50th Space Wing
50th Space Wing
 |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1949–1951; 1953–1991; 1992–present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Role | Space Control |
| Size | Wing |
| Part of | Air Force Space Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Schriever Air Force Base |
| Motto(s) | Master of Space (since September 1992) Master of the Sky (until September 1992) |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Col Deanna M. Burt |
| Insignia | |
| 50th Space Wing emblem (approved 15 July 1953 for 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing, restored 9 July 1992) |  |
| Emblem of the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing (approved 23 August 1956 for 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing) |  |
| 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing emblem |  |
The 50th Space Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force under the major command of Air Force Space Command. It was activated on 30 January 1992, replacing the 2nd Space Wing, which was inactivated on the same date.
The unit is the host wing at Schriever Air Force Base, located east of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Their primary responsibility is to track and maintain the command and control, warning, navigational, and communications satellites for AFSPC. The 50th Space Wing also manages the Global Positioning System.
Typical satellite monitoring tasks such as tracking and telemetry are the main part of their mission, and in so doing, they employ more than 5600 personnel (active duty military, guard and reserve, contractors, and DoD civilians.)
The 50th Space Wing wields space, cyberspace and expeditionary capabilities to deliver decisive global combat effects in support of national security objectives. It operates and supports satellite programs including the Global Positioning System, the Defense Satellite Communications System, Wideband Global SATCOM, Milstar, Advanced Extremely High Frequency, Space Based Space Surveillance, Tactical Satellite-3, Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction Satellite and the worldwide Air Force Satellite Control Network.
The wing also operates satellite operation centers at Schriever AFB and remote tracking stations and other command and control facilities around the world. These facilities monitor satellites during launch, put the satellites in their proper orbits following launch, operate the satellites while they are in orbit, keep them functioning properly and properly dispose of the satellites at their end of life.
The wing is composed of three groups:
Geographically Separated Units of the 50th Space Wing are:
The 50th Fighter Wing was established on 16 May 1949 as part of the post-World War II United States Air Force Reserve on 1 June 1949. The wing was formed at Otis AFB, Massachusetts. The 50th Fighter Group was assigned to the newly formed 50th Fighter Wing upon activation under the Hobson Plan.
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Wikipedia