Air Force Space Command

Commander: Gen. Lance W. Lord Headquarters: Peterson AFB, Colo.

Command Chief Master Sgt.: Chief Master Sgt. Ronald G. Kriete Established: Sept. 1, 1982 Web address: www.peterson.af.mil/hqafspc

Mission

Operates Air Force space and intercontinental ballistic missile systems. Organizes, trains and equips forces to control and exploit the high ground of space. Air Force Space Command has four primary mission areas: space force enhancement, space application, space support and space control.

Responsibilities

Provides the land-based ballistic missile portion of the nation's strategic nuclear deterrent forces. Places high-value payloads in space with a variety of expendable launch systems and operates those assets. Provides navigation, communications, ballistic missile warning and intelligence warfighting support. Ensures space superiority by conducting counterspace operations such as surveillance, negation and protection, and space force application. Operates sensors that provide direct attack warning and assessment to North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Strategic Command. Develops, acquires, fields and sustains the following systems: Air Force Satellite Control Network, Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, Defense Satellite Communications System, Defense Support Program, Global Positioning System, MILSTAR, Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System, PAVE phased array warning system radar, Minuteman Ill and Peacekeeper ICBMs, Titan II, Titan IV, Delta II, Delta IV, Atlas V and is lead command for the UH-1N Huey.

People

Active duty          18,283
 Officers             4,826
 Enlisted            13,457
AFRC                  1,304
Guard                   648
Civilians             6,649

Total                26,884

Flying Hours

Per year: 8,600

Organization

Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.

Space Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, Colo.

14th Air Force, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

I 21st Space Wing, Peterson AFB, Colo. (missile warning and space surveillance)

I 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (space launch, UH-1N)

I 45th Space Wing, Patrick AFB, Fla. (space launch and shuttle support)

I 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo. (satellite operations)

I 460th Space Wing, Buckley AFB, Colo. (missile warning and space surveillance)

20th Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.

I 90th Space Wing, FE. Warren AFB, Wyo. (Minuteman III, Peacekeeper, UH-1N)

I 91st Space Wing, Minot AFB, N.D. (Minuteman III, UH-1N)

I 341st Space Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Mont. (Minuteman III, UH-1N)

COPYRIGHT 2005 U.S. Air Force, Air Force News Agency
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group