45th Launch Support Squadron

45th Launch Support Squadron
45th Launch Support Squadron Patch
Active	30 June 2005-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Launch Support
Role	Mission Assurance
Part of	45th Launch Group
Garrison/HQ	Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Motto(s)	Battlespace Dominance Through Satellite Integration
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Kathryn Cantu

The 45th Launch Support Squadron(45 LCSS) is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. It is assigned to the 45th Launch Group along with its sister squadron the 5th Space Launch Squadron.

Mission

The 45th Launch Support Squadron (LCSS) delivers a broad array of organic launch and launch support capabilities. In partnership with the satellite system directorates, the LCSS provides launch-base mission assurance for satellites by overseeing spacecraft hardware arrival, launch preparations, testing and launch. In addition, the squadron contains a program management office which ensures delivery of mission-critical facilities, launch support services such as training and ordnance management, and programmatic resources to Eastern Range customers. Finally, the LCSS provides a single interface for emerging DoD, civil, and commercial launch providers to access 45 SW services and successfully bring new launch capabilities to the United States.^[1]

History

The 45th Launch Support Squadron was activated on June 30, 2005. The first mission with spacecraft processed by the 45 LCSS was the Micro-satellite Technology Experiment (MiTEx) which launched on June 21, 2006.

Emblem

Description

On a disc Sable, arrayed to chief three deltas Silver Gray each with a contrail Or fimbriated Tenné issuing from behind a terrestrial globe Proper, environed by an orbit of the fourth charged with a sphere of the second, all within a narrow border Orange.

Attached below the disc, a Black scroll edged with a narrow Orange border and inscribed “45TH LAUNCH SUPPORT SQUADRON” in Orange letters.^[2]

Symbolism

Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The black background represents space. The three deltas signify the multiple launch vehicles the Squadron supports and the three Air Force Core Values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do. The earth and orbiting satellite describes the global nature of the unit’s mission.^[3]

Commanders

• Lt Col Scott Traxler
• Lt Col John Wagner
• Lt Col Erik Bowman
• Lt Col Gerard G. Gleckel Jr.
• Lt Col Paul P. Konyha III
• Lt Col Matthew E. Holston
• Lt Col Kathryn Cantu (15 Aug 2016 – present)

45 LCSS Missions

List of LCSS Launches

No.	Launch Date	Mission	Vehicle	Notes
1	June 21, 2006	MiTEx	Delta II	First mission with spacecraft processed by the 45th Launch Support Squadron.
2	September 25, 2006	GPS IIR-15M	Delta II
3	November 17, 2006	GPS IIR-16	Delta II
4	March 8, 2007	STP-1	Atlas V	First launch of a USAF payload on an Atlas V.
5	October 10, 2007	WGS-1	Atlas V	First of six WGS satellites
6	October 17, 2007	GPS IIR-17	Delta II
7	November 10, 2007	DSP-23	Delta IV	Final launch of a DSP satellite and first operational launch of a Delta IV Heavy
8	December 20, 2007	GPS IIR-18	Delta II
9	March 15, 2008	GPS IIR-19	Delta II
10	March 24, 2009	GPS IIR-20	Delta II
11	March 24, 2009	WGS-2	Atlas V
12	August 17, 2009	GPS IIR-21	Delta II	Final launch of a GPS IIR series satellite.
13	September 8, 2009	PAN	Atlas V
14	September 25, 2009	STSS Demo	Delta II
15	December 5, 2009	WGS-3	Delta IV	Final Block 1 WGS satellite
16	April 2, 2010	OTV-1	Atlas V	First launch of a reusable unmanned space vehicle.
17	May 28, 2010	GPS IIF-1	Delta IV	First launch of IIF block of GPS satellites.
18	June 4, 2010	Falcon 9 Flight 1	Falcon 9	First all commercial launch from CCAFS.
19	August 14, 2010	AEHF-1	Atlas V	First launch of an AEHF military communication satellite.
20	December 8, 2010	COTS Demo Flight 1	Falcon 9	First launch, orbit, and recovery of an operational Dragon capsule.
21	March 5, 2011	OTV-2	Atlas V
22	May 7, 2011	SBIRS GEO-1	Atlas V	First launch of the next generation of missile warning satellites.
23	July 16, 2011	GPS IIF-2	Delta IV
24	January 19, 2012	WGS-4	Delta IV	First launch of the upgrafed Block II satellites
25	February 24, 2012	MUOS-1	Atlas V	First of a kind United States Navy UHF satellite.
26	May 4, 2012	AEHF-2	Atlas V
27	May 22, 2012	COTS Demo Flight 2	Falcon 9	First commercial resupply of the International Space Station
28	Aug 30, 2012	RBSP	Atlas V
29	Oct 4, 2012	GPS IIF-3	Delta IV
30	Oct 7, 2012	CRS-1	Falcon 9
31	Dec 11, 2012	OTV-3	Atlas V

References

1. Factsheet: 45th Launch Group
2. The Institute of Heraldry
3. The Institute of Heraldry

External links