The 45th Space Wing: Its Heritage, History & Honors 1950-1999

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

1 Oct 40
The Banana River Naval Air Station was commissioned on this date.
Oct 46
The Joint Research and Development Board established the Committee on the Long Range Proving Ground at this time. The Committee chose Cape Canaveral as a backup site to El Centro, California, but the Cape became the first choice after El Centro was eliminated for political reasons in 1948.
11 May 49
Enabling legislation was signed by President Truman to make the Joint Long Range Proving Ground a reality.
1 Sep 48
The Navy transferred the Banana River Naval Air Station to the Air Force.
1 Oct 49
The Base, Air Division and the Advance Headquarters of the Joint Long Range Proving Ground were established at the site of the old Banana River Naval Air Station.
16 May 50
The Air Force Division was redesignated the Long Range Proving Ground Division.
21 Jul 50
The British signed the Bahamian Agreement, allowing the establishment of range stations in the Bahamas.
24 Jul 50
On this date, BUMPER 8 became the first vehicle ever launched at the Cape.
1 Aug 50
The LRPG Base was renamed Patrick Air Force Base in honor of Major General Mason M. Patrick.
25 Oct 50
The Cape supported its first LARK launch.
14 May 51
The 4800th Guided Missile Wing was redesignated the 6555th Guided Missile Wing.
20 Jun 51
The Cape supported its first MATADOR missile launch. Range stations at Jupiter, Florida and on Grand Bahama Island also became operational on this date.
30 Jun 51
The Long Range Proving Ground Division was redesig-nated the Air Force Missile Test Center (AFMTC).
7 Dec 51
A MATADOR missile was launched by an all-military "blue suit" crew for the first time.
10 Sep 52
The Cape supported its first BOMARC launch.
26 Nov 52
After three dummy vehicle launches earlier in the year, the first real SNARK was launched from the Cape on this date.
20 Aug 53
The Cape supported its first REDSTONE missile launch.
31 Dec 53
The first range contract was signed with Pan American World Services. Pan Am signed its own contract with RCA to make the latter responsible for operating and maintaining range stations and tracking systems as of 28 February 1954.
Jan 54
The 1st and 69th Pilotless Bomber Squadrons were reassigned to TAC. They departed for their new assignments in Germany in March and September 1954 respectively.
7 Sep 54
The 6555th Guided Missile Group was discontinued, but the 6555th Guided Missile Squadron survived. The Squadron became the 6555th Guided Missiles Group on 15 August 1959. The unit was redesignated the 6555th Test Wing (Development) on 21 December 1959, and it was reassigned from AFMTC to the Ballistic Missile Division.
18 Jul 55
The range station on Mayaguana Island became operational.
19 Aug 55
The Cape supported its first NAVAHO X-10 launch.
8-22 Aug 55
The range stations on San Salvador, Eleuthera and Grand Turk became operational during this period.
14 Mar 56
The Cape supported its first JUPITER A launch.
20 May 56
The first and only MATADOR to be launched from Patrick AFB was launched during an Armed Forces Day celebration on this date.
26 Jun 56
The St. Lucia and Ascension agreements were signed.
19 Sep 56
The Cape supported its first JUPITER C launch.
6 Nov 56
The first NAVAHO XSM-64 missile was launched from the Cape.
20 Nov 56
The Cape supported its last NAVAHO X-10 flight.
5 Dec 56
The range stations at St. Lucia, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic became operational. On the same date, a truant SNARK missile made an uncon-trolled landing in the jungles of South America.
8 Dec 56
The first VANGUARD was launched from the Cape.
15 Jan 57
Great Britain granted access to Antigua to allow the U.S. to build a range station.
21 Jan 57
The Brazilian Agreement was signed, allowing American access to the island of Fernando de Noronha to construct a range station.
25 Jan 57
The Cape supported its first THOR launch.
13 Apr 57
The Cape supported its first POLARIS launch.
11 Jun 57
The Cape supported its first ATLAS launch.
27 Jun 57
The Cape supported the first launch of a live BULL GOOSE missile.
Oct 57
The range stations on Antigua and Ascension became operational.
31 Jan 58
EXPLORER I, America's first satellite, was launched from the Cape.
18 Sep 58
The range station on Fernando de Noronha was activated.
18 Nov 58
The last NAVAHO XSM-64 missile was launched from the Cape under PROJECT RISE.
6 Feb 59
The Cape supported its first TITAN I launch.
18 Sep 59
The last VANGUARD was launched from the Cape.
25 Feb 60
The Cape supported its first PERSHING launch.
21 Sep 60
The Air Force accomplished its first blue suit (all military) launch of a BLUE SCOUT JUNIOR.
Nov 60
The instrumentation ship, Twin Falls Victory was added to the Eastern Range's operations during this period.
5 Dec 60
The Cape supported its last SNARK launch.
1 Feb 61
The Cape supported the first MINUTEMAN I launch.
Apr 61
East Island Missile Tracking Annex was activated during this period.
5 May 61
The first manned suborbital mission, "Freedom 7," was launched from Cape Canaveral.
26 Jun 61
The Cape supported its last REDSTONE launch.
Aug 61
Station 9 at Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, was deactivated during this period.
27 Oct 61
The Cape supported the first SATURN I launch.
21 Nov 61
First blue suit launch of a TITAN I missile.
20 Feb 62
The first manned ATLAS/MERCURY mission, "Friendship 7," was launched from Cape Canaveral.
16 Mar 62
The Cape supported the first TITAN II launch.
29 Jun 62
First blue suit launch of a MINUTEMAN I missile.
13 Aug 62
First blue suit launch of an ATLAS "F" missile.
6 Nov 62
The range annexes in the Dominican Republic were given to the Dominican Government on this date.
6 Feb 63
First blue suit launch of a TITAN II missile.
Jul 63
The instrumentation ship American Mariner was added to the Eastern Range's operations during this period.
Sep 63
East Island's radar was deactivated during this period. The range disposed of the East Island Annex on 16 February 1967.
1964
The Advanced Range Instrumentation Ships USNS General H. H. Arnold and USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg became operational during this period.
15 May 64
The Air Force Missile Test Center was redesignated the Air Force Eastern Test Range (AFETR).
24 Sep 64
The first MINUTEMAN II was launched.
Mar 65
The range station on San Salvador was placed in caretaker status during this period. It was officially closed on 31 January 1970.
23 Mar 65
The first manned GEMINI mission, "GT-3," was launched.
18 Jun 65
The first TITAN IIIC was launched from Complex 40.
Jan 66
The Air Force Eastern Test Range accepted the first of eight C-135 aircraft for the Advanced Range Instrumen-tation Aircraft (ARIA) program during this period.
26 Feb 66
The Cape supported the first SATURN IB launch.
11 Nov 66
The last manned GEMINI mission, "GT-12," was launched.
9 Nov 67
The first unmanned SATURN V was launched.
Dec 67
Range property on St. Lucia was either transferred or eliminated by the end of this period.
16 Aug 68
The first MINUTEMAN III and POSEIDON ballistic missiles were launched on this date.
11 Oct 68
The first manned SATURN IB mission, "APOLLO 7," was launched.
21 Dec 68
The first manned SATURN V mission, "APOLLO 8," was launched.
14 Jan 69
The Missile Guidance Annex on Fernando de Noronha was returned to Brazil on this date.
Late 1969
The APOLLO instrumentation ship USNS Redstone was transferred to the Eastern Range during this period.
Dec 69
Radar and telemetry systems at Pretoria, South Africa were mothballed during this period. The range inactivated the station on 31 July 1979.
16 Jun 70
Apart from the airfield, all Mayaguana facilities were abandoned on this date.
14 Dec 70
The Cape supported its final MINUTEMAN III launch on this date, but MINUTEMAN launches continued at Vandenberg AFB, California.
1 Jul 71
The range station on Eleuthera was transferred to the U.S. Navy.
7 Dec 72
The last manned SATURN V mission, "APOLLO 17," was launched.
14 May 73
The SKYLAB orbital workshop was launched.
25 May 73
The first manned mission to SKYLAB was launched.
16 Nov 73
The last manned mission to SKYLAB was launched.
15 Jul 75
The APOLLO-SOYUZ rendezvous mission was launched.
20 Aug 75
The VIKING I Mars Lander mission was launched.
Dec 75
ARIA aircraft were transferred to the 4950th Test Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB during this period.
18 Jan 77
The Cape supported the first TRIDENT I launch.
1 Feb 77
The AFETR organization was inactivated, and the 6550th Air Base Group assumed host responsibilities for Patrick AFB as the 6550th Air Base Wing. Other AFETR resources were combined under Detachment 1 of the Space and Missile Test Center (SAMTEC).
20 Aug 77
The first VOYAGER mission to the outer planets was launched.
12 Sep 77
The Cape supported its first CHEVALINE missile launch (sponsored by Great Britain).
1 Oct 79
The Eastern Space & Missile Center was activated. The new organization combined the resources of the deactivated Detachment 1 SAMTEC organization with those of the 6550th Air Base Group and the 6555th Aerospace Test Group.
12 Apr 81
The Shuttle Columbia was launched on the first Space Shuttle mission.
Jan 82
The USNS Arnold was deactivated, and the USNS Observation Island took over its mission in the Pacific.
22 Jul 82
The Cape supported its first PERSHING II launch.
30 Oct 82
The Cape supported its first TITAN 34D launch.
Feb 83
The USNS Vandenberg was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet during this period.
29 Feb 84
Grand Turk Air Station was officially closed on this date.
28 Jan 86
The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed approximately 73 seconds after lift-off. The immediate cause of the disaster was a failed aft field joint between two lower segments of the right Solid Rocket Booster.
15 Jan 87
The Cape supported its first TRIDENT II launch.
30 Jun 87
The range station on Grand Bahama Island was placed in caretaker status. The keys to the station were turned over to the Government of the Bahamas on 30 January 1988.
Jun 88
Computer Sciences Raytheon won its first Range Technical Services (RTS) contract for the Eastern Range.
Aug 88
Pan American won the Launch Base Services (LBS) contract for Cape Canaveral.
14 Feb 89
The Cape supported the first DELTA II launch, which featured the first NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite ever launched from the Eastern Range.
14 Jun 89
The Cape supported the first TITAN IV launch.
4 Sep 89
The Cape supported its last TITAN 34D launch.
1 Oct 90
The Eastern Space & Missile Center (minus the 6555th Aerospace Test Group) was transferred from Air Force Systems Command to Air Force Space Command. Some of the 6555th's resources became the 1st Space Launch Squadron under ESMC, but most assets were placed in Combined Test Forces serving both major commands. "6550th" designated units became "1040th" units.
1 Oct 90
The 2179th Communications Group was transferred from the Air Force Communications Service to ESMC.
12 Nov 91
The Eastern Space & Missile Center was inactivated, but its lineage and honors were transferred to the 45th Space Wing which was activated on the same date. Under the 45th Space Wing, the 1040th Space Support Group (formerly the 6550th Air Base Group) was redesignated the 45th Support Group. The 1040th Civil Engineering and Security Police Squadrons were redesignated the 45th Civil Engineering and Security Police Squadrons. Old 45th Bombardment Group squadrons were restored and redesignated for: 1) contracting, 2) operations support, 3) spacecraft operations, 4) logistics support, 5) maintenance, 6) transportation and 7) mission support. The old Headquarters, 45th Bombardment Group was redesignated the 45th Operations Group. The old Headquarters of the 45th Air Service Group was redesignated the 45th Logistics Group.
12 Nov 91
The Eastern Test Range organization was redesignated the 45th Range Squadron.
12 Nov 91
USAF Hospital Patrick was redesignated the 45th Medical Group
12 Nov 91
Detachment 11 of the 2nd Weather Squadron became the 45th Weather Squadron.
12 Nov 91
The 2179th Communications Group became the 45th Communications Squadron.
7 Dec 91
The Cape supported the first commercial launch of an ATLAS II/CENTAUR.
11 Feb 92
The Cape supported the first military launch of an ATLAS II/ CENTAUR.
10 Jun 92
The Cape supported the first commercial launch of an ATLAS IIA/CENTAUR.
Jul 92
Johnson Controls (formerly Pan American) won the LBS contract for Cape Canaveral for the second time.
3 Aug 92
The 3rd Space Launch Squadron was activated in a ceremony on this date.
1 Sep 92
The 45th Mess Squadron, AAFTTC, was reconstituted and redesignated the 45th Morale, Welfare, Recreation and Services Squadron.
Jun 93
The range site at Argentia, Newfoundland was com-pleted to support northbound flights of the TITAN IV from Cape Canaveral.
Jul 93
Computer Sciences Raytheon won the RTS contract for the Eastern Range for the second time.
6 Aug 93
The USNS Redstone was deactivated.
16 Dec 93
The Cape supported the first commercial launch of an ATLAS IIAS/CENTAUR.
14 Apr 94
The 5th Space Launch Squadron was activated.
13 May 94
The 45th Spacecraft Operations Squadron was inactivated.
30 Sep 94
The 45th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, 45th Dental Squadron, 45th Medical Operations Squadron and the 45th Medical Support Squadron were activated under the 45th Medical Group.
1 Mar 95
The 45th Space Wing declared the Range Operations Control Center (ROCC) operational.
1 Jun 95
The 45th Comptroller Squadron was activated.
8 Jan 96
Range Station 13 (Pretoria) was returned to the Republic of South Africa.
28 Mar 96
The first Global Positioning System replenishment satellite (NAVSTAR II-25) was launched from Pad 17B.
7 Nov 96
The MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR mission was launched from Pad 17A.
4 Dec 96
The MARS PATHFINDER mission was launched from Pad 17B.

17 Jan 97

A DELTA II carrying the NAVSTAR GPS IIR-1 replenishment satellite exploded about 13 seconds after lift-off from Pad 17A. No one was killed or hurt in the Class A mishap, but private property damage (including leased trailers and privately owned motor vehicles) came to approximately $429,000.

23 Feb 997

The first TITAN IVB launch vehicle lifted off Complex 40. It carried a Defense Support Program (DSP) payload equipped with an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS). The launch was successful.

27 Jul 97

A DELTA II carrying the NAVSTAR GPS IIR-2 replenishment satellite was launched from Pad 17A. Due to the launch mishap on 17 January 1997, this satellite was actually the first new IIR replenishment satellite to be added to the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System. The mission was successful.

15 Oct 97

A TITAN IVB/CENTAUR carrying the 12,670-pound Cassini interplanetary spacecraft was launched from Complex 40. One day after the successful launch, Cassini was reported "cruising along without any problems." The spacecraft was due to orbit Saturn in June 2004 and spend four years surveying the planet, its ring system and its moons.

6 Nov 97

A DELTA II carrying the last of the Block IIA Global Positioning System satellites (GPS II-28) was launched from Pad 17A. The mission was successful.

7 Jan 98

Complex 46 supported its first commercial launch. The mission featured an ATHENA II carrying the LUNAR PROSPECTOR spacecraft.

7 Jun 98

The Joint Performance Management Office (JPMO) was activated. Together with a Board of Directors, the JPMO provided overall management of the Joint Base Operations and Support Contract (J-BOSC). (See "21 Aug 98" entry, below.)

26 Jun 98

The Visual Information Technical Contract (VITC) was awarded to Johnson Controls World Services. The contract replaced the Range Visual Information Technical Services (RVITS) contract. Following a month-long phase-in period, full contract performance began on 1 August 1998.

29 Jun 98

The 5th Space Launch Squadron was inactivated, and its resources were absorbed by the 3rd Space Launch Squadron on the same date.

12 Aug 98

A TITAN IVA/CENTAUR carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload began to disintegrate approximately 40 seconds after lift-off from Complex 41. Per safety guidelines, destruct signals were sent two seconds later. The value of the vehicle and its payload (reported in the media as $1.35 billion) made the launch failure one of the costliest in the history of the U.S. Space Program.

21 Aug 98

Space Gateway Support (SGS) of Herndon, Virginia was awarded the Joint Base Operations and Support Contract (J-BOSC). The contract covered work formerly handled under Kennedy Space Center's Base Operations Contract and the 45th Space Wing's Launch Base Support (LBS) contract. Following a formal 23-day phase-in period, the contract started 1 October 1998.

27 Aug 98

The first DELTA III was launched from Pad 17B. Unfortunately, the vehicle disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, and destruct signals had to be sent to it about 75 seconds into the flight.

29 Oct 98

The Shuttle Discovery was launched on the STS-95 mission. The flight became famous as a "return to space" for Senator John Glenn, the Mercury 7 astronaut who completed America's first manned orbital mission on 20 February 1962.

4 Dec 98

            The Shuttle Endeavour was launched from Pad 39A on this date to deliver the Node 1 space station element and mate it to the Russian Functional Energy Block.               Together, the two pieces formed the cornerstone of the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was successful, and Endeavour landed safely at the               Kennedy Space Center on 16 December 1998.

11 Dec 98

            A DELTA II carrying NASA's MARS ORBITER-2 was launched successfully from Pad 17A on this date. Unfortunately, the spacecraft's orbital trajectory was               flawed, and the MARS ORBITER-2 burned up as it entered the Martian atmosphere in September 1999.

3 Jan 99

            A DELTA II carrying NASA's MARS POLAR LANDER was launched from Pad 17B on this date. Though the launch was successful, NASA announced it could not               raise the POLAR LANDER after the spacecraft landed on Mars in early December 1999. The mission was written off as a failure.

19 Mar 99

            On this date, Colonel Thomas F. Deppe accepted Boeing's DELTA IV program on behalf of the 45th Space Wing subject to conditions stated in his memo and an               attached Statement of Capability (SC).

9 Apr 99

            A TITAN IVB/IUS carrying a Defense Support Program (DSP) spacecraft was launched from Complex 41 on this date. Unfortunately, the IUS first and second               stages did not separate properly during the flight, and the mission failed.

30 Apr 99

            A TITAN IVB/CENTAUR carrying a MILSTAR military communications spacecraft was launched from Complex 40 on this date. Unfortunately, the CENTAUR's               software was corrupted by an incorrect mathematical constant, and the MILSTAR payload was placed in a useless orbit. Officials declared the payload "dead in               orbit" on 12 May 1999.

5 May 99

            A DELTA III carrying the ORION-3 communications spacecraft was launched from Pad 17B on this date. Unfortunately, the upper stage failed about 21 minutes               and 51 seconds after launch, and the mission was a failure.

27 May 99

            The Shuttle Discovery lifted off Pad 39B on this date. The primary objectives of the missions (STS-96) were to rendezvous and dock with the International Space               Station (ISS) and transfer supplies. The mission was successful, and Discovery landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center on 6 June 1999.

4 Jun 99

            The 45th Maintenance Squadron was inactivated on this date, and its personnel and other resources were transferred to the 45th Communications Squadron.

14 Jun 99

            On this date, Brigadier General F. Randall Starbuck accepted the ATLAS V program on behalf of the 45th Space Wing subject to conditions outlined in an               attached Statement of Capability.

23 Jul 99   

            The Shuttle Columbia lifted off Pad 39B on this date. The primary objective of the mission (STS-93) was to deploy the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and its Inertial               Upper Stage (IUS). The mission was successful, and Columbia landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center on 28 July 1999.

15 Sep 99

            Hurricane FLOYD made its closest approach to Cape Canaveral on this date.

30 Sep 99

            On this date, a contract worth $1,808,700 was awarded to Genesis 7 to renovate the High Bay area in the TITAN Operations and Maintenance Building.

1 Oct 99

            On this date, the Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office (DDMS) was taken off the books at U.S. Space Command and assigned to the 45th               Space Wing.

14 Oct 99

            On this date, the old TITAN Mobile Service Tower (MST) and Umbilical Tower (UT) on Complex 41 were toppled by Olshan Demolishing Company. The demolition               cleared the way for ATLAS V construction on the site.

23 Nov 99

            An ATLAS IIA/CENTAUR carrying the Navy's UHF Follow-On F-10 communications satellite was launched from Pad 36B on this date. The launch was successful.

20 Dec 99

            The Shuttle Discovery lifted off Pad 39B on this date. The primary objective of the mission (STS-103) was to replace a suite of six gyroscopes on the Hubble Space               Telescope (HST) after three of the gyroscopes failed. The mission was successful, and Discovery landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center on 28 December 1999.

           

 

  

Prepared by Mark C. Cleary, Chief Historian
45 Space Wing Office of History
1201 Edward H. White II St., Patrick AFB, FL 32925