80:. These SOCs are staffed around the clock and are responsible for the command and control of their assigned satellite systems. The SOCs are linked to remote tracking stations (RTSs) around the world. Space vehicle checkout facilities are used to test launch vehicles and satellite platforms to ensure that the onboard systems operate within specifications. The RTSs provide the link between the satellites and the SOCs. A similar relationship exists for dedicated networks, which are outside the purview of the Satellite Control Network. RTSs around the world are needed to maintain frequent communications with the satellite. Without RTSs, the SOCs would only be able to contact a satellite when it came into the control center's view. Some satellites, especially those in geostationary orbit, never come within view of their control center. Each antenna at an RTS is referred to as a "side". Previously, Side A typically included a 60-foot-diameter (18 m) dish antenna. Side B typically included a 46-foot-diameter (14 m) antenna. At some sites, the B side included a 33-foot-diameter (10 m) antenna. Over time, however, as the network upgraded and/or replaced the antennas, the old conventions no longer apply.
465:, Seychelles; callsign INDI (closed in August 1996, after the Government of Seychelles attempted to "raise the rent" to more than $ 10 million/year). The Indian Ocean Tracking Station was located on the island of Mahe, the main island of the Seychelles archipelago. It had one 60-foot antenna. Its location was ideal for communicating with geosynchronous satellites over the Indian Ocean. The station was also geographically suited for acquiring realtime or near-realtime data from passes over areas to the north. In 1980, due to political instabilities of the island, the main processing computers were removed and relocated to Sunnyvale. These computers communicated with the IOS downlink and tracking equipment via a wideband (DSCS) communications link. IOS has been supplanted by Diego Garcia RTS.
56:. This involves continual execution of Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding (TT&C) operations. In addition, the SCN provides prelaunch checkout and simulation, launch support, and early orbit support while satellites are in initial or transfer orbits and require maneuvering to their final orbit. The SCN provides tracking data to help maintain the catalog of space objects and distributes various data such as satellite ephemeris, almanacs, and other information. It was previously known as the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) while under
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495:; callsign PIKE. As of 2008, this site transitioned from an operational location to a testing facility, with operational support as possible. This site formally ceased operational support on 2 August 2012. It used to support various DoD satellites and previously included enhancement equipment that was used to support the Global Positioning System satellites. On 30 September 2014, the site was formally deactivated and closed.
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198:, Hawaii; callsign HULA. The Hawaii Tracking Station is located on the island of Oahu and also includes an ARTS side and an RBC side. The Hawaii Tracking Station is also undergoing a "hybridization" effort that will replace the old B-side ARTS system and upgrade the existing 60-foot antenna (previously the A-side).
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was planned to be completed in 2015. In May, 2013, the A-side antenna suffered a mechanical failure that prompted an early decommissioning. From that time, the site operated only with its B-side. Starting in 2014, the new C-side RBC installation got under way. This is the northernmost RTS, located at
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In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the RTSs were modernized with the addition of the
Automated Remote Tracking Station (ARTS) systems. The ARTS systems provided more responsive support and reduced the manpower required at each site through semi-automation. In addition to upgrading all the existing
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Sunnyvale
Control Station, callsign CUBE. Not a true tracking station, in that it had no direct downlink antenna. Instead, CUBE supported operations at TCS/Oakhangar and IOS/Seychelles, where main processing computers could not be located. CUBE had two 'sides', and so could support two satellite
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The
Satellite Control Network maintains a number of tracking stations, which are used to track (primarily) US government agency & military satellites, as well as receive and process telemetry and send commands to these satellites. Said facilities are intended to support all
228:, in England, operated by the United Kingdom and supporting the Satellite Control Network through a Memorandum of Agreement between the UK Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defense; callsign LION. As of 2010, the site includes three sides, two ARTS and an RBC.
191:; callsign GUAM. The Guam Tracking Station has two sides (one ARTS and one RBC) and is undergoing a "hybridization" upgrade that replaces the old A-side ARTS system with an RBC core electronics suite and upgrades the existing 60-foot antenna.
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There was a tracking station on
Annette Island that is one of the Alaska islands far south east of the Alaska main land area and not too far north of Seattle Washington. It was built in the mid/late 1950s and closed in the early 1960s.
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Beginning in 2004, an upgrade effort was started to replace the ARTS sites, which were already beyond their planned design life. The following sites have been upgraded to the RBC configuration, which includes a 13-meter 3-axis antenna:
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approximately 76.4 degrees north latitude. As of
February 2015, the RBC installation is nearly complete, with just a few minor details to be finished before the formal testing gets underway in the May/June timeframe.
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It includes a "fully equipped mini-fitness center". It was a three-sided site until the summer of 2011, when the "C" side was decommissioned and dismantled in preparation for system upgrades. The upgrade to an
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Tracking Station (VTS), California; callsign COOK. This is a dual-sided station which provides normal on-orbit support but also provides pre-launch checkouts and launch support for the
184:; callsign REEF. The Diego Garcia Station has two sides (as of 2010) to provide enhanced tracking for the Satellite Control Network users. This site also includes a GPS Ground Antenna site.
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The
Satellite Control Network consists of satellite control centers, tracking stations, and test facilities located around the world. Satellite Operations Centers (SOCs) are located at
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bomb assembly building." The permanent RTS equipment was emplaced in 1964, and a communications terminal was emplaced on
Pingarssuit Mountain—Thule Site N-32 (moved to
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Colorado
Tracking Station at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, which had a "cessation of operations" in August 2012 and was formally deactivated in 2014
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United States Army. (1993). Space
Reference Text. US Army Space Institute: Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
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sites, the ARTS Phase I program added the following sites to the Satellite Control Network:
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satellites. Most tracking stations are operated by operational detachments of the
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node for the remote tracking stations established at several different locations.
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near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and various other locations throughout the
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603:(Report). Vol. II: Air Bases Outside the United States of America
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The Satellite Control Network was originally activated to support the
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167:. Many scientific and research satellites are supported as well.
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221:. As of 2013, the site had two ARTS sides and an RBC side.
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Diego Garcia Station "A" side code number 01122334455
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535:"Space Delta 6 protects space and cyberspace"
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428:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
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1399:Programs of the United States Space Force
476:; callsign KODI (closed on 20 March 1975)
448:Learn how and when to remove this message
302:The station transferred to Detachment 3,
142:Satellite Operations Facility (EOSOF) at
235:, Greenland; callsign POGO. The station
27:Defense satellite communications project
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224:Telemetry & Command Station (TCS),
347:Telemetry and Command Station "B" side
286:'s Operating Location 5 designated by
196:Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station
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426:adding citations to reliable sources
367:Vandenberg Tracking Station "A" side
50:United States Department of Defense
332:Automated Remote Tracking Stations
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487:Colorado Tracking Station (CTS),
312:Automated Remote Tracking Station
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376:Hawaii Tracking Station "A" side
171:Current Remote Tracking Stations
577:(Report). MilitaryOneSource.mil
468:Kodiak Tracking Station (KTS),
390:Closed Remote Tracking Stations
385:Thule Tracking Station "C" side
213:Tracking Station is located in
194:Hawaii Tracking Station (HTS),
1323:1st Space Development Squadron
729:614th Air and Space Operations
382:New Hampshire Station "B" side
379:Guam Tracking Station "B" side
358:RTS Block Change (RBC) Systems
304:22nd Space Operations Squadron
231:Thule Tracking Station (TTS),
161:21st Space Operations Squadron
1:
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1326:2d Space Development Squadron
484:was inactivated in June 1999.
201:New Hampshire Station (NHS),
187:Guam Tracking Station (GTS),
165:23d Space Operations Squadron
62:50th Network Operations Group
480:passes simultaneously. The
461:Indian Ocean Station (IOS),
176:Diego Garcia Station (DGS),
1359:2d Test Operations Squadron
1301:527th Space Aggressor (ACC)
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325:Vandenberg Space Force Base
144:Vandenberg Space Force Base
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106:Schriever Space Force Base
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288:Air Force Systems Command
146:, California – Secondary
112:, functions as a central
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42:United States Space Force
34:Satellite Control Network
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1365:4th Space Test Squadron
1307:3d Space Communications
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1362:3d Space Test Squadron
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18:Thule Tracking Station
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254:76.51583°N 68.60000°W
209:; callsign BOSS. The
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102:Sunnyvale, California
94:Palo Alto, California
898:821st Air Base Group
422:improve this section
110:Colorado Springs, CO
913:Command and Control
596:Fletcher, Harry R.
276:Pituffik Space Base
259:76.51583; -68.60000
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552:
551:Overview of
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306:, in 1992.
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1388:Categories
829:New Boston
775:Vandenberg
686:Air Forces
521:References
278:and has a
242:76°30′57″N
215:New Boston
132:– Primary
54:satellites
906:Squadrons
816:Eldorado
765:Schriever
572:title tbd
409:does not
272:Greenland
245:68°36′0″W
120:Locations
836:(closed)
834:Onizuka
818:(closed)
801:Cavalier
796:Cape Cod
784:Stations
760:Peterson
607:16 March
581:16 March
504:See also
493:Colorado
298:in 1983.
130:Colorado
68:Overview
755:Patrick
745:Buckley
712:Centers
430:removed
415:sources
266:) is a
84:History
1285:Others
474:Alaska
90:CORONA
1274:213th
1267:137th
1182:AFSPC
1175:148th
1168:111th
1023:380th
946:119th
878:460th
873:310th
811:Clear
770:Thule
738:Bases
601:(PDF)
575:(PDF)
150:Node.
1260:13th
1254:12th
1248:11th
1241:10th
1147:21st
1141:19th
1016:76th
1009:25th
1002:20th
995:16th
960:222d
953:153d
894:61st
868:50th
863:45th
858:30th
853:21st
609:2014
583:2014
413:any
411:cite
189:Guam
182:BIOT
136:Node
32:The
1235:9th
1230:8th
1224:7th
1217:6th
1211:5th
1206:4th
1200:2nd
1161:23d
1154:22d
1135:9th
1129:8th
1124:7th
1118:6th
1112:5th
1106:4th
1099:3rd
1092:2nd
1085:1st
1067:5th
1060:4th
1048:2nd
1041:1st
988:4th
982:1st
935:4th
920:1st
424:by
323:at
60:'s
44:'s
38:SCN
1390::
930:3d
925:2d
559:^
491:,
472:,
354:±
217:,
205:,
180:,
148:C2
134:C2
128:,
108:,
100:,
64:.
665:e
658:t
651:v
611:.
585:.
537:.
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432:.
418:.
327:.
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