15th SPSS: Vigilant Guardians of the Heavens

Steve Upton, 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1 cyber security systems manager, poses next to a ground-based, electro-optical deep space surveillance sensor at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Aug. 26, 2022. As a vital part of the Space Surveillance Network, the 15th SPSS’s GEODSS sensors collect metric data, satellite positioning and visual magnitude measurements. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Wise)

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15th SPSS: Vigilant Guardians of the Heavens

U.S. Space Force civilian Alan Meris, 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1 site director, prepares for an interview at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Aug. 22, 2022. The 15th SPSS is a component of Space Base Delta 2 and operates experimental systems under the Air Force Research Laboratory. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Wise)

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15th SPSS: Vigilant Guardians of the Heavens

Justin Angel, 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1 operator, looks at a map of common start trajectories at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Aug. 25, 2022. The 15th SPSS has worldwide space domain awareness capabilities, with personnel assigned to locations in Socorro, N.M.; Maui, Hawaii; Diego Garcia, and future locations in the Pacific and Europe. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Wise)

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15th SPSS: Vigilant Guardians of the Heavens

Aaron Pino, 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1 operator, gazes into the Milky Way at White Sands Missile Range N.M., Aug. 26, 2022. Known as the ‘Vigilant Guardians of the Heavens,’ the operations team at Det. 1 is responsible for 5,000 to 13,000 daily space object observations which provide time, elevation and trajectory data to the Space Surveillance Network. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Wise)

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15th SPSS: Vigilant Guardians of the Heavens

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. -- Dane Hult, 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1 site manager, makes a call to adjust the angle of the telescope at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Aug. 24, 2022. The telescope’s high-resolution camera tracks objects 10,000 times dimmer than the human eye can detect, and has a maximum effective range over 100,000 kilometers. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Wise)

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15th SPSS: Vigilant Guardians of the Heavens

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. – Aron Jaquez, 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1 operator, performs a maintenance check on one of three site telescopes at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Aug. 24, 2022. Det. 1’s 24/7 operations require a full team of maintenance, installation, cyber and security personnel to maintain and protect its sensors and facilities. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Wise)

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15th SPSS: Vigilant Guardians of the Heavens

Published Sept. 7, 2022
By By Senior Airman Brooke Wise
Space Base Delta 1 Public Affairs

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. -- Steve Upton, 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1 cyber security systems manager, poses next to a ground-based, electro-optical deep space surveillance sensor at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Aug. 26, 2022. As a vital part of the Space Surveillance Network, the 15th SPSS’s GEODSS sensors collect metric data, satellite positioning and visual magnitude measurements. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Wise)