Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station

 military, satellite/space tracking station

The Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station is a United States Air Force military installation in Kaena Point on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It is a remote tracking station of the Air Force Satellite Control Network responsible for tracking satellites in orbit, many of which belong to the United States Department of Defense, receiving and processing data and in turn, controlling satellites by sending commands. The station originally opened in 1959 to support the highly classified Corona satellite program. In fact, there is evidence that suggests the station's presence and use for Corona may have sped the statehood of Hawai'i.

Detachment 4, 22d Space Operations Squadron, part of the 50th Space Wing, operates Hawaii Tracking Station (HTS, callsign HULA) on the site. It was constructed in 1959, one of three built that year. The facility is placed on the western-most point of the island of Oahu, atop a 1500 foot high ridge. Originally, the facility only had one large, exposed antenna. Today it has many smaller radomes and access roads up and around the ridge.

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projects.ch2m.com/hnl_AFCEE/DO92/DO92KaenaEA03NFRAP.pdf

"The 15th Airlift Wing(15 AW) leases 153 acres from the State of Hawaii and private landowners for Kaena Point STS. The installation is operated by Detachment 4, 22nd Space Operations Squadron, 50th Space Wing. Systems on Kaena Point STS were originally installed to support the Discoverer Satellite Program and included antennas for acquisition, telemetry reception, and space vehicle command. Through the years, the installation has also supported other Department of Defense (DoD) space programs, including a satellite communications network (Advent), the Missile Detection and Alarm System (MIDAS), the Satellite and Missile Observation System (SAMOS), and the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) command. In 1968, a Space Ground Link Subsystem (SGLS) antenna was installed. During 1971 and 1972, a second SGLS antenna and an AN/FPQ-14 radar were installed (Higginbotham/Briggs and Associates (HBA), 1995. Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, Hawaii. Comprehensive Plan/General Plan.)"