When President Donald Trump announced the formation of the United States Space Force in 2019, I admit that I was skeptical. However, after further consideration, the concept became completely clear. After all, we’ve been hearing about space-based weapons and missile defense systems for years.
What Is the U.S. Space Force?
The United States Space Force is one of eight uniformed branches of the US military. The mission of the United States Space Force is to prepare for space warfare in the event that a military conflict occurs in space.
The Space Force has bases across several states, including Massachusetts.
Where Is the Massachusetts Space Force Base?
The United States Space Force’s official website states: “The 6th Space Warning Squadron (6 SWS), located at Cape Cod Space Force Station in Sagamore, Massachusetts, is a geographically separated unit of Space Delta 4, Buckley Space Force Base Colorado.”
It is directly across from the Market Basket plaza in Sagamore, which was previously the location of the old factory outlet mall.
The USSF explains, “Team 6 includes the Department of the Air Force and Royal Canadian Airmen and Guardians, DoD civilians, and inDyne employees.”
What Happens at the Massachusetts Space Force Base
The mission of the 6th Space Warning Squadron is “to detect, track, and report missile launches and high-interest satellite passes while operating, maintaining, and protecting Cape Cod Space Force Station.”
The Cape Cod affiliate “operates the Upgraded Early Warning Radar” program and “has the distinction of being the first Pave PAWS installation in America.”
“Pave” is a program name for an electronic system. The USSF defines PAWS as a “phased array warning system.”
According to the USSF, “On August 27th, 1973, the United States Air Force directed the construction of two sea-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) phased array radar systems.”
Then, on May 23, 1975, the Air Force announced that one site would be built on the east coast (Otis AFB, MA) and the other on the west coast (Beale AFB, CA), with the (Massachusetts-based) Raytheon Corporation winning the contract to build the facilities.”
