18th Space Control Squadron


The United States Air Force's 18th Space Control Squadron is a space control unit located at Vandenberg AFB, California. Reactivated in 2016, the 18th SPCS is tasked with providing 24/7 support to the space sensor network, maintaining the space catalog and managing United States Strategic Command’s space situational awareness sharing program to United States, foreign government, and commercial entities. The squadron also conducts advanced analysis, sensor optimization, conjunction assessment, human spaceflight support, reentry/break-up assessment, and launch analysis.

Mission

The mission of the 18th SPCS is to deliver foundational Space Situational Awareness to assure global freedom of action in space.

History

The 18th Space Surveillance Squadron was the optical portion of the United States Air Force's Space Surveillance Network. They were responsible for operating four worldwide GEODSS sites, in addition to the Transportable Optical System, and the Maui Space Surveillance Complex. The focal point for all optical command and control was centralized at the Optical Command, Control and Communications Facility. The 18 SPSS became part of the 1st Space Wing, Air Force Space Command, on 1 February 1990.
The unit was reassigned from the 1st Space Wing to the 73d Space Group on 15 May 1992.
The 18th SPSS relocated to Edwards Air Force Base, California in July 1995. The 73rd Space Group was inactivated in May 1995 and all units were then assigned to the 21st Space Wing. With a force-wide renaming of space units, the 18th SPSS became the 18th Space Control Squadron in February 2003. This renaming did not last long, however, since the unit was inactivated in June 2004, with all detachments falling under the 21st Operations Group.
On 22 July 2016, the 18th Space Control Squadron was reinstated at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The squadron has a mission focused on space situational awareness in support of launches, object and debris tracking, and human spaceflight.

Assignments

Major Command