It tracks all objects orbiting the Earth. Team members report the positions of satellites to administrative and operational groups within the Air Force. Some are satellites, launched to service cellular phones, pagers and televisions. Some is trash, such as gloves, a wrench and rocket boosters. The crew will celebrate its 30-year anniversary on Sept. 3 at the Freeport location, off highway 20 near Portland.
Workers say changes they've seen over the years have been incredible.
And technological advances will continue to allow the Air Force to identify other objects, smaller ones deeper in space. According to Air Force documents, the Freeport facility was set up to monitor Sputnik One, a Russian satellite launched in October 1957. However, it wasn't until October 1962 when construction began on the project in Freeport. A fire kept the facility from starting monitoring until 1968. The Air Force then started using it to track orbiting objects.