During their tours of duty 750 miles north of the Arctic circle, Airmen assigned to Thule Air Base, Greenland, live in a part of the world most people will never see. Arctic winters present some of the harshest climate conditions on the planet.
Nevertheless, Thule Airmen fulfill a critical service to the Air Force and the world. The base conducts a variety of Air Force missions, one of which is operating an Air Force Satellite Control Network tracking station. The 23rd Space Operations Squadron Detachment 1, for example, conducts more than 22,000 satellite contacts annually and is a prime supporter of National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration satellite command and control operations.
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