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SPACE DEVELOPMENT AND TEST WING
Mission Statement
The Space Development and Test Wing develops, tests and evaluates Air Force space systems, executes advanced space development and demonstration projects, and rapidly transitions capabilities to the warfighter.
Personnel
219-person government organization (189 at Kirtland Air Force Base), 345 contract support
History
In July 1992, the Space and Missile Systems Center consolidated four separate reporting space and missile research, developmental test and evaluation organizations and stood up as the Space Experimentation Program Office. The newly aligned programs included the, the Rocket Systems Launch program, the DOD Space Test program, the Research and Development Space and Missile Operations program, and test and evaluation functions located at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Beginning in June 1993, research, developmental test and evaluation organizations activities at Los Angeles AFB, Onizuka Air Station, and San Bernardino, all in California, were collocated at Kirtland AFB alongside the Air Force Research Laboratory Phillips Site. In July 1995, the organization was renamed the Space and Missile Test and Evaluation Directorate. The consolidation of the organization at Kirtland AFB was completed on October 1997.
On June 29, 2001 SMC/TE stood down and SMC activated Detachment 12 at Kirtland AFB in preparation for the Oct. 1, 2001 realignment of SMC to Air Force Space Command. The mission of SMC Detachment 12 was "to serve as the primary provider of launch capability, space flight, and on-orbit operations for the entire DOD space research, development, test and evaluation community."
The Space Development and Test Wing was activated on Aug. 1, 2006 and performs development, test and evaluation of Air Force space systems; executes advanced space development and demonstration projects to exploit new concepts and technologies and rapidly migrates capabilities to the warfighter.
Space Test Group
The Space Test Squadron operates two Satellite Operations Centers, SOC 96 at Schriever AFB, Colo. and SOC 97 at Kirtland AFB. STS prepares and conducts on-orbit operations of DOD, U.S. Air Force, research and development and post-operational satellites. The Space Test Operations Squadron consists of an on-orbit communications satellite test site, mobile telemetry systems and the wing's space developmental test and evaluation experts. STOS performs space vehicle developmental test and evaluation and supports launch and on-orbit operations around the world. The Launch Test Squadron uses retired Minuteman II and Peacekeeper rocket motors for government research and development space launches and missile defense tests target vehicles. Averaging more than eight flight tests a year, LTS has maintained a 100 percent success rate for the past 10 years for LTS managed launches.
Space Development Group
The Spacecraft Development Squadron provides spaceflight for DOD Space Test Program payloads, develops, integrates, tests and launches experimental technologies and prototypical space systems. The Responsive Satellite Command and Control Division develops, integrates, tests, fields and maintains telemetry, tracking and control systems, data processing and distribution systems and operations support equipment for experimental and prototypical spacecraft and other unique spacecraft as assigned. The Responsive Space Squadron integrates, tests, launches, fields and supports operations of an Operationally Responsive Space capability for the DOD. They directly interface with the organizations responsible for commanding, controlling and using ORS capabilities in support of Unified Command Plan-defined operational missions. The Human Spaceflight Payloads Division provides spaceflight for advanced DOD research and development experiments and prototype operational systems aboard human rated space-based platforms and provides for integration, launch, and on-orbit operations of DOD operational and research and development satellites in the Space Shuttle and International Space Station.
Col. B. Edwin Wilson, Space Development and Test Wing commander
Space Development Group
Space Test Group
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