The United States Air Force's 1st Space Launch Squadron was a space launch unit located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. It was responsible for USAF Delta II launches from its activation in October 1990 to its inactivation in August 2009.[2]
1st Space Launch Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 A Delta II launch from Cape Canaveral AFS | |
| Active | 1990-2009 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Space launch |
| Part of | Air Force Space Command |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 1st Space Launch Squadron emblem (approved 1 July 1992)[1] |  |
History
editAir Force launch operations were transferred from Air Force Systems Command to Air Force Space Command in the early 1990s. Phase I of the Launch Transfer Plan began on 1 October 1990, with the redesignation of the Eastern and Western Space and Missile Centers, as the 30th and 45th Space Wings.[3]
The 1st Space Launch Squadron was activated on 1 October 1990 and became Air Force Space Command's first Delta II launch squadron.[4] Its final launch of a Delta II was on 17 August 2009. Its final launch successfully placed the USA-206, or GPS IIR-21(M) navigation satellite into orbit.[5] The squadron was inactivated on 30 September.[6]
Lineage
edit- Constituted as the 1st Space Launch Squadron on 11 September 1990
Assignments
edit- Eastern Space and Missile Center, 1 October 1990
- 45th Operations Group, 12 November 1991
- 45th Launch Group, 1 December 2003 – 30 September 2009[1][6]
Stations
edit- Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, 1 October 1990 – 30 September 2009[1][6]
Space Launch Vehicles
editReferences
editNotes
edit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- ^ a b c d e f Robertson, Patsy (9 September 2008). "Factsheet 1 Space Launch Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "No. 1: With the record to prove it". Air Force Space Command. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ Cleary, Mark C. "The Cape: Military Space Operations 1971-1992". 45th Space Wing History Office. Archived from the original on 27 June 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3
- ^ Ray, Justin (17 August 2009). "Bittersweet launch ends several chapters of history". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, September 2009, Maxwell AFB, AL