2nd Space Launch Squadron

The 2nd Space Launch Squadron is an active United States Space Force unit. It is located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and was reactivated in July 2019 with the merger of the 4th Space Launch Squadron and the 1st Air and Space Test Squadron.

2nd Space Launch Squadron
Titan IV ready to launch
Active	1990-2005, 2019-present[1]
Country	United States
Branch	United States Space Force
Role	Launch control
Motto(s)	Rising Stars (approved 24 May 1995)[2]
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
2nd Space Launch Squadron emblem (approved 15 January 1991)[2]

History

When founded, the two launch squadrons at Vandenberg Air Force Base divided launch duties, with the 4th Space Launch Squadron working with Titan II and Titan IV vehicles while the 2nd worked with Delta II, Atlas, and other launch vehicles. On 18 May 1998, the two squadrons merged into the 2nd SLS. The merged squadron was responsible for all launch operations at Vandenberg AFB. The reason for the merger was the similarity in missions performed by both units. It was inactivated after the last Titan IV launch. In June 2019 the 4th Space Launch Squadron and the 1st Air and Space Test Squadron Merged and reactivated as the 2nd Space Launch Squadron. The reestablished unit took on all the missions of both the 1st Air and Space Test Squadron and the 4th Space Launch Squadron. the 2nd Space Launch Squadron was one of only two space launch squadrons in the U.S. Air Force. the other being the 5th Space launch Squadron at Cape Canaveral.[3]

Both space launch squadrons are now part of the U.S. Space Force.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 2d Space Launch Squadron 0n 11 September 1990

Activated on 1 October 1990[4]

Inactivated on 31 October 2005[5]

Activated on 1 June 2019[1]

Assignments

• Western Space and Missile Center, 1 October 1990
• 30th Operations Group, 19 November 1991[4]
• 30th Launch Group, 1 December 2003 - 31 October 2005[6][5]
• 30th Operations Group, 1 June 2019

Stations

• Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, 1 October 1990 – 31 October 2005;[4][5] 1 June 2019 - present

Aircraft & Missiles

• Atlas E
• Atlas IIAS
• Delta II
• Titan IV
• Titan II, 1 October 1990 – 2005[7]

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

• 1 November 1991 - 30 September 1993[4]

References

1. Airman 1st Class Hanah Abercrombie (August 15, 2019). "2nd SLS reactivated following squadron merger". 30th Space Wing Public Affairs Office. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
2. Endicott, p. 330
3. Air Force Association: "Two Space Squadrons Merge" Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
4. Lineage, including assignments, decorations and stations, through 1995 in Endicott, p. 330
5. Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, October 2005, Maxwell AFB, AL
6. Rogers,
7. World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN 1-880588-01-3

Bibliography

• Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
• Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.

External links

• Vandenberg Air Force Base