Mission Delta 2

Mission Delta 2
Mission Delta 2 emblem
Founded1 February 1942; 82 years ago (1942-02-01)
as 21st Bombardment Group[1]
24 July 2020; 4 years ago (2020-07-24)
as Space Delta 2
Country United States
Branch United States Space Force
TypeDelta
RoleSpace domain awareness
Size380 personnel[2]
Part of Space Operations Command
HeadquartersPeterson Space Force Base, Colorado, U.S.
Nickname(s)Sentinels[3]
Engagements
Antisubmarine, American Theater

Air Offensive, Japan

Global War on Terrorism[1]
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Websitewww.peterson.spaceforce.mil/Units/Space-Delta-2/
Commanders
CommanderCol Raj Agrawal
Deputy CommanderLt Col Scott D. Munn[4]
Senior Enlisted LeaderCMSgt Leomel I. Abueg[5]
Insignia
Guidon

Mission Delta 2 (MD2) is the United States Space Force's space domain awareness delta and is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. Mission Delta 2 tracks and monitors all human made objects from low Earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit and further out to deep space. It also partners with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide weather satellite observation for the U.S. Armed Forces. It consists of the 15th Space Surveillance, 18th Space Defense Squadron, 19th Space Defense Squadron, and 20th Space Surveillance Squadron.[6][7]

Mission Delta 2 was originally established on 1 February 1942 as the 21st Bombardment Group (21 BG), flying the B-25 Mitchell and B-26 Marauder in antisubmarine patrols during World War II. After the 21 BG inactivated in 1943, the 21st Fighter Group (21 FG) was activated in 1943 in Hawaii, flying the P-39 Aerocobra, P-38 Lightning, and P-51 Mustang during the Battle of Iwo Jima and escorting bombers during air raids on Japan until the 21 FS was inactivated in 1946. The 21st was reactivated again in 1952 as the 21st Fighter-Bomber Group (21 FBG) under the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing and flying the F-86 Sabre, deploying to support NATO forces in France during the Cold War before inactivating in 1958. Although the group would be redesignated the 21st Tactical Fighter Group (21 TFG) in 1985, it would not be reactivated until 1991 as the 21st Operations Group (21 OG), when it briefly was reactivated under the 21st Wing, providing air defense for Alaska flying the F-15C and F-15E, before inactivating later that year. The 21st Operations Group was reactivated under Air Force Space Command's 21st Space Wing in 1992 and provided missile warning, space surveillance, and space control forces. On 24 July 2020, it was redesignated as Mission Delta 2 and transferred from the Air Force to the Space Force on 21 October 2020.[1] On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 2 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.[8]

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference afhra was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Leading the Guardians of Today (YouTube). 1 April 2021. Event occurs at 1:42. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Delta 2 Mission Video". DVIDS. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. ^ Brady, Stephen (7 April 2021). "Space Delta 2 monitors deep space". Peterson Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ "Space Delta 2".
  6. ^ "Space Delta 2 monitors deep space". Nellis Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Delta 2 Factsheet" (PDF). Peterson Air Force Base. 24 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ https://www.spoc.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3952582/two-dels-transition-to-fully-integrated-mission-deltas