The 22d Space Operations Squadron is a satellite control unit of the United States Space Force. It is part of Mission Delta 31 and is located at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.

Prior to October 2024 it was part of Space Delta 6.

Prior to July 2020 it was part of the 50th Network Operations Group, itself a part of the 50th Space Wing.

Mission and operations

The 22nd Space Operations Squadron (22nd SOPS) operates the Satellite Control Network (SCN) by developing, executing and enforcing the Space Access Tasking Order (SpATO) and providing space safety analysis to conduct satellite operations. The 22nd SOPS coordinates the launch and on-orbit operations of more than 190 Department of Defense, national intelligence, civil and Allied nation's satellites, including in support of global warfighters, intelligence community users, the President and Secretary of Defense.

History

Constituted 22d Space Operations Squadron on 10 July 1991, it was activated on 1 Oct 1991. It operated as part of the 2d Satellite Tracking (later, 750th Space) Group.

In 1992 the Thule Tracking Station (TTS, ) near Thule Air Base in Greenland transferred to Detachment 3, 22nd Space Operations Squadron. It was originally the 6594th Test Wing's Operating Location 5 made operational in 1961-62. The installation was a Remote Tracking Station (callsign: Polar Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (POGO)) of the U.S. Space Force's Satellite Control Network. It includes a "fully equipped mini-fitness center". The stations "C-side" of electronics was removed in summer 2011 and the upgrade to an Automated Remote Tracking Station was forecast to be completed in 2015.

In 2004 the squadron was transferred from being under the 50th Operations Group to the 50th Network Operations Group. The 50th Network Operations Group brought together all the 50th Space Wing's squadrons responsible for Air Force Satellite Control Network operations and maintenance as well as communications. near Pituffik Space Base, Greenland

  • Detachment 6: New Boston Tracking Station (BOSS), New Hampshire
  • OL-A: Eastern Vehicle Checkout Facility (EVCF), Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida
  • OL-AE: Telemetry and Command Station (LION), RAF Oakhanger, United Kingdom

SCN WEST

  • Detachment 1: Vandenberg Tracking Station (COOK), Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
  • Detachment 2: Diego Garcia Tracking Station (REEF), Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
  • Detachment 4: Hawaii Tracking Station (HULA), Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, Hawaii
  • Detachment 5: Guam Tracking Station (GUAM), Guam

Beginning October 1, 2006, the Colorado Tracking Station began reduced operations, owing to "fiscal constraints".

On Nov. 1, 2010, command of six of the squadron’s seven remote tracking stations was transferred to the 21st Space Operations Squadron (Vandenberg, Diego Garcia, Hawaii and Guam) and 23rd Space Operations Squadron (Thule, Oakhanger and the Eastern Vehicle Checkout Facility). On July 16, 2012, operations at the Colorado Tracking Station ceased.

Assignments

  • 2d Satellite Tracking Group (later 750th Space Group)
  • 50th Network Operations Group, March 2004 – 24 July 2020
  • Lt Col William Angerman, 6 July 2011
  • Lt Col Aaron Gibson, June 2013
  • Lt Col Terrill McCall, June 2015
  • Lt Col Lewis Sorvillo, 6 July 2017
  • Lt Col Sunil Amin, ~2018
  • Lt Col Brendon Herbeck, 9 June 2020