Description
PVC made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
18th SPACE DEFENSE SQUADRON (USSF)
The 18th Space Defense Squadron (18th SDS), a component of Space Delta 2, stationed at Vandenberg SFB, CA, and is the USSF’s premier Space Domain Awareness squadron and provides and advances a continuous, comprehensive, and combat-relevant understanding of the space situation and executes command and control of the U.S. Space Surveillance Network (SSN) – a global collection of ground and space-based sensors that track all man-made objects in Earth’s orbit.
The squadron processes SSN data to monitor all activity to, in, and from space, and maintains custody of all resident space objects (RSOs). Primary mission functions include launch detection and tracking, space catalog administration, human spaceflight support, maneuver detection, breakup identification, reentry assessment, and comprehensive RSO database management. These functions ultimately enhance an information advantage and enable space superiority in the defense of U.S. and allied interests. Additionally, the 18th SDS also executes U.S. Space Command’s Space Situational Awareness sharing program, which provides tracking data of resident space objects to DoD, interagency, commercial, international and academic partners to:
Promote peaceful and responsible use of space by tracking more than 47,000 man-made objects and sharing space data with the world via the website: www.space-track.org (Please visit www.space-track.org for the latest statistics on how many objects are being tracked by the 18th SDS.)
Reduce uncertainty in space domain to minimize risk of misunderstanding and miscalculations
Locations. The squadron also has a detachment located at Schriever SFB in CO, and operating locations at Peterson SFB, CO, and on base at Vandenberg SFB.
The 19th Space Defense Squadron (19th SDS) at Dahlgren, VA, serves as a primary backup and performs many of the same mission functions as the 18th SDS team, as well as tailored space support to the Navy.
Detachments. 18th Space Defense Squadron, Detachment 1: is a component of Space Delta 2 (DEL 2), located at Schriever SFB, CO, approximately 20 miles east of Colorado Springs. Det. 1 provides combat focused understanding of on-orbit adversary threats within operationally relevant timelines in support of space superiority operations.