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 / 41.7532; -70.5385
Type Long Range Radar Site
Height 100 Feet
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.
Built by U.S. Government
In use 1980-Present
Garrison information
Occupants 6th Space Warning Squadron

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.

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

PAVE PAWS and BMEWS coverage

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.

Units

See also

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.
  1. ↑ United States Air Force. 6th Space Warning Squadron fact sheet Archived March 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.. Accessed January 1, 2008.
  2. ↑ Global Security: 6th SWS
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