and Misawa AB, Japan. ^[3]

The 5 SSS was inactivated in 2003, with administration of RAF Feltwell transferred to Detachment 4, 18th Intelligence Squadron.

Previous designations

• 5th Space Surveillance Squadron (1989–2003)

Bases stationed

• RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom (1989–2003)

Commanders

• Lt Col John Amrine (June 1999-July 2000)^[4]
• Lt Col John W. Raymond (April 2000 - June 2001)^[5]
• Lt Col Steven R. Prebeck (28 September 1996-???)^[6]
• Lt Col James L. Burling, Jr. (August 1994-28 September 1996)

Lt. Col Ronald P. Mitchell (1 Oct 1990 - ??)

Equipment Operated

• Low Altitude Space Surveillance (LASS) (1989–2003)
• Deep Space Tracking System (DSTS) (1989–2003)

See also

• 1st Space Surveillance Squadron
• 3d Space Experimentation Squadron
• 18th Intelligence Squadron
• 21st Space Wing

Decorations

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
  • 1 January 2000 – 31 August 2001^[7]
  • 1 January 1999 – 31 December 1999^[8]
  • 1 January 1998 – 31 December 1998^[9]
  • 1 October 1997 – 30 September 1999^[10]
  • 1 October 1995 – 30 September 1997^[11]

References

Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)
Air Forces Fourteenth Twenty-Fourth Centers Space and Missile Systems Space Innovation and Development 614th Air and Space Operations 624th Operations Air Force Network Integration Bases Buckley Los Angeles Patrick Peterson Schriever Thule Vandenberg Stations Cape Canaveral Cape Cod Cavalier Cheyenne Mountain Clear Eldorado (closed) Kaena Point New Boston Onizuka (closed)
Wings Combat Communications 689th Information Operations 688th Network Warfare 67th Space 21st 30th 45th 50th 310th 460th
Groups Air Base 61st Combat Communications 3d 5th 201st 226th 254th 281st Cyberspace Engineering Installation 38th Information Operations 318th Network Operations 26th Network Support 690th Network Warfare 67th
Squadrons Combat Communications 3d 5th 23d 31st 32d 33d 34th 35th 42d 51st 52d 53d 54th 55th 147th 221st 232d 236th 239th 242d 263d 264th 265th 267th 269th 271st 282d 283d 291st 292d 293d Command and Control 1st 2d 3d 4th 55th Mobile 119th 153d 222d 721st Mobile Space Control 1st 4th 16th 20th 25th 76th 380th Space Launch 1st 2d 3d 4th 5th Space Operations 1st 2d 3d 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 19th 21st 22d 23d 111th 148th AFSPC Space Warning 2d 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 137th 213th Others 26th Space Aggressor (AFRC) 527th Space Aggressor (ACC) 3d Space Communications 50th Space Communications 850th Space Communications 1st Space Development 2d Space Development 3d Space Development 3d Space Experimentation 1st Space Surveillance 3d Space Surveillance 5th Space Surveillance 1st Air and Space Test 2d Test Operations 3d Space Test 4th Space Test 55th Space Weather