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Home , Air Force Space Command, Atlas II, Corona (satellite), Defense Support Program, Delta II, Delta IV

This chronology recalls key events in USAF’s quest for strategic “high ground.” 50 Years of Space

and Compiled by the staff of Air Force Magazine

Today’s Air Force space and Gen. Bernard A. Schriever professionals view July 1, 1954, as the red-letter date of their busi- ness—the moment that USAF fully and formally jumped into the space and missile field. Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Power, commander of Air Research and Development Command, ordered the creation in Inglewood, Calif., of the Western Development Division, headed by the now- legendary Brig. Gen. Bernard A. Schriever. WDD’s first job was to build strategic missiles for the Air Force, but such could also launch -circling . Soon, WDD was building them, too, and forging the complex structure of modern military space power. In the 50 years that have elapsed, the Air Force has remained at the forefront of world strategic space systems, technologies, and operations. USAF II launch

Data on these pages are drawn from several official and nonofficial studies. The principal source is Air Force .

70 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 erations of land-based ICBMs to the June 16, 1958. and Martin Air Force. are named prime contractors to de- Feb. 15, 1956. Responsibility for velop competitive designs for the Air the advanced system WS 117L Force’s X-20 Dyna-Soar boost-glide (later, Satellite and Missile Observa- space vehicle. This project, although tion System, or ) is officially later canceled, is the first step toward transferred to WDD. producing a workable . Oct. 29, 1956. Lockheed is awarded June 30, 1958. Pentagon notifies the prime contract for the develop- AFBMD that it has transferred to the ment of the System Advanced Research Projects Agency and its associated Hustler (later redes- (ARPA) authority to develop the Mili- ignated Agena) upper stage vehicle. tary Satellite System, WS 117L. March 1957. WDD begins feasi- July 29, 1958. President Dwight D. bility studies on a defense alarm sys- Eisenhower signs the National Aero- tem (MIDAS) satellite that would pro- nautics and Space Act. vide early warning of hostile missile Sept. 4, 1958. The Transit and launches. TIROS satellite programs are initiated June 1, 1957. WDD is redesignated with responsibilities assigned Air Force Ballistic Missile Division to AFBMD. Transit is a navigation (AFBMD). satellite, while TIROS (Television In- September 1957. US and Canada frared Observation Satellite) is to take create the North American Air De- television pictures of cloud cover and fense Command (NORAD) for defense transmit meteorological information for of air and space over the US and relay to ground stations. Canada. Nov. 25, 1958. AFBMD receives Oct. 4, 1957. stuns the its first specific NASA request to world with the launch of , support research leading to manned world’s first man-made satellite, aboard . An C booster is to one of their new SS-6 ICBMs. be the first of 13 ballistic missile boost- Nov. 13, 1957. Schriever directs ers to be procured for NASA. Air Force planning for development December 1958. ARDC assumes of man-carrying vehicle systems for space track mission for the Air Force. July 1, 1954. Air Research and space operation. Development Command establishes Nov. 29, 1957. Air Force Chief of the Western Development Division Staff Gen. Thomas D. White declares (WDD), in Inglewood, Calif., under the Air Force “must win the capability command of Brig. Gen. Bernard A. to control space.” Schriever. He is formally given full Dec. 17, 1957. The Air Force’s authority over the Atlas ICBM project. HGM-16 Atlas ICBM makes its first Sept. 8, 1954. The Air Force ap- successful launch and flight from Cape proves the WDD’s selection of the Canaveral. Ramo-Wooldridge Corp. to perform Jan. 31, 1958. The Army’s Ex- systems engineering and technical di- plorer 1, the first US satellite suc- rection functions for Project Atlas. cessfully sent into space, is launched Dec. 13, 1954. An Air Force pro- at . curement authorization sets aside $3.6 Feb. 10, 1958. A1C Donald G. million in production funding for At- Farrell, in a mock voyage, en- las. This is the first production fund- ters a cramped, windowless space cabin ing for an ICBM program. simulator at Randolph AFB, Tex., Jan. 6, 1955. USAF awards a con- where he spends a week under harsh tract to the Division of Gen- physical and psychological conditions. eral Dynamics Corp., for development He emerges in good shape, convinc- and fabrication of the Atlas airframe ing space officials that humans are and control system, the integration indeed psychologically suited to ac- and assembly of the various subsystems tual spaceflight. with the airframe and control system, Feb. 27, 1958. Secretary of De- and for checkout and testing. fense Neil H. McElroy authorizes the Oct. 27, 1955. Glenn L. Martin Air- Air Force to start research and devel- craft Co. is given a contract authoriz- opment on a new ICBM. This is the ing the design, development, and test- of Minuteman. ing of the two-stage ICBM. March 31, 1958. Schriever directs Nov. 26, 1955. Secretary of De- planning for a full-scale manned mili- USAF’s X-20 Dyna-Soar boost-glide fense Charles E. Wilson assigns re- tary space systems program aimed at a space vehicle. This was the first step sponsibility for development and op- lunar landing operation. toward a usable space shuttle.

AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 71 Dec. 18, 1958. Project Score, a lifts NASA’s Echo 1, the first passive communications repeater satellite, is to be placed launched by an Atlas booster into Earth into . orbit. The satellite on Dec. 19 broad- Aug. 18, 1960. Discoverer/ casts a Christmas message from Presi- satellite takes first of Soviet dent Eisenhower to Earth, the first territory ever snapped from space. time a human voice has been relayed Aug. 19, 1960. Crew of a modified from space. C-119J uses two trailing wire hooks to Jan. 4, 1959. Vandenberg AFB, Ca- snag a descending cap- lif., and Pacific Missile Range are de- sule over the Pacific. It is the first clared operational for missile launchings. aerial recovery of an object returned Feb. 6, 1959. Air Force crew from orbit. launches the first XSM-68A (later re- Aug. 31, 1960. President Eisenhower designated HGM-25A) Titan ICBM shifts SAMOS program from Air Force from Cape Canaveral. into a small civilian-directed Pentagon Feb. 28, 1959. In test, USAF suc- office. This is the genesis of the Na- cessfully launches the , tional Reconnaissance Office (NRO). the world’s first -orbiting satel- Sept. 15, 1960. DOD shifts its de- lite, from Vandenberg. It is part of the fense communications satellite program secret Corona program. to the Army and renames it Project April 2, 1959. NASA announces Advent. the identities of seven Project Mer- Sept. 23, 1960. ARDC recommends cury astronauts: USAF Capts. L. splitting USAF’s Los Angeles R&D Jr., Virgil I. “Gus” complex. Plan calls for keeping space Grissom, and Donald K. “Deke” activities in Los Angeles and moving Slayton, Navy Lt. Cmdrs. Walter M. missile activities to Norton AFB, Calif. Schirra Jr. and Alan B. Shepard Jr., October 1960. NORAD assumes Navy Lt. M. Scott Carpenter, and operational control of all space defense Marine Lt. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. An Atlas booster fitted with a communications repeater satellite responsibilities with formation of the April 6, 1959. The first military waits on the pad at Patrick AFB, Fla. Space Detection and Tracking System. unit to be charged with conducting Feb. 1, 1961. First LGM-30A Min- military satellite operations, USAF’s uteman ICBM is test launched from 6594th Test Wing, is established at Oct. 6, 1959. AFBMD issues an Palo Alto, Calif. abbreviated development plan for April 13, 1959. Air Force / Hotel system to detect and locate Agena A boosts into orbit the Discov- nuclear detonations in space. erer 2 satellite, the first satellite to be April 1, 1960. US launches TIROS stabilized in orbit in all three axes, to 1, world’s first meteorological satel- be maneuvered on command from lite, from Cape Canaveral. Earth, to separate a re-entry vehicle on April 13, 1960. Transit 1B be- command, and to send its re-entry ve- comes first US navigation satellite hicle back to Earth. in space. Aug. 7, 1959. US carries out first May 20, 1960. Air Force Atlas satellite intercontinental relay of a ICBM, launched from Cape Canaveral, voice message. boosts a 1.5-ton 9,040 miles Aug. 7, 1959. spacecraft to the Indian Ocean, the longest-ever transmits first television pictures from flight for a US ICBM. space. May 24, 1960. MIDAS 2 becomes Aug. 31, 1959. Strategic Air Com- the first early warning satellite in or- mand (SAC) takes command of Van- bit. denberg’s Complex 576A, USAF’s June 22, 1960. US launches Ga- first fully operational ICBM complex. lactic Radiation and Background Sept. 9, 1959. SAC crew at Van- (GRAB) satellite, the nation’s first denberg conducts first West Coast successful reconnaissance spacecraft. launch of an operational Atlas missile, It collects electronic intelligence which lands near Wake Island. (Elint) from Soviet air defense ra- Sept. 18, 1959. USAF states that dars. has approved the trans- Aug. 11, 1960. satel- fer of MIDAS and SAMOS back to the lite, launched on Aug. 10, ejects a Air Force. capsule that is recovered in the Pacific Sept. 23, 1959. DOD states that Ocean, the first successful recovery of primary responsibility for military a man-made object ejected from an The first satellite reconnaissance space programs belongs to the Air orbiting satellite. photo of Soviet territory, taken in Force. Aug. 12, 1960. A Thor/Delta booster 1960 by Discoverer/Corona.

72 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 Cape Canaveral. It travels 4,600 miles reaches initial operational status with downrange and hits the target area. turnover of the first two 10-missile March 6, 1961. Secretary of De- flights to SAC’s 341st Strategic Mis- fense Robert S. McNamara formally sile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. assigns to USAF the responsibility for May 15, 1963. Maj. L. Gordon development of military space systems. Cooper Jr., second Air Force astro- April 1, 1961. USAF forms Air naut in space, makes nearly 22 Force Systems Command and assigns in spacecraft Faith 7. He is the last to the Space Systems Division the American to go into space alone, first responsibility for military space sys- to spend a complete day in orbit, and tems and boosters. Ballistic Systems first to perform an entirely manual Division handles ICBMs. re-entry. April 12, 1961. USSR stages world’s Oct. 16, 1963. Space Systems Divi- first successful manned spaceflight. sion, using first Atlas D/Agena D ve- Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, piloting hicle, boosts into orbit two new Vela 1, becomes not only history’s Hotel nuclear radiation detection sat- first spaceman but also the first person ellites, designed to provide informa- to orbit the Earth. tion on nuclear detonations in the at- May 5, 1961. Navy Cmdr. Alan B. mosphere or outer space. Shepard Jr. becomes the first Project Oct. 17, 1963. SAC crew carries out astronaut to cross the space first LGM-30A Minuteman I opera- frontier. His flight in Freedom 7 lasts tional test launch at Vandenberg. The 15 minutes, 28 seconds, reaches an re-entry vehicle overshoots the target. altitude of 116.5 miles, and ends 303.8 Oct. 17, 1963. Vela Hotel satellite miles downrange. performs first space-based detection July 12, 1961. First Atlas D/Agena of . B booster lifts MIDAS 3 satellite, the Dec. 10, 1963. DOD announces can- heaviest US spacecraft to date, into a cellation of Dyna-Soar program. record 1,850-mile-high orbit. July 15, 1964. Secretary McNamara The first Minuteman LGM-30A is test July 21, 1961. Capt. Virgil I. “Gus” directs DOD to begin full develop- launched at Patrick AFB, Fla. The test is successful. Grissom becomes the ment of Initial Defense Communica- astronaut in space, reaching an alti- tions Satellite Program. tude of 118.3 miles on the second Aug. 19, 1964. Thor/Delta vehicle Mercury mission. boosts into orbit NASA’s Syncom 2 Sept. 6, 1961. Secretary McNamara communications spacecraft, the world’s establishes the National Reconnais- first geosynchronous satellite, which sance Program, formally creating the then carries communications between classified National Reconnaissance Clark AB, the Philippines, and Camp Office. Roberts, Calif. Feb. 20, 1962. Marine Lt. Col. John September 1964. DOD begins H. Glenn Jr. becomes the first US military communications experiments astronaut to orbit the Earth. His Friend- between South Vietnam and ship 7 flight lasts nearly five hours using the Syncom 2 synchronous and completes three orbits. communications satellite. April 23, 1962. The 6555th Aero- Nov. 20, 1964. DOD directs build- space Test Wing launches an Atlas D/ up of Minuteman ICBM force to 1,000 Agena B vehicle that carries NASA’s launchers by the end of 1967. to the moon. This is the first April 3, 1965. Atlas/Agena suc- US instrument package to reach the cessfully boosts a SNAPSHOT space- moon. craft carrying Snap10A nuclear reac- May 23, 1962. US deploys first tor. The on-board reactor provides Defense Meteorological Satellite Pro- electrical power for a 2.2-pound ion gram (DMSP) spacecraft. engine, marking the first attempt to June 11, 1962. In reorganization of test a reactor-ion system in orbit. Advent program, DOD gives USAF June 4, 1965. Air Force astronaut responsibility for development, pro- Maj. Edward White makes a 22-minute duction, and launch. The Army retains spacewalk, first by an American as- responsibility for the ground system, tronaut. and Defense Communications Agency June 18, 1965. Air Force accepts is to handle integration activities. Titan III, first Air Force vehicle spe- Aug. 20, 1962. DOD announces cifically designed and developed as a plans to develop a Titan launch ve- Launch of Friendship 7. There was military space booster. hicle that will be operational by 1965. great synergy between US military Dec. 4-18, 1965. An Air Force Ti- Dec. 11, 1962. Minuteman ICBM and civil space efforts. tan II lifts Gemini 7

AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 73 vision announces completion of the agreement that Navy’s Fleet Satellite deployment of 1,000 Minuteman mis- Communications (FLTSATCOM) sys- siles. tem will be developed with some chan- July 1, 1967. Within Air Force Sys- nels set aside for Air Force use. tems Command, Space Systems Divi- June 15, 1971. First launch from sion and Ballistic Systems Division Vandenberg of a Titan IIID space are combined to form the new Space booster. and Missile Systems Organization Jan. 5, 1972. President Richard M. (SAMSO). Nixon announces a $5.5 billion NASA July 3-4, 1967. Air Force, Army, program to develop a space shuttle to and Navy conduct first satellite-based supplant all present launch vehicles tactical communications. except the smallest and largest. Aug. 16, 1968. In the first test of the Dec. 7-19, 1972. Apollo 17 mis- system, a Minuteman III launched at sion, the last of the 20th century moon Cape Canaveral completes a success- landings, unfolds successfully. ful 5,000-mile flight downrange. Jan. 10, 1973. Air Force awards con- Oct. 20, 1968. Soviet 248 tracts for development of Air Force Satel- and Kosmos 249 spacecraft carry out lite Communications (AFSATCOM) first co-orbital antisatellite test. system. Dec. 21-27, 1968. astro- Dec. 22, 1973. Deputy Secretary of nauts—USAF Maj. William A. Anders, Defense William P. Clements Jr. au- Col. , and Navy Cmdr. thorizes Air Force development of the James A. Lovell Jr.—become the first Global Positioning System. humans to orbit the moon. March 8, 1974. Air Force com- Feb. 9, 1969. Air Force Titan IIIC pletes a revised program memoran- places experimental, 1,600-pound dum that is to become the basis of Tactical Communications Satellite USAF planning for the space shuttle. (TACSAT I) into orbit 22,195 miles March 1, 1975. CMSgt. James M. A DSP satellite, with above equator—the largest commu- McCoy becomes the first senior en- sensors that provided space-based early warning of missile launches. nications satellite yet orbited by the listed advisor for Strategic Air Com- US. mand, the focus of Air Force strate- June 16, 1969. SAMSO contracts gic missile forces. He serves until into orbit. Astronauts Frank Borman with North American Rockwell, Mc- Aug. 1, 1979, when he becomes the and James A. Lovell complete 206 Donnell Douglas, , sixth Chief Master Sergeant of the orbits. and Lockheed to study Space Trans- Air Force. Dec. 8, 1965. Secretary McNamara portation System (STS) design con- March 9, 1976. Defense System approves development of the Minute- cepts and technical objectives. Acquisition Review Council approves man III ICBM. July 20, 1969. At 10:56 p.m. EDT, conceptual work on Missile X ICBM Dec. 15, 1965. In a first for the US astronaut Neil A. Arm- system. space program, crews of Gemini 6 and strong puts his foot on the surface of Sept. 17, 1976. US rolls out Enter- Gemini 7 rendezvous in space. Gemini the moon, becoming the first human prise, the first space shuttle vehicle, at 6 crew of USAF Maj. Thomas P. to do so. He and lunar module pilot, the Rockwell plant in Palmdale, Calif. Stafford and Navy Capt. Walter M. Air Force Col. Edwin E. “Buzz” Al- Aug. 12, 1977. Enterprise makes Schirra Jr. maneuver to within a foot of drin Jr., spend just under three hours first space shuttle free flight. After Gemini 7. walking on the moon, while the com- being carried aloft on a Boeing 747, it Dec. 16, 1965. Astronauts Stafford mand module pilot, Air Force Lt. is released and makes an unassisted and Shirra conduct the first controlled Col. Michael Collins, orbits over- landing at Edwards. re-entry of a manned spacecraft to a head. Feb. 9, 1978. Atlas booster launched predetermined landing point on Earth. October 1969. USAF and NASA at Cape Canaveral carries the first June 16, 1966. In a record-setting agree to develop a reusable space ve- FLTSATCOM satellite into orbit. mission, a Titan IIIC puts eight satel- hicle that meets civilian and military Feb. 22, 1978. Atlas booster launches lites into near-synchronous orbits 18,200 space requirements. NASA proposes a into orbit the first test vehicle of the miles above the equator as part of Ini- two-stage shuttle with a huge cargo Navstar GPS constellation. tial Defense Satellite Communications area. April 15, 1978. AFSATCOM space System. March 19, 1970. First successful segment is declared operational. Aug. 31, 1966. Gen. Bernard A. powered flight of X-24A lifting-body Dec. 13, 1978. Launch of two De- Schriever, commander of Air Force research aircraft takes place at Ed- fense Satellite Communications Sys- Systems Command, retires after 32 wards. tem II (DSCS) (follow-on to IDSCS) years of active service. November 1970. Air Force launches satellites puts full four-satellite con- Jan. 25, 1967. Soviet Kosmos 139 first classified Defense Support Pro- stellation in place for the first time. antisatellite (ASAT) weapon carries gram satellite, whose infrared sensors Oct. 1, 1979. SAMSO splits into out first test of a fractional orbital provide space-based early warning of two organizations—the Space Divi- bombardment system. missile launches. sion and the Ballistic Missile Office. May 3, 1967. Ballistic Systems Di- May 15, 1971. USAF and Navy reach Jan. 28, 1980. USAF and Vought

74 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 lance (GEODSS) system sites open in May 1, 1983. SAC transfers space Hawaii, , and South Ko- and missile warning systems, bases, rea. In the late 1980s, USAF opens a units, and upgrade projects to Space fourth site on the Indian Ocean atoll of Command. Diego Garcia. May 20, 1983. USAF signs a $1.2 Sept. 1, 1982. The Air Force estab- billion contract for production of 28 lishes Space Command in Global Positioning System Block II Springs, Colo., under the command satellites. of Gen. James V. Hartinger. The com- May 26, 1983. ASAT missile un- mand’s mission is to centralize Air dergoes first in a series of 13 all-up Force space operations and to forge a captive flights aimed at assessing abil- stronger link between space research ity of the to navigate and development and space opera- and of the F-15 carrier aircraft to take tions. the missile to the launch point and Oct. 1, 1982. CMSgt. Charles P perform the launch maneuver. Zimkas Jr. becomes first senior en- June 17, 1983. Air Force conducts listed advisor for USAF Space Com- first test launch of the new LGM- mand, the focus of Air Force space 118A Peacekeeper (“MX”) ICBM at activities. He serves until Sept. 14, 1984. Vandenberg. Oct. 30, 1982. Air Force launches June 18, 1983. Sally K. Ride, a the first element of DSCS III. Challenger crew member on the sev- April 22, 1983. Air Force desig- enth shuttle mission, becomes the nates Space Command as operator of first American woman to go into new communications satellite space. system. Aug. 30, 1983. Air Force Lt. Col. May 1, 1983. Enlisted satellite con- Guion S. Bluford Jr., on board Chal- trol specialists officially begin opera- lenger for the eighth shuttle mission, tions at , becomes first African American as- The launch of the first flight of marking the first time in its history tronaut to go into space. space shuttle Columbia lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Fla. that noncommissioned Air Force per- Jan. 21, 1984. F-15 launches ASAT sonnel have been permitted to “fly” missile on its first free flight in test of spacecraft on a regular basis. the missile’s ability to fly to a prede- enter new phase of program to develop termined point in space and deploy its a workable ASAT weapon. A two-stage warhead. ASAT missile, launched from an F-15, August 1984. President Ronald W. would send a miniature kill vehicle Reagan approves a National Space smashing into a satellite target. Strategy which endorses an Air Force June 19, 1980. USAF authorizes plan, developed by the undersecretary Vought and Boeing to begin fabrica- of the Air Force, Edward C. Aldridge, tion and flight test of a prototype ASAT to keep a limited number of expend- system. launch vehicles. Aug. 29, 1980. Space Division is Aug. 23, 1984. Pentagon directs directed to begin development of a modification of inactivated Titan II near-term space-based radar system. ICBMs into space launch vehicles. April 12, 1981. NASA conducts Sept. 13, 1984. Space Division first flight of shuttle Columbia, the awards three contracts to start the Space first shuttle to orbit the Earth and the Surveillance and Tracking System world’s first reusable manned space (SSTS) program, which Space Divi- vehicle. The shuttle spends 54 hours sion manages for the Strategic De- on orbit. fense Initiative Organization. April 14, 1981. Columbia lands on Sept. 27, 1984. Pentagon turns off Rogers Dry Lake, Edwards AFB, Cal- the last of the aging Vela satellites, if., after its first orbital mission. which, since the 1960s, have moni- July 1981. Drop test of ASAT tored compliance with limited nuclear program’s miniature vehicle shows it test ban treaty. can acquire and track an orbiting space- Jan. 24-27, 1985. On the 15th shuttle craft. mission, the crew of Discovery carries April 30, 1982. USAF directs deac- out the first dedicated DOD flight. tivation of Titan II ICBMs, with all 55 They deploy a classified payload, be- operational missiles to be removed lieved to be a sat- from silos and stored for possible use ellite. as space launch vehicles. CMSgt. Charles P. Zimkas Jr., the first Sept. 13, 1985. In a test over Van- May 1982. First three Ground-based senior enlisted advisor for USAF denberg, an F-15-launched ASM-135A Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveil- Space Command. ASAT missile destroys a target satel-

AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 75 lite orbiting at a speed of 17,500 mph July 1, 1993. Air Force Space Com- some 290 miles above Earth. mand assumes ICBM operational mis- Sept. 23, 1985. DOD activates US sion from . Space Command at Peterson AFB, July 19, 1993. Launch of DSCS Colo. Phase III satellite provides first full Sept. 26, 1985. Consolidated Space five-satellite DSCS III constellation. Operations Center opens at Falcon AFS, Nov. 1, 1993. At Falcon AFB, Colo., Colo., and transfers from Air Force AFSPC activates the Systems Command to USAF’s Space Center to foster space support to com- Command. bat units. Oct. 3, 1985. Shuttle Atlantis launches Feb. 7, 1994. Air Force Space Com- first pair of DSCS III satellites using mand launches the first Milstar com- . munications satellite. Nov. 15, 1985. USAF’s Space Com- March 9, 1994. Air Force com- mand is redesignated Air Force Space pletes the full constellation of 24 GPS Command (AFSPC). satellites. Goes fully operational in Jan. 28, 1986. Space shuttle Chal- April 1995. lenger explodes 73 seconds after liftoff, May 5, 1994. President William J. killing seven astronauts. Clinton directs the merger of civilian May 5, 1987. The last Titan II comes and military meteorological systems off strategic alert at Little Rock AFB, under the National Oceanic and At- Ark. mospheric Administration. Sept. 5, 1988. Converted Titan II June 10, 1994. Air Force enlisted is used for the first time as a members become eligible for astro- launch vehicle. naut duty. Secretary of the Air Force Nov. 6, 1988. At Vandenberg, Air revises Air Force Instruction 36- Force launches its last 2205, “Applying for Flying and As- booster, which carries a classified pay- tronaut Training Programs.” This load. A GPS satellite in orbit. There are 28 change, for the first time allows en- satellites in the full GPS constella- Feb. 14, 1989. A Delta II space tion. listed airmen to apply to become booster, on its first launch, boosts first mission specialists aboard NASA operational Block II GPS satellite into space shuttle missions. orbit. signal strength, moves LES-9 satel- Feb. 6, 1995. USAF Lt. Col. Eileen June 14, 1989. First Titan IV heavy- lite over the Atlantic, and launches M. Collins is first woman to pilot a US lift space booster is successfully launched three new GPS satellites while repo- spaceship, doing so when Discovery from Launch Complex 40 at Cape sitioning others. and perform the first Canaveral. The booster, nearly 20 sto- Jan. 17, 1991. What USAF calls US-Russian space rendevous. Later ries tall, carries a classified military “the first space war,” Operation Desert (July 23-27, 1999), she becomes the payload. Storm, opens with air attacks aided by first woman to command a space shuttle. Aug. 5, 1990. Over Edwards AFB, space-derived data. April 27, 1995. Air Force Space a B-52 carrier aircraft drops an air- March 8, 1991. USAF launches first Command declares the GPS satellite launched Pegasus space booster on its Titan IV heavy-lift space booster from constellation to be fully operational. first flight, which is a success. Vandenberg. The booster carries a clas- Aug. 5, 1995. President Clinton Oct. 1, 1990. Air Force transfers con- sified payload. signs the National Space Transpor- trol of all operational space lift systems April 18, 1991. USAF stages first tation Policy, endorsing plans to de- to Air Force Space Command. Over the successful flight test of the MGM- velop a more efficient space launcher, next four years, AFSPC assumes launch 134A Small ICBM. It flies 4,000 miles the evolved expendable launch ve- responsibility for Atlas E, Atlas II, Delta from Vandenberg to a target area in hicle. II, Titan II, and Titan IV missions from the Pacific Ocean. Feb. 23, 1997. The first Titan IVB Cape Canaveral, and Vandenberg. Feb. 11, 1992. First military launch launch vehicle lifts off from Launch December 1990. In I of an Atlas II/ takes place at Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral using buildup, Air Force Space Command Cape Canaveral. an inertial upper stage (IUS). It launches repositions a reserve Defense Satel- June 1, 1992. SAC transfers to Air a (DSP) pay- lite Communications System II sat- Force Space Command all of the man- load. ellite over Indian Ocean, offering agement of AFSATCOM systems. April 4, 1997. A Defense Meteo- better coverage. USAF also acceler- June 19, 1992. Gen. Merrill A. rological Satellite Program (DMSP) ates the launch of a third Defense McPeak, Chief of Staff, changes the satellite is launched into Meteorological Satellite Program Air Force mission to read: “Defend aboard a Titan IIG booster from spacecraft to augment existing space- the through control and Vandenberg. craft. USAF deploys a third Defense exploitation of air and space.” May 29, 1998. First transfer of an Support Program satellite to improve Jan. 13, 1993. USAF Maj. Susan J. operational military space system to coverage of Iraqi Scud launches. It Helms, aboard the space shuttle En- a civilian agency occurs when USAF also reconfigures antenna patterns deavour, becomes the first US mili- hands over primary control of the on two DSCS satellites to increase tary woman in space. DMSP on-orbit assets to NOAA.

76 AIR FORCE Magazine / June 2004 March 24, 1999. NATO launches W. Bush announces plans to field, what USAF calls the Air War Over by 2004, an initial Serbia, an operation in which space capability for the US. It is to com- assets played a major support role. prise ground- and sea-based inter- May 1, 2000. President Clinton di- ceptors and sensors based on land, rects the Pentagon to cease injecting sea, and in space. deliberate inaccuracies into the civil Feb. 1, 2003. The shuttle Columbia GPS signals, so that civilians can make breaks up 200,000 feet above east Texas better use of the system. on its re-entry after a 16-day mission in Sept. 27, 2000. USAF changes the space. Seven astronauts perish. standard space and missile operator March 10, 2003. Delta IV boosts uniform from blue, one-piece flight into orbit a DSCS III satellite, mark- suit to the standard green flight suit. ing the first launch of a military pay- Jan. 11, 2001. Congressionally man- load aboard an EELV. dated Space Commission issues report March 12, 2003. Peter B. Teets, recommending significant organiza- undersecretary of the Air Force, and tional realignments of the military space Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of Air program and increased responsibilities Force Space Command, tell Congress for the Air Force. they have assigned high priority to de- Jan. 22-26, 2001. Space Warfare veloping a cadre of space professionals. Center conducts Schriever 2001, the March 20 (Baghdad time), 2003. first wargame to explore requirements EGBU-27 bombs, guided to precise for space control, counters to enemy locations by GPS satellite signals, roll space capabilities, and the ability of off F-117 stealth fighters in the open- an enemy to deny the US and its allies ing blasts of Gulf War II. the use of space assets. March 25, 2003. US officials say May 8, 2001. The Secretary of the Iraq has been using special devices to Air Force is designated as DOD ex- try to jam GPS signals but that coali- ecutive agent for space. A Delta IV rocket lifts off from Cape tion forces have destroyed all six of Canaveral, Fla., carrying a DSCS Oct. 1, 2001. Control of the Space satellite. the devices. and Missile Systems Center, Los An- April 22, 2003. Air Force Space geles AFB, Calif., shifts from Air Force Command’s 14th Air Force activates Materiel Command to Air Force Space first-of-its-kind space intelligence Command, thereby placing cradle-to- squadron. The mission of the 614th SIS grave oversight of acquisition and op- is to identify and devise means to re- eration of space systems under a single spond to threats to US space systems. command. May 13, 2003. President Bush issues Oct. 7, 2001. US launches Operation the US Commercial Remote Sensing Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, fea- . It calls for federal agen- turing employment of numerous space- cies to rely “to the maximum practical directed Air Force combat assets. extent” on commercial space imagery to April 19, 2002. Air Force Space fill imagery and geospatial needs for Command becomes a four- Air military, intelligence, foreign policy, Force major command in its own right. homeland security, and civil users. Previously, the four-star commander Oct. 15-16, 2003. AChinese astro- of US Space Command and NORAD naut, Lt. Col. Yang Liwei, is launched also commanded AFSPC. into space on Shenzhou V rocket and Aug. 21, 2002. First , the first orbits the Earth 14 times. The 21-hour of two new launch vehicles developed trip puts into elite manned space under USAF’s EELV program, boosts a flight club, occupied exclusively by Eutelsat Hot Bird 6 communications US and Russia since 1961. satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral. Jan. 16, 2004. The AFSPC’s Space Oct. 1, 2002. US Space Command, and Missile Systems Center requests created in 1985, is disestablished. Its proposals for a Space Based Radar pro- missions are transferred to US Strate- gram which will give theater command- gic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. ers the ability to track moving targets. STRATCOM gains the responsibil- Feb. 25, 2004. In a warning about ity to define, plan, develop, and con- dangers in space, Secretary Teets duct space operations. tells the House Armed Services Com- Nov. 20, 2002. Delta IV, second of mittee that “we have done a very the new EELVs partially funded by serious vulnerability study ... of our USAF, debuts by boosting a Eutelsat national security space programs” Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, first woman to pilot a US spaceship and first female payload from Cape Canaveral. and that “we do see ... a threat start- to command a space shuttle. Dec. 17, 2002. President George ing to evolve.” ■

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