50th Space Wing adds new antenna to its network Published Aug. 27, 2007 By Corey Dahl 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- One of the newest antennas in the country is now part of the 50th Space Wing's Air Force Satellite Control Network. Col. Robert Skinner, commander of the 50th's Network Operations Group, accepted control of New Hampshire's Antedo antenna from the Satellite Control and Network Systems Group at a ceremony on Peterson Aug. 22. The Air Force Space and Missiles System Center detachment, located at the Consolidated Integrations Support Facility on Pete East, oversaw construction of the project. The turnover makes the 50th Space Wing responsible for maintenance, support and operations for the brand-new $16.1 million antenna, an essential tool for satellite communications. The antenna is one of 15 operated by the AFSCN at eight locations worldwide. "This is one of the newest antennas to be added to the network since the late '80s," Colonel Skinner said. "It's a big improvement over some of the older technologies we were working with." The Antedo antenna replaces a 44-year-old antenna in New Hampshire that was decommissioned in 2004. Meant to last a maximum of 28 years, the antenna's retirement was well overdue. "We were lucky that it even lasted that long," said Lt. Col. Monica Concholar, an assistant to Col. Philip Simonsen, commander of the Satellite Control and Network Systems Group, which was in charge of the installation project. Teams of civil service employees, Airmen and contractors started working together in 1998 to build the antenna's replacement, installing a new ringwall, support building, antenna and inflatable radome just a few miles south of the old antenna. Installation finished in 2005 and was then followed by months of tinkering and testing to get the antenna online. Now that it is active, the Antedo antenna can communicate with hundreds of satellites, sending and receiving communications, early warning, intelligence and weather data. But the real accomplishment, said Colonel Skinner, has been the amount of teamwork involved in getting the antenna up and running. "To me, it was a true 'Total Force' effort," Colonel Skinner said. "And when I say 'Total Force,' I truly mean military, government, civilians, reservists. This is a real achievement for everyone involved."