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Library > Fact Sheets > 4th Space Operations Squadron
4TH SPACE OPERATIONS SQUADRON
The 4th Space Operations Squadron is a component of the 50th Operations Group, 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. The squadron was activated on April 30, 1992.
MISSION
The mission of 4th SOPS is to ensure the Milstar system provides survivable, enduring, critical command and control communications through all levels of conflict for the president, the secretary of defense and warfighting combatant commanders worldwide. 4th SOPS operates the $31-billion Milstar system executing communications management, satellite command and control, and ground segment maintenance for the Milstar constellation. 4th SOPS' motto "Linking the Forces" reflects Milstar's responsibility to enhance the nation's secure communications capability for today's military forces.
The squadron is responsible for command and control of the Milstar satellite constellation through the Air Force Satellite Control Network, Milstar Satellite Operations Center, Mobile Constellation Control Stations and the Milstar Support Facility.
MSOC personnel perform satellite command and control, communications resource management, systems engineering support, mission planning, user support and anomaly resolution for the Milstar system. The MSOC has three fixed constellation control stations, which interface with the geographically distributed MCCSs, executing satellite command and control. Two of the MSOC's fixed CCSs are located in the Satellite Operations Building at Schriever AFB. The third MSOC fixed CCS is located at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., which is manned with personnel from 148th SOPS of the California Air National Guard. The Milstar Support Facility personnel, also located in the Satellite Operations Building, perform ground control maintenance and testing, and hardware and software configuration control.
Communications resource management includes satellite communications channel monitoring of payload use. Specifically, operations support personnel plan, execute, monitor and troubleshoot payload use allocations from the presidential level all the way down to tactical users in the field. These functions are unique at the squadron level, as other communications programs' channel apportionment is allocated by higher headquarters agencies.
4th SOPS also provides operators for three mobile CCSs. At higher readiness levels and during exercises, these personnel deploy with the commanders of U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Strategic Command, providing survivable, enduring and secure communications and constellation command and control throughout the entire spectrum of conflict including trans- and post-attack phases of nuclear war.
The Milstar system is composed of three distinct segments: The Space Segment (satellites), the Terminal Segment (users) and the Mission Control Segment (ground control stations).
Milstar is the most advanced military communications satellite system to date. The multi-satellite constellation links command authorities to high priority U.S. forces via Milstar terminals on aircraft, ships, submarines, trucks and ground sites with encrypted voice, data, teletype or facsimile communications. The Mission Control Segment provides satellite command and control and mission support to the Milstar constellation. The fifth and final operational Milstar satellite was launched in April 2003.
HISTORY
4th SOPS gains its heritage from the 4th Photographic Squadron, which was activated on June 10, 1941, at March Field, Calif. This highly decorated unit saw a lot of action in the Pacific Theater during World War II, until it was inactivated on April 14, 1946. It was reactivated as the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range) in December 1946, and inactivated on June 29, 1949. In May 1952, the unit was reactivated as the 4th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), and inactivated on July 1, 1958, at Rickenbacker AFB, Ohio. 4th SOPS was activated from the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron, with its new mission to operate the Milstar satellite communications system.
(Current as of May 2007)
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