RAF Oakhanger
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RAF Oakhanger was a Royal Air Force station in Bordon, Hampshire. It is the focal point of military satellite communications in the United Kingdom. The RAF handed over operation of the base to Paradigm services in 2003.
RAF Oakhanger was the only satellite communications command and control facility operated by the Royal Air Force. The constellation comprised 4 geo-stationery satellites, providing Earth coverage and higher power European Coverage. The importance of the RAF Oakhanger and the Skynet satellites was highlighted during Gulf War 1 when they provided an essential communications backbone for UK forces.
The Skynet constellation was commanded by a junior officer known as a Space Operations Officer and three sergeants known as space operations assistants. Four shifts rotating through 2-days, 2-nights (14 hours) and four days off, ensured that each satellites health was maintained and when necessary conducted station-keeping operations. The Minsitry of Defence took the decision to sell off command and control of the constellation to Paradign services as a cost savings and efficiencies measure. While there has been no deterioration in the quality of service the RAF has lost forever there expertise in the field of satellite communications.
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