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News Release

SPACE BASE DELTA 1 CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF PITUFFIK SPACE BASE (Photo) - 08/14/26

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – Space Base Delta 1 commemorated the 75th anniversary of Pituffik Space Base during a ceremony Aug. 12, 2026, in northwest Greenland. Pituffik is the northernmost military installation supporting our national security, and this milestone commemorates three-quarters of a century of strategic Arctic operations, space tracking, and vital early warning capabilities, made possible by an enduring Danish, Greenlandic, and Canadian partnership.

 

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Pituffik Space Base, originally built in 1951. Under the leadership and support of Space Base Delta 1, the installation continues to provide unmatched missile warning and space surveillance capabilities from the Arctic.

 

Located 690 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Pituffik offers a strategic "Top of the World" vantage point. The installation is operated by the 821st Space Base Group, with SBD 1 at Peterson SFB providing base operation support, and enables critical force protection and tracking capabilities for the nation and its partners.

 

The base also serves as a cornerstone of aerospace defense. It hosts the 12th Space Warning Squadron, which operates the Upgraded Early Warning Radar to detect ballistic missile launches, and the 22nd Space Operations Squadron, Detachment 7, which operates the northernmost remote tracking station in the Satellite Control Network, providing telemetry, tracking, and commanding operations for hundreds of military and government satellites. Additionally, Pituffik SB is home to the northernmost deep-water port and a 10,000-foot runway, providing a unique platform that supports international scientific research in the Arctic region.

 

Built in 1951 following a mutual defense agreement between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark, the installation was originally known as Thule Air Base. Throughout the Cold War, it functioned as a vital early warning outpost and an intermediate stop for transpolar flights. Since 1952, the base has been sustained through the harsh, ice-locked winter months by "Operation Pacer Goose," a massive annual summer maritime resupply mission.

 

On April 6, 2023, the installation was officially renamed Pituffik Space Base (pronounced bee-doo-FEEK). This historic renaming was conducted to better reflect the base's modern mission, while paying homage to its profound ties to the Greenlandic people and their cultural heritage. Today, the resilient community that calls Pituffik home is comprised of personnel from the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark, all working side-by-side in one of the world's most extreme environments.

 

To support coverage of the 75th anniversary events, photos and an article covering the event are provided below. Media outlets are authorized and encouraged to utilize these provided resources to highlight the historical and strategic significance of the installation. All provided media is cleared for public broadcast and publication. Please credit "Space Base Delta 1 Public Affairs" when utilizing these assets in your reporting.

 

 

For questions or comments, please contact Space Base Delta 1 Public Affairs at: SBD1.PA@spaceforce.mil  

 

 

-30-

 

 

Attached Media Files: Pituffik75thAnniversaryPressRelease-Aug-2026.pdf,

SPACE BASE DELTA 1 CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF PITUFFIK SPACE BASE (Photo) - 08/14/26

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – Space Base Delta 1 commemorated the 75th anniversary of Pituffik Space Base during a ceremony Aug. 12, 2026, in northwest Greenland. Pituffik is the northernmost military installation supporting our national security, and this milestone commemorates three-quarters of a century of strategic Arctic operations, space tracking, and vital early warning capabilities, made possible by an enduring Danish, Greenlandic, and Canadian partnership.

 

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Pituffik Space Base, originally built in 1951. Under the leadership and support of Space Base Delta 1, the installation continues to provide unmatched missile warning and space surveillance capabilities from the Arctic.

 

Located 690 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Pituffik offers a strategic "Top of the World" vantage point. The installation is operated by the 821st Space Base Group, with SBD 1 at Peterson SFB providing base operation support, and enables critical force protection and tracking capabilities for the nation and its partners.

 

The base also serves as a cornerstone of aerospace defense. It hosts the 12th Space Warning Squadron, which operates the Upgraded Early Warning Radar to detect ballistic missile launches, and the 22nd Space Operations Squadron, Detachment 7, which operates the northernmost remote tracking station in the Satellite Control Network, providing telemetry, tracking, and commanding operations for hundreds of military and government satellites. Additionally, Pituffik SB is home to the northernmost deep-water port and a 10,000-foot runway, providing a unique platform that supports international scientific research in the Arctic region.

 

Built in 1951 following a mutual defense agreement between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark, the installation was originally known as Thule Air Base. Throughout the Cold War, it functioned as a vital early warning outpost and an intermediate stop for transpolar flights. Since 1952, the base has been sustained through the harsh, ice-locked winter months by "Operation Pacer Goose," a massive annual summer maritime resupply mission.

 

On April 6, 2023, the installation was officially renamed Pituffik Space Base (pronounced bee-doo-FEEK). This historic renaming was conducted to better reflect the base's modern mission, while paying homage to its profound ties to the Greenlandic people and their cultural heritage. Today, the resilient community that calls Pituffik home is comprised of personnel from the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark, all working side-by-side in one of the world's most extreme environments.

 

To support coverage of the 75th anniversary events, photos and an article covering the event are provided below. Media outlets are authorized and encouraged to utilize these provided resources to highlight the historical and strategic significance of the installation. All provided media is cleared for public broadcast and publication. Please credit "Space Base Delta 1 Public Affairs" when utilizing these assets in your reporting.

 

 

For questions or comments, please contact Space Base Delta 1 Public Affairs at: SBD1.PA@spaceforce.mil  

 

 

-30-

 

 

Attached Media Files: Pituffik75thAnniversaryPressRelease-Aug-2026.pdf,