1st Space Operations Squadron The United States Air Force ' s 1st Space Operations Squadron ( 1 SOPS ) is a space operations unit located at Schriever AFB , Colorado . The squadron is also responsible for performance launch , on - orbit , emergency , end - of - life testing and disposal operations providing warning , navigation , R & D , surveillance and weather to the president and the Secretary of Defense , Joint Chiefs of Staff and nine combatant commanders worldwide . Mission . 1 SOPS conducts command and control ( C2 ) for four distinct constellations : Defense Support Program ( DSP ) , Midcourse Space Experiment ( MSX ) and a NASA research and development ( NASA R & D ) program , in low earth to deep space orbits , and is Air Force Space Command ' s only multi - mission Satellite Operations Control Center . 1 SOPS is supported by the Air Force Reserves unit , the 7th Space Operations Squadron . The squadron operates and maintains 24 - hour Air Force Satellite Control Network command and control capability for Defense Support Program and Midcourse Space Experiment constellations . 1st SOPS also operates and maintains a research and development space system providing vital space weather data worldwide . 1st SOPS performs launch and early - orbit operations for GPS and DSP systems including satellite activation , initial checkout and transfer to mission orbit . 1st SOPS plans and executes tracking , telemetry and commanding functions for GPS , DSP , MXS and a NASA R & D satellite to maintain spacecraft state - of - health , sustain on - orbit operations and accomplish mission taskings . They respond to all satellite emergencies , and support end - of - life testing and disposal operations for GPS , DSP and MSX and R & D spacecraft as required . The squadron maintains DSP spacecraft positional knowledge and distributes data to worldwide users . 1st SOPS also completes 100 percent of MSX and R & D training and evaluation . The Multi - Mission Space Operations Center ( MMSOC ) is a revolutionary approach to space operations — an operations center focused on forging a one - of - a - kind operations / acquisition team to demonstrate and field emerging space missions and satellite C2 technologies in a rapid , decisive manner . The MMSOC is structured to operate a variety of satellite missions , including satellite initiatives without a program office , satellite missions of small scale ( small constellations ) , new missions transitioning from concept toward full - scale operations , and all research , development , test and evaluation satellites with operational utility remaining after test and evaluation are complete . Mission control crew shifts conduct 24 - hour operations supporting the three major functions of satellite control ; telemetry , tracking and commanding . Orbital analysts and program engineers provide program specific knowledge and support to the crews . The operators perform pre - contact planning , real time contact and post - contact evaluation . The squadron conducts more than 2 , 000 contacts a month . History . 1 SOPS was originally activated February 14 , 1961 , as the 1st Aerospace Control Squadron , which was in operation until April 1976 . On October 5 , 1987 , the squadron was reactivated , renamed the 1st Satellite Control Squadron , and began its ever - growing satellite control mission . On February 16 , 1988 , the squadron began its first commanding on the DSP constellation . The Space Operations Center ( SOC ) was operationally turned over to AFSPC on December 21 , 1989 . The SOC increased its mission on February 20 , 1990 , when the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program mission was operationally turned over . In May 1996 , satellite command authority for the first research and development satellite controlled by AFSPC , Technology for Autonomous Operational Survivability , was given to 1st SOPS . On December 4 , 1998 , the squadron assumed command and control capability on the Midcourse Space Experiment , which became an operational program on October 1 , 2000 , with the first - ever transfer of operations from the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to AFSPC . Operated Space Detection and Tracking System Center , tracking and cataloging man - made objects in space , 1961 - 1976 . Satellite command and control for the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System , the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program , and the Defense Support Program , 1987 - . Emblem . On a disc Azure , three bars arched to base Or , superimposed at fess point by a stylized satellite of the like charged with a mullet of the first between in fess two polestars and pointing to chief a flight symbol at honor point all Argent .