Air Force Satellite Control Network

The Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) provides support for the operation, control, and maintenance of a variety of United States Department of Defense and some non-DoD satellites. This involves continual execution of Telemetry, Tracking, and Commanding (TT&C) operations. In addition, the AFSCN 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 AFSCN provides tracking data to help maintain the catalog of space objects and distributes various data such as satellite ephemeris, almanacs, and other information.

Overview
The AFSCN consists of satellite control centers, tracking stations, and test facilities located around the world. Satellite Operations Centers (SOCs) are located at Schriever Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and various other locations throughout the continental United States. These SOCs are manned 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 similes, 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 ft dish antenna. Side B typically included a 46 ft antenna. At some sites, the B side included a 33 ft antenna. Over time, however, as the network upgraded and/or replaced the antennas, the old conventions no longer apply.

History
AFSCN was originally activated to support the CORONA/Discoverer program in 1959. An interim satellite control center was initially established in Palo Alto, California, and by June 1960, a permanent control center had been established Sunnyvale AFS, later renamed Onizuka AFS, Sunnyvale, California. The main operations control center, now at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO, functions as a central command and control node for the remote tracking stations established at several different locations.

Locations

 * Schriever AFB, Colorado – Primary C2 Node
 * Ellison Onizuka Satellite Operations Facility (EOSOF) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California – Secondary C2 Node.

The AFSCN 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 Department of Defense satellites. Most tracking stations are operated by operational detachments of the 21st Space Operations Squadron (21 SOPS) and 23d Space Operations Squadron. Many scientific and research satellites are supported as well.

Current Remote Tracking Stations

 * Colorado Tracking Station (CTS), Schriever AFB, Colorado; 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.


 * Diego Garcia Station (DGS), Diego Garcia, BIOT; callsign REEF. The Diego Garcia Station has two sides (as of 2010) to provide enhanced tracking for the AFSCN users. This site also includes a GPS Ground Antenna site.


 * Guam Tracking Station (GTS), Guam; callsign GUAM. The Guam Tracking Station has two sides and will be undergoing a system upgrade to the new equipment suite. Much of the installation work is completed and formal testing begins in October 2012.


 * Hawaii Tracking Station (HTS), Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, Hawaii; callsign HULA. The Hawaii Tracking Station is located on the island of Oahu. The Hawaii Tracking Station will also be undergoing a system upgrade, which began in late 2011 and will continue throughout 2013.


 * New Hampshire Station (NHS), New Boston AFS, New Hampshire; callsign BOSS. The New Hampshire Tracking Station is located in New Boston, New Hampshire. It is also a dual antenna site and is undergoing a system upgrade that started in 2012 and is expected to go throughout 2013.


 * Telemetry & Command Station (TCS), RAF Oakhanger, in England, operated by the United Kingdom and supporting the AFSCN 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.


 * Thule Tracking Station (TTS), Thule Air Base, Greenland; callsign POGO was a three-sided site until the summer of 2011, when the "C" side was decommissioned and dismantled in preparation for system upgrades that should be completed in 2015. This is the northernmost of the RTS, located at approximately 76.4 degrees north latitude.


 * Vandenberg 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 Western Test Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Automated Remote Tracking Stations
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 sites, the ARTS Phase I program added the following sites to the AFSCN:
 * Colorado Tracking Station at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, which was decommissioned in August 2012 and will be dismantled in FY2013
 * Thule Tracking Station "C" side, which was decommissioned in 2011 and dismantled that summer
 * Telemetry and Command Station "B" side
 * Diego Garcia Station "A" side

RTS Block Change (RBC) Systems
Beginning in 2004, an upgrade effort was started to replace the ARTS sites, which were already beyond their planned design life. While the project has been hampered by a number of technical issues and funding problems, the effort is well underway. As of 3 April 2012, the following sites have been upgraded to the RBC configuration, which includes a 13-meter 3-axis antenna:
 * Vandenberg Tracking Station "A" side
 * Diego Garcia Station "B" side, added to the network during the upgrade effort
 * Telemetry and Command Station "C" side, added to the network during the upgrade effort

Closed Remote Tracking Stations

 * Indian Ocean Station (IOS), Mahe Island, 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 archipeligo. 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.


 * Kodiak Tracking Station (KTS), Kodiak Island, Alaska; callsign KODI (closed on 20 March 1975)


 * Sunnyvale Control Station, callsign CUBE (also DICE). 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 passes simultaneously.


 * Colorado Tracking Station (CTS), Schriever AFB, Colorado; callsign PIKE (decommissioned on 2 August 2012)