233rd Space Group

The 233rd Space Group (233rd SG) is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard located at Greeley Air National Guard Station, Greeley. The 233rd Space Group provides immediate, worldwide missile warning, space launch and detection in the event of an attack against the United States.[2] If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Space Command.

233rd Space Group
233rd Space Group front gate, Greeley, Colorado
Active1992 – present
Country United States
Allegiance Colorado
Branch  Air National Guard
TypeGroup
RoleSpace Communications
Part ofAttached to 140th Wing[1]
Garrison/HQGreeley Air National Guard Station, Greeley, Colorado
Commanders
Current
commander		Col. Thomas McKenna
Insignia
Emblem of the 233rd Space Group

Overview

The 233d Space Group operates the Air Force's strategic survivable, mobile Defense Support Program ground station. The group provides endurable missile warning detection to the National Command Authority and has the ability to survive and operate through all phases of trans/post attack. In addition, the satellites provide immediate, worldwide missile warning, space launch, and nuclear detonation detection.[3]

History

The history of the 233rd Space Group is not so much in the unit designation, but in the equipment operated. The 233rd Space Group activated 1 October 1995, assuming the mission of the 4th Space Warning Squadron (4 SWS), Holloman AFB, New Mexico.[2]

Mobile DSP Communications

The mobile Defense Support Program (DSP) communication mission began on 1 October 1983, as the 1025th Communications Squadron (Mobile).[3] The 1025 CS spent its first three years testing the new mobile satellite communications equipment and training its people. On 1 November 1985, administrative operations were transferred to the 1st Space Wing, part of the newly formed Air Force Space Command. The 1025th Space Communications Squadron was redesignated as the 4th Satellite Communications Squadron on 1 August 1986. During an Air Force-wide reorganization, the 1st Space Wing and the 3d Space Wing were inactivated, and their assets merged into the newly renamed 21st Space Wing, at Peterson AFB, Colorado. The unit was renamed the 4th Space Communications Squadron. Finally, on 1 October 1992, the 4th SCS's mission was declassified. When the duties of the 4th SWS transferred to other space projects, the mobile DSP mission was transferred to the newly formed 233rd Space Group, activated in 1995.[2]

Assignments

Major Command/Gaining Command

Previous designations
  • 1 October 1983 – The 137th SWS activated as the 1025th Satellite Communications Squadron (SCS)
  • 1 August 1986 – The 1025th SCS was redesignated as the 4th SCS.
  • 1 October 1992 – The 4th SCS's mission was declassified and became the 4th Space Warning Squadron.
  • 1 October 1995 – The 137th Space Warning Squadron activated
  • 1 March 2012 – The 137th Space Warning Squadron was redesignated as the 233rd Space Group

Equipment Operated
gollark: Wait, that's just from one of the patent pools apparently, because of course it couldn't be *simple*.
gollark: Apparently it was actually made available for free use in "application layer software downloaded to mobile devices or personal computers after the initial sale of the device". Which is still quite constraining.
gollark: Well, yes.
gollark: Firefox doesn't support HEIC, presumably because of the patents thing.
gollark: ... then it's not "open".

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. 140th Wing Official Site. Accessed 2009-07-24. Archived 2011-11-15.
  2. "Ranger95.com: 233rd Space Group". Archived from the original on 28 February 2005. Retrieved 14 April 2008.
  3. 137th SWS Official Site and Mission Statement Archived 13 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Accessed/updated: 2011-11-15.
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