Eglin Air Force Base, Fla -- The skies darken. Winds and rains ravage buildings and vehicles. Thousands are left without power, or homes and their lives changed forever...but even in the destructive wake, the vital space mission cannot stop.
Eglin AFB is historically no stranger to adverse weather such as Hurricane Ian and various tropical storms, and 2022 has been no different. To survive, train and maintain pivotal operations for national security while based in the Florida panhandle, a unit must be ready to weather the fiercest of storms.
Major Christopher Wilinski, Director of Operations, 20th Space Surveillance Squadron, is responsible for identifying personnel to conduct emergency management and be on alert during adverse weather.
“The primary mission of the 20 SPSS is to execute multiplatform, tactical space domain characterization and responsiveness to achieve the Space Delta 2 and USSPACECOM objectives.” said Wilinski.
The 20 SPSS operates two sensors, one is located at Eglin AFB and the other sensor is the Space Fence radar located at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
“As a team, both military and civilian personnel volunteer to be identified as ride-out crew personnel that, when activated, conduct operations and maintain the system allowing the rest of the squadron personnel to shelter safely,” said Wilinski.
20 SPSS operates two dedicated Space Domain Awareness radars from a single operations center. Conducting operations from a single center allows operators to track and maintain situational awareness of space objects on opposite sides of the planet.
This mission directly supports and enables “Space Fence,” which allows multi-platform synergy across intelligence, mission planning, and execution thus enhancing information flow to improve decision making timelines in support of protect-and-defend missions.
Space Fence provides significantly improved space surveillance capabilities to detect and track orbiting objects such as commercial and military satellites, depleted space boosters and space.
The Guardians of 20 SPSS consistently provide critical Space Domain Awareness to the nation. No matter the day, time, or weather, the 20 SPSS stand ready to execute and maintain operations.