AF space squad’s radar at 50

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - The 20th Space Control Squadron (SPCS) celebrated the golden anniversary of its AN/FPS-85 radar’ with a ceremony here April 18 to unveil a monument to honor the day’s historic event. “We are honored to host such a historic event to celebrate 50 years of operations for our one-of-a-kind radar,” said Lt. Col. David Tipton, 20th SPCS commander. Presiding over the ceremony was Col. Sam Johnson, 21st Space Wing (SPW) vice commander. The 21st SPW provides missile warning and space control through a network of command and control units around the globe: Site C-6 at Eglin AFB; three ground-based electro-optical deep space surveillance sensors at White Sands (N.M.) Missile Range, Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, and the Maui Space Surveillance Complex in Hawaii; and the Air Force Space Fence at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., and the Army Garrison at Kwajalein Atoll. The 20th SPCS has the preponderance of Defense Department space situational awareness assets and is able to find, fix, track, and target man-made objects in Earth’s orbit. (Source: 21st Space Wing 04/26/19)